1. Impacts of cattle on cotton in a bahiagrass/peanut/cotton rotation
D.L. Wright, J.J. Marois, D. Zhao, C. Mackowiak
IFAS-NFREC, University of Florida
Quincy, FL

2. Perennial grass/livestock row crop farming system
Perennial grasses in rotation with row crops is the next step in improving soil health, OM, yield, water quality, farm economics, and reducing risk, and will make more difference to farm economics, biological enhancement and environmental health than converting from conventional to conservation tillage or other new technology being used
Diversified conservation farming system utilizing cover crops
Utilizes the land base year round
Cattle have a significant positive impact on the farm economy by utilizing perennial grasses/cover crops and crop residue
Little is know about cattle impacts on a total farm system when used in rotation with perennial grass and winter grazing
This research investigates the impacts of cattle traffic on the following cotton crop

3. Tri-state project
Replicated small trials
with and without irrigation.
Management is taken from
here to the large plots.

4. Data Collected from Rotation Studies
Nitrogen uptake
Water infiltration
Soil moisture
Soil compaction
Earthworm populations
Plant growth measurements (root, LAI, etc.)
Crop yield and quality
Bulk density
Soil nitrate
Organic matter content
Disease
Economics of system
Cattle impact on soil, etc.

5. Field Arrangement of Exclusion Cages and Crops in 2007 (135 irrigated acres)4 5 6 7 9 8 10 12 11 50

6. 2 year old bahia
Peanut
1st year bahia
Cotton
The Rotation-
September

7. Year round utilization of farm resources.
After cotton
After peanut
Year round utilization of farm resources.
(November-April best weather conditions exist)
Dec.
2nd year bahia
1st year bahia

8. Peanut
Caged area
Aug. 2007

9. Going into 2nd year Bahiagrass
Mini-rhizotron
Going into 2nd year Bahiagrass
June, 2007

10. Jan. 2007

11. Feb. 2007

12. Exclusion cages
Mar. 2007

13. April, 2007

14. Killed 2 year old bahiagrass
May, 2007

15. July, 2007

17. Grazing Effect on Soil Resistance (Measured on 2-23-2007)
Resistance (kPa)
Soil Depth (mm)
Each data point is the mean of 30 measurements from 3 replications.

18. Soil Bulk Density in Cotton at Marianna-2007
Soil Bulk Density (g/mm3)
Soil Depth (cm)
High OM

19. Soil Moisture in Winter Grazing Prior to Planting Cotton at Marianna in 2007
Soil Depth (cm)
High OM

20. Soil Moisture Profile during the Cotton Growing Season

21. Plant Height and Nodes

22. Leaf Chlorophyll and Petiole NO3-N

23. Lint Yield and Yield Components for Non-irrigated Cotton, 2007
Treat
Lint yield
(kg/ha)
Boll size (g/boll)
Bolls (no./m2)
Turnout
(%)
Grazed
1651 a
4.50 a
84.9 a
43.3 b
Un-grazed
1476 a
4.16 a
80.2 a
44.5 a
Difference
175
0.34
4.9
-1.2

24. -
Conclusions
-Perennial grasses enhance soil quality, OM, soil moisture, etc.
-Cattle compacted the top 10 cm of the soil surface more than
the deeper depths
-Soils with higher OM did not compact as readily as those with
lower OM which perennial grasses aid in increasing
-Soil moisture tends to be higher on areas that had been grazed
-Soil moisture was higher in top 6 cm of soil and on high OM soils
-Plant height and petiole nitrate N tend to be higher in grazed areas
perhaps due to N cycling with cattle
-The was no difference in cotton yield between grazed and ungrazed
areas
-Cattle grazing increases soil surface compaction but has no
yield effect and cattle can make a significant contribution to the
economy of the farm and year round utilization of the farm

25. Thank You
Questions?