Planting No-till Cotton after Small Grains
The acreage of small grain/cotton double cropping systems has steadily increased in central Arizona recently. Double cropping of small grains and cotton allows growers to effectively use the long growing season, particularly in the low desert region of central Arizona and potentially increase profitability. With this system, short-season small grain varieties are planted from late November to early December and harvested from mid-May to early June. Cotton is then seeded into the grain stubble and residue and harvested in mid to late November. This article includes recommendations for planting no-tillage cotton after small grains in low-desert central Arizona. Management of cotton planted after small grains is more intensive compared to spring-planted cotton. However, this publication focuses mainly on the cotton planting and stand establishment in the double cropping system.
- double cropping
- cotton
- small grains
- no-till planting.