Several weed-free and johnsongrass competition periods were established and maintained in cotton to evaluate their influence on cotton yield and reproduction of johnsongrass. When johnsongrass was sprayed with fluazifop in field plots 3, 6, 9, or 12 weeks after cotton emergence, only plots sprayed at 3 weeks yielded as much cotton as weed-free plots. Johnsongrass permitted to compete for 6, 9, 12, and 25 weeks reduced cotton yields 20, 60, 80, and 90%, respectively. When johnsongrass was transplanted into weed-free plots 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks after cotton emergence, a weed-free period of 9 weeks was required to prevent significant cotton yield reduction. Cotton in plots weed free for 3 and 6 weeks yielded 81 and 89% as much seed cotton, respectively, as weed-free controls. Johnsongrass competing with cotton for 9 to 12 weeks produced 20 and 40% as many seeds and rhizomes, respectively, as weedy control plots. Some seeds and rhizomes were produced (1% of weedy check plots) in plots weed free for 9 to 12 weeks. Cotton grades were reduced in plots weed free for 3 and 6 weeks, and in plots where johnsongrass competed for 9 to 25 weeks.

Black nightshade plants were controlled by hoeing in the same cotton plots each year (1982 to 1986) for 3 to 15 weeks after crop emergence to evaluate the influence of several black nightshade-free periods on cotton yield, reproduction of black nightshade, and longevity of weed seeds in soil. Similar information, although limited, was also collected for Palmer amaranth that escaped the initial herbicidal treatment each year. Except for 1982, black nightshade competing with cotton for the duration of the growing season in nonhoed plots severely reduced yields (60 to 100%), with greatest yield reductions (82 to 100%) occurring in 1983 and 1984 when 0.5 to 0.7 cm of rain fell within 10 days after cotton planting. When combined with cultivation, a 3-week nightshade-free period at cotton planting was of sufficient duration to protect cotton yields. Weed seed production for all hoed treatments was less than 1% of the nonhoed treatment, and after five consecutive cotton crops (1982 to 1986), the amount of both black nightshade and Palmer amaranth seeds in soil was similar for all hoed treatments. These populations were 60 to 80% and 95 to 97% less than beginning populations of black nightshade and Palmer amaranth in 1982, respectively. After 5 yr of continuous treatments, cotton was grown in 1987, with standard cultivation as the only method of weed control, to evaluate how the weed-free periods in 1982 to 1986 influenced weed seed populations in the soil and the resultant effect on weed competition and cotton yields. Reduction of cotton yields in 1987, in the absence of weed-free periods, indicated that black nightshade seed survival in soil appears to be sufficiently long for ample establishment of this weed to compete with cotton. Thus, fields will have to be kept weed free for greater than 5 yr to reduce black nightshade populations to a level that will not reduce cotton yields.

Field studies were conducted from 1988 through 1990 in Fayetteville, AR, to measure competitiveness of spotted spurge in cotton. Population levels were established by transplanting seedlings from other field areas. There was a positive linear relationship between cotton boll numbers and seed cotton yield. Percent reduction in cotton height, leaf area, dry weight, boll numbers, and seed cotton yield increased as spotted spurge densities increased. Seed cotton yield reduction was 47, 57, and 85% for spotted spurge densities of 5, 10, and 50 spotted spurge plants m–1 of row.

Experiments were conducted from 1973 through 1975 on Lucedale sandy loam to determine the influence of in-row cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. ‘Stoneville 213’) densities on the competitiveness of low-level infestations of sicklepod (Cassia obtusifolia L.) and pigweed (Amaranthus spp.). Weeds were established at densities of 0, 4, 12, and 32 weeds per 15 m of row and allowed to compete the entire season with cotton grown at densities of 5, 10, or 20 plants/m of row corresponding to 47000, 94000 and 187000 cotton plants/ha. Conventional cultural practices were employed in these experiments. Cotton yields were inversely related to weed density; however, the density of cotton did not influence the competitive effect of sicklepod or pigweed. Pigweed or sicklepod dry weed weight was reduced when competing with 187000 cotton plants/ha.

Several weed-free and bermudagrass competition periods were established and maintained in cotton to evaluate their influence on cotton yields and reproduction of bermudagrass. Cotton sprayed with fluazifop for bermudagrass control 4 or 8 weeks after emergence yielded 93 and 90% as much as weed-free cotton. This compared to losses of 16 and 26% when bermudagrass was permitted to compete with cotton for 12 and 25 weeks, respectively. Cotton handweeded for 8 to 12 weeks yielded the same as weed-free cotton and 9% more than cotton weed free for only 4 weeks. Bermudagrass seed production was prevented and rhizome production was negligible when weed competition did not exceed 8 weeks and weed-free periods exceeded 4 weeks. Bermudagrass produced significant amounts of seeds (45 to 88% of weedy checks) and rhizomes (9 to 31% of weedy checks) in plots weed free for 4 weeks and in plots where control was delayed for 12 weeks. Cotton grades were reduced because the cotton lint was contaminated with grass in plots weed free for only 4 weeks, and in plots where bermudagrass competed for 25 weeks.

An experiment was conducted at four locations in North Carolina during 1994 and 1995 to evaluate weed control, cotton yield, fiber quality, and net returns in no-tillage bromoxynil-tolerant cotton. The experiment focused on using bromoxynil or pyrithiobac sodium applied early POST over-the-top as alternatives to fluometuron plus MSMA applied early POST directed. Fluometuron plus MSMA was more effective than bromoxynil or pyrithiobac sodium on tall morningglory, large crabgrass, goosegrass, and broadleaf signalgrass. Bromoxynil and fluometuron plus MSMA were similarly effective on common lambsquarters, common ragweed, and eclipta and more effective than pyrithiobac sodium. Pyrithiobac sodium and fluometuron plus MSMA were similarly effective on smooth pigweed and Palmer amaranth and more effective than bromoxynil. Prickly sida control by bromoxynil and pyrithiobac sodium was equal to or greater than control by fluometuron plus MSMA. All early POST herbicides controlled pitted morningglory similarly. Regardless of the early POST herbicides used, fluometuron applied PRE and cyanazine plus MSMA applied late POST directed increased control of most weeds and increased cotton yield and net returns. Bromoxynil and pyrithiobac sodium effectively substituted for fluometuron plus MSMA only in systems that included fluometuron applied PRE and cyanazine plus MSMA applied late POST directed. Effects of herbicide systems on cotton fiber quality were minor.

Several weed-free and barnyardgrass competition periods were established and maintained in cotton in field plots to evaluate their influence on cotton yield and seed production of barnyardgrass. When barnyardgrass was sprayed with fluazifop 3, 6, 9, or 12 weeks after cotton emergence, only plots sprayed at 3 weeks yielded as much cotton as plots kept weed free. Barnyardgrass permitted to compete for 6, 9, 12, and 25 weeks reduced cotton yields an average of 21, 59, 90, and 97%, respectively. When barnyardgrass was seeded into weed-free plots at 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks after cotton emergence, a weed-free period of 9 weeks was required to prevent significant cotton yield reduction. Cotton in plots weed free for 3 and 6 weeks yielded an average of 13 and 87% as much seed cotton, respectively, as weed-free controls. Barnyardgrass produced 15 to 85% as many seeds as weedy check plots in plots weed free for less than 9 weeks and in plots where control was delayed for 9 and 12 weeks. Cotton grades were reduced because of grass in plots weed free for 3 and 6 weeks, and in plots where barnyardgrass competed for 9 and 12 weeks.

Weed management systems were compared in bromoxynil-resistant, glyphosate-resistant, and nontransgenic cotton. A standard system of pendimethalin preplant incorporated (PPI), fluometuron preemergence (PRE), fluometuron plus MSMA early postemergence-directed (POST-DIR), and cyanazine plus MSMA late POST-DIR in combination with cultivation controlled broadleaf signalgrass, large crabgrass, common lambsquarters, jimsonweed, pitted morningglory, prickly sida, sicklepod, and smooth pigweed 98 to 100% late season. Weed control, cotton yield, and net returns were similar when pyrithiobac or bromoxynil plus MSMA postemergence (POST) replaced fluometuron plus MSMA POST-DIR. Fluometuron PRE had little to no effect in bromoxynil systems. Glyphosate POST to three- to four-leaf-stage cotton followed by cyanazine plus MSMA late POST-DIR and cultivation controlled weeds 96 to 100%. Glyphosate POST followed by glyphosate POST-DIR and cultivation controlled pitted morningglory and large crabgrass 89 to 90% and other species at least 94%. Yields and net returns at one location were similar for glyphosate applied twice or glyphosate POST followed by cyanazine plus MSMA POST-DIR and the standard system. Pendimethalin plus fluometuron in glyphosate systems did not increase yield or net returns. At a location severely infested with large crabgrass, pendimethalin plus fluometuron in glyphosate systems increased yield 37 to 44% and net returns 85 to 108%, respectively, when glyphosate was applied to cotton at the three-to four-leaf stage, but not if glyphosate was applied to cotton at the one-leaf stage. Yield and net returns were similar when bromoxynil-resistant, glyphosate-resistant, and nontransgenic cotton were treated using the standard system.

A 4-yr study (1985, 1987, 1988, 1989) was conducted on the same field plots at Shafter, CA to evaluate the efficacy of prometryn in controlling black nightshade on planting beds of cotton. Two rates (1.7 and 2.2 kg ai ha–1) were applied at two times (mid March before the preplant irrigation and early April at cotton planting) each year. Incorporation of prometryn into moist planting beds with a powered rotary tiller operated at 10 cm deeper resulted in excellent control of black nightshade under low to moderate weed pressure in 1985 and 1987. Control of nightshade with early and late applications of 1.7 kg ha–1 of prometryn under high weed pressure in 1988 was only 70% at harvest, and yield losses of cotton averaged 25%. Yields of cotton treated with 2.2 kg ha–1 of prometryn in 1988 were not significantly different from weed-free plots. Only the late application of 2.2 kg ha–1 of prometryn prevented significant cotton losses under extreme weed pressure in 1989. Cotton yield losses with the other prometryn treatments ranged from 78 to 100%. Losses of cotton in weedy-check plots that received only cultivation ranged from 22% in the absence of rain or irrigation at cotton planting in 1987 to as much as 100% when rain fell in 1988 or plots were irrigated at planting in 1989. Plots hoed one time 4 wk after cotton planting yielded an average of 84% as much seed cotton as weed-free plots. In an attempt to determine why the efficacy of prometryn declined between 1985 and 1989, several experiments were conducted in 1988 to 1990 to discover reasons for this poor control of nightshade. Because efforts failed to provide evidence for the movement of the herbicide with water, the development of weed resistance to prometryn, or accelerated degradation of this herbicide in soil, increasing weed seed populations in soil were believed to have contributed greatly to the declining nightshade control from prometryn. The fact that prometryn applied and incorporated into flat soil provided excellent control of nightshade in 1990 under sprinkler irrigation indicated that both soil moisture and incorporation techniques limited activity of prometryn in planting beds in 1988 and 1989. Incomplete control of nightshade plus good soil moisture at planting contributed to the high weed populations in 1988 and 1989.

An experiment was conducted at two locations in Georgia and one location in North Carolina during 1994 and 1995 to evaluate weed management systems utilizing pyrithiobac applied preemergence (PRE) in conventional-tillage bromoxynil-resistant cotton. Weed management systems evaluated included different combinations of pyrithiobac PRE, bromoxynil or bromoxynil plus MSMA applied early postemergence (EPOST), bromoxynil applied postemergence (POST), and cyanazine plus MSMA applied late postemergence-directed (LAYBY). Pyrithiobac PRE improved control of Florida beggarweed, pitted morningglory, prickly sida, sicklepod, and spurred anoda compared with systems that did not include pyrithiobac PRE. Averaged across locations, pyrithiobac PRE increased cotton lint yields 330 kg ha−1. Bromoxynil applied EPOST or POST increased weed control and cotton lint yield. Bromoxynil EPOST, POST, or EPOST plus POST did not control sicklepod. The addition of MSMA to bromoxynil EPOST improved sicklepod control. Two applications of bromoxynil controlled more pitted morningglory and sicklepod than one application. Control of all dicotyledonous weeds was increased by cyanazine plus MSMA LAYBY, and this treatment increased yields at all locations. Cotton was not injured by pyrithiobac PRE or by bromoxynil applied EPOST or POST, but temporary visual injury was observed with EPOST treatments of MSMA.

An experiment was conducted at four locations in North Carolina in 1996 and 1997 to evaluate weed control and cotton response in conventional-tillage bromoxynil-resistant cotton. Weed management systems evaluated included a factorial arrangement of bromoxynil postemergence (POST) at 0, 0.28, 0.42, or 0.56 kg ai/ha in mixture with pyrithiobac POST at 0, 0.018, 0.032, or 0.072 kg ai/ha. Additional treatments evaluated included trifluralin preplant-incorporated (PPI) plus fluometuron preemergence (PRE). All systems received a postemergence-directed (PDS) treatment of fluometuron plus MSMA. Bromoxynil at 0.42 kg/ha POST followed by (fb) fluometuron plus MSMA PDS controlled common lambsquarters, common ragweed, eclipta, prickly sida, redroot pigweed, spurred anoda; and entireleaf, ivyleaf, pitted, and tall morningglory at least 93%, whereas smooth pigweed and volunteer peanut were controlled 73 and 86%, respectively. Pyrithiobac at 0.036 kg/ha POST fb fluometuron plus MSMA PDS controlled eclipta, common ragweed, prickly sida, redroot, and smooth pigweed, and spurred anoda at least 94%. Volunteer peanut was controlled 84% by pyrithiobac at 0.032 kg/ha, whereas pitted, ivyleaf, and entireleaf morningglory were controlled by 63, 78, and 83%, respectively. Pyrithiobac at 0.072 kg/ha fb fluometuron plus MSMA PDS controlled common lambsquarters 48%. Cotton yield with bromoxynil plus pyrithiobac POST mixtures were equivalent to trifluralin PPI plus fluometuron PRE at three locations and better at the fourth location. Bromoxynil-resistant cotton ‘47’ and ‘57’ had excellent tolerance to all POST herbicide treatments.

New weed management tools and growth regulators make production of ultra narrow row (UNR) cotton possible. Weed control, cotton yield, fiber quality, and net returns were compared in UNR bromoxynil-resistant, glyphosate-resistant, and nontransgenic cotton. Weeds included broadleaf signalgrass, carpetweed, common cocklebur, common lambsquarters, common ragweed, goosegrass, jimsonweed, large crabgrass, Palmer amaranth, pitted morningglory, prickly sida, sicklepod, smooth pigweed, and tall morningglory. Pendimethalin preplant incorporated (PPI) in conventional-tillage or preemergence (PRE) in no-till systems plus fluometuron PRE did not adequately control many of these weeds. Pyrithiobac plus MSMA early postemergence (POST) often was more effective than pyrithiobac alone. Pendimethalin plus fluometuron at planting followed by pyrithiobac plus MSMA early POST controlled sicklepod 82%, goosegrass 89%, Palmer amaranth 92%, and the other species at least 95% late season. Pyrithiobac at mid-POST did not improve control. Bromoxynil plus MSMA early POST was more effective than bromoxynil alone only on sicklepod. Pendimethalin plus fluometuron at planting followed by bromoxynil plus MSMA early POST controlled sicklepod 62%, Palmer amaranth 81%, goosegrass 83%, and all other species at least 95%. Glyphosate early POST did not adequately control many species due to sustained weed emergence. Glyphosate early POST followed by glyphosate late POST (after last effective bloom date) controlled all species except pitted morningglory and tall morningglory at least 93%. Pendimethalin plus fluometuron followed by glyphosate early POST was the most effective glyphosate system overall, and it controlled sicklepod 88%, pitted morningglory 90%, and other species at least 93%. Glyphosate late POST did not increase control in systems with pendimethalin plus fluometuron at planting followed by glyphosate early POST. Yields and net returns were similar with all herbicide/cultivar systems at two of five locations. At other locations, yields and net returns were similar with systems of pendimethalin plus fluometuron at planting followed by pyrithiobac plus MSMA early POST, pendimethalin plus fluometuron followed by bromoxynil plus MSMA early POST, and glyphosate early POST. Greatest yields and net returns were obtained with pendimethalin plus fluometuron at planting followed by glyphosate early POST. Herbicide systems did not affect fiber quality.

Cotton production is the number one crop enterprise in Georgia in terms of revenue generation. However, due to continuous deterioration of soil quality with conventional tillage and chemical fertilizer application, the economic viability and sustainability of cotton production in Georgia are questionable. Residue management systems (RMSs) comprising winter cover crops were analyzed as an alternative to the existing system, which consists of conventional tillage and chemical fertilizer using yield benefit, net revenue, carbon sequestration, and yield efficiency criteria. Four different RMSs were examined for profitability and input efficiency. Four RMSs encompassing tillage versus no-till and chemical versus organic sources of plant nutrients were compared for their yield and net return differences. No-till and poultry litter with a cover crop was the only system with a positive return and crop yield based on the results from experimental data. Limited results from the experimental field were reinforced using a simulation study. When cotton yield is simulated with an alternative level of organic matter and nitrogen application, production function shows efficiency in input application at the higher level of organic matter. Regression results based on an erosion productivity impact calculator/environmental policy integrated climate (EPIC) simulation indicated that, in the long term, a no-till and poultry litter system may have promise in the region. The results from simulation confirm the results from the experimental study. This study reflected a need to change the cotton management system from the 200-year-old practice of employing intensively cultivated conventional tillage and chemical fertilizers to a new renewable resource-based system where residue management and organic sources of nutrients would be the key components.