Cattle Grazing Affects Cotton Root Dimensions and Yield in a Bahiagrass-based Crop Rotation

Abstract

With increasing production costs in the southeastern US, cropping systems that improve agronomic and economic sustainability are critical. A sod‐based system utilizing a two year rotation of establishing and grazing bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flueggé) followed by a year of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and a year of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was established in Marianna, FL. The effect of grazing in this system on root dimensions (length, diameter, and surface area) of cotton was monitored using a mini‐rhizotron technique. There were differences in several root parameters between grazed and non‐grazed plots (256 m2) including: cotton root length (1260 mm grazed vs. 844 mm non‐grazed), surface area (1727 mm2 grazed vs. 1105 mm2 non‐grazed), and diameter (3.09 mm grazed vs. 2.51 mm non‐grazed). The roots in the 15 to 30‐cm‐depth profile had greater length and surface area in the grazed plots with the greatest root surface areas in the deepest soil profile (75‐90 cm). Grazed plots also exceeded non‐grazed plots in seed cotton yield (3967 kg/ha vs. 3335 kg/ha) and lint (1672 kg/ha vs. 1444 kg/ha). Increases in root architecture associated with cattle grazing in this system may enable cotton to better withstand adverse environmental conditions such as drought stress, thereby improving long‐term sustainability.

Cattle Grazing Affects Peanut Root Characteristics in a Bahiagrass-Based Crop Rotation System

“…However, in the nongrazed plots such differences in the root parameters at different depths were not observed (Table 3). As previously noted in cotton by Loison et al (2012) grazing did not negatively impact root traits in the top soil due to soil compaction. In a related study on peanut in 2009, a slight increase in bulk density was observed at 0-5 cm in the grazed plots as compared to the non-grazed plots.…”

“…Peanut grown in the sod-based rotation system with cattle grazing has shown higher yields with reduced costs (Marois et al, 2002). Grazing in a sod-based rotation system has also shown increased root development (Loison et al, 2012), enhanced microbial and enzyme activity and nutrient recycling (Anguelov et al, 2011;Vendramini et al, 2007;Wright et al, 2010;George et al, 2013).…”

Nitrogen calibration strip: An on‐farm tool to further reduce N requirements in cotton on an integrated crop‐livestock rotation system

“…The high lint yields attained with the moderate N rates may be attributed to cattle grazing. Grazing winter crops has shown to increase peanut and cotton yields with increased root development in terms of root length, surface and root volume (Loison et al, 2012; Marois et al., 2002; Sidhu et al., 2018) along with enhanced microbial and enzyme activity and nutrient recycling (Anguelov et al., 2011; George et al., 2013; D. L. Wright et al, unpublished data, 2010).…”

Grazing cover crops: How does it influence soils and crops?

“…A study in Brazil found high grazing intensity reduced soil water content relative to low‐to‐moderate grazing intensities, which was attributed to increased porosity and root growth without compacting the soil with light‐to‐moderate grazing compared with high‐intensity grazing (Bonetti et al., 2019). A study in Florida reported that increased cotton root biomass and soil organic matter with grazing CCs was probably responsible for greater soil water content at the 30‐ and 100‐cm depth in grazed compared with non‐grazed CCs (Loison et al., 2012). Thus, in a few cases, the potential enhancement in soil C and related soil properties under CC grazing could lead to increased soil water content relative to fields without CCs and grazing.…”