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Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) Impacts on Yield, Harvesting, and Ginning in Dryland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Dudley T. Smith*
Affiliation:
Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2474
Roy V. Baker
Affiliation:
Cotton Harvesting and Ginning Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Lubbock, TX 79401
Gregory L. Steele
Affiliation:
Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2474
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract

The impact of Palmer amaranth on mechanical harvesting, ginning, and fiber quality in dryland cotton was documented. Only the highest Palmer amaranth density (3,260 weeds/ha) reduced lint and seed yields. However, all weed densities increased harvesting time 2- to 3.5-fold. Two factors increased the time required for stripper harvesting: slower ground speeds due to large weeds and work stoppages that required hand removal of weed stems lodged in the harvester. Ninety-eight percent of the weedy plant material was discarded in the field by the harvester, and the remaining 2% was successfully removed in ginning and lint-cleaning processes. Weed infestations did not result in any differences in moisture content of seed cotton, ginning time, fiber quality, or the percentage of cleaned lint.

Type
Research
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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References

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