Conservation tillage programs have been successfully implemented for many agronomic cropping systems, but adoption of reduced tillage for vegetable crops has been slow. As many conventionally managed conservation tillage programs rely on synthetic herbicides for clean cultivation, alternative methods must be devised to suppress weed pressure and reduce reliance on mechanical cultivation to aid in the development of reduced tillage programs for organic cropping system. Strip tillage is a reduced tillage method that is well suited to vegetable crop production, and the utilization of cover crops and living mulches between rows provides a viable weed management option for organic systems. The adoption of reduced tillage and the inclusion of cover crops and living mulches have the potential to alter the agroecosystem in ways that impact plant development and crop yield, and augment weed, insect and disease pressure. The current study focuses on the use of strip tillage and the interplanting of spring-seeded living mulches and overwintered cover crops for early-season organic broccoli production. Data were collected on ground cover provided by cover crops and living mulches, crop physiological status (petiole sap nitrate, photosynthetic rate, plant growth and crop biomass) and pest pressure (weed relative abundance, insect density and disease incidence and severity). Living mulches provided the greatest ground coverage when cover crop establishment was poor; however, when cover crops produced a large amount of biomass, living mulch establishment was suppressed. Decreases in herbivorous pests and suppression of grassy and cool-season weed species were also observed, indicating that strip tillage and the use of spring-seeded living mulches and overwintered cover crops may provide beneficial pest management strategies. Decreases in crop growth and biomass, and decreases in petiole sap nitrate were observed, however, indicating reductions in crop vigor and yield may be expected with the implementation of strip tillage and living mulch crops. It is suggested that the utilization of strip tillage and living mulch crops may provide benefits to pest management which may outweigh declines in yield.

Submitted by MARCELO BOAMORTE RAVELI null (m_boamorte@hotmail.com) on 2016-05-02T14:30:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ravelli_mb_dr_abr.pdf: 2426603 bytes, checksum: 9cf7fdbd7d08b14678da4d6ae03b055c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Felipe Augusto Arakaki (arakaki@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-05-04T14:54:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ravelli_mb_dr_jabo.pdf: 2426603 bytes, checksum: 9cf7fdbd7d08b14678da4d6ae03b055c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-04T14:54:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ravelli_mb_dr_jabo.pdf: 2426603 bytes, checksum: 9cf7fdbd7d08b14678da4d6ae03b055c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-05 / Espécies forrageiras para o Sistema Plantio Direto são de grande interesse técnico e econômico, pois se apresentam como opções para a formação de pastagens e adubação verde conjuntamente com a rotação de culturas em uma mesma área e mesma estação. O objetivo do experimento foi obter informações quanto às melhores alternativas para o Sistema Plantio Direto em Jaboticabal/SP, região de clima subtropical úmido com estiagem no inverno. O experimento foi desenvolvido em Latossolo Vermelho Eutroférrico, no período de 2011 a 2014. Avaliou-se as culturas do milho e soja em Sistema Plantio Direto, em diferentes manejos de culturas de cobertura do solo, bem como a rotação de culturas. As culturas de cobertura utilizadas foram: milheto e braquiária (1° ano) antecedendo o milho; o milheto (2° ano) antecedendo a soja; e três espécies de braquiárias (3° ano) antecedendo o milho. Analisaram-se parâmetros relacionados ao solo, como teor de água, densidade e resistência à penetração; nas plantas, emergência, estandes e produtividade e na operação de semeadura, distribuição longitudinal de plântulas e demanda energética. No primeiro ano houve maior consumo horário para o manejo com rolo-facas, e o consumo operacional para a cobertura com a cultura da braquiária; a semeadura de milho com espaçamento entrelinhas de 0,90 m demandou menor força, potência e consumo, aliado à mesma produtividade do espaçamento de 0,45 m. O segundo ano do experimento foi caracterizado pela produção de matéria seca abaixo da média; para os diferentes manejos sobre a cobertura do milheto houve decomposição homogênea entre os manejos nas áreas experimentais, não havendo influencia pelos tratamentos realizados. No terceiro ano onde foram testadas diferentes espécies de braquiárias, a B. ruzizienses se destacou em formação de matéria seca, afetando a qualidade da distribuição das sementes de milho na semeadura, aumentando as falhas e espaçamentos duplos, porém houve maior produtividade final; os tratamentos com diferentes velocidades mostraram que menores velocidade garantem melhor qualidade na operação de semeadura, o que é refletido diretamente na produtividade da área. Recomenda-se o sistema plantio direto para a região de Jaboticabal/SP do ponto de vista de produtividade das culturas de verão e conservação dos recursos naturais. / Forage species for no-tillage system represents great technical and economic interests, as they are presented as options for cattle pasture and green fertilizer along with crop rotation in the same area and weather station. The general object of the experiment was to obtain information on the best alternatives for the no-tillage system in Jaboticabal / SP, of humid subtropical climate region with drought in the winter. The experiment was conducted over Oxisoil, during the period 2011 to 2014. The objective was to evaluate corn and soybean crops under no-tillage technique with different managements and rotation of cover crops. Cover crops were: millet and brachiaria (1st year) preceding corn; millet (2nd year) preceding soybean ; and three species of Brachiaria (3rd year) preceding corn. It was analyzed parameters related to soil, like water content, density and mechanical resistance to penetration; for plants, emergency, stands and productivity; and for sowing operation, longitudinal distribution of seedlings and energy demand. In the first year there was a higher consumption for handling cover crops with roll-choper, and also for parameter operating consumption over the culture of brachiaria; corn planting with row spacing of 0.90 m demanded lower traction force, power and consumption, but combined with the same productivity of the reduced spacing (0.45 m). The second year of the experiment was characterized by dry matter production below average; the different managements on millet cover was homogeneous breakdown among managements in the experimental areas, with no influence by the treatments performed. In the third year, B. ruzizienses stood out for dry matter formation, affecting the quality of maize seed distribution at sowing, increasing plant failures and double spacing, but there was a higher end productivity; treatments with different speeds showed that lower speed guarantee best quality in sowing operation, which is reflected directly in the productivity of the area. We recommend no-tillage system for the region of Jaboticabal/SP from the standpoint of productivity of summer crops and conservation of natural resources.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / DeAnn R. Presley / Cover crops have numerous benefits and while cover crops have been used for centuries, currently there are few producers in Kansas growing them and so there is a need for additional research on how cover crops affect soil properties, and on the potential for utilizing cover crops as forage. Two studies are presented in this thesis. The first study evaluated the use of cover crops in a vegetable production system as compared to a fully tilled control. This study evaluated soil physical properties in the form of wet aggregate stability and infiltration, and microbial properties by soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC). Over the three year study, the most pronounced differences observed were in the wet aggregate stability between the cover crop and control treatments where the cover crop treatments had better soil aggregation compared to the control. At the conclusion of the study, there was not a difference between fall and spring planted cover crop treatments. The second study evaluates species composition and forage quality of various combinations of multi-species cover crop mixtures. This study evaluated sixteen treatments, each consisting of a three-way mixture of a brassica (turnip or radish), grass (rye, wheat, barley, oat), and a legume (berseem clover or Austrian winter pea). Species composition analysis found that the brassica species dominated the mixtures (60-80% by mass on a dry weight basis) in 2014 while the grass species were dominant (62 – 67%) in 2015. Overall all treatments produced prime quality forage (as compared to hay values), however some treatments cost significantly more to plant than others. Therefore an economic analysis compared the treatments and found that the treatments containing turnips and oats generally provided the best return on investment given that both of these species were among the cheapest to plant and produced moderate to high biomass compared to the other treatments. The results of these projects point to the potential benefits that cover crops can have for producers interested in improving soil or utilizing cover crops for forage.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-04-30Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:29:20Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 oliveira_ra_me_jabo.pdf: 1692880 bytes, checksum: 54b9f7142df8bcb517bcc5f6ad5e1d41 (MD5) / O milho é o principal cereal produzido no Brasil e entre os vários fatores que causam a baixa produtividade, o manejo incorreto do nitrogênio se destaca. Objetivou-se com este estudo, avaliar a eficiência das plantas de cobertura em consorciação com milho na produção de fitomassa e fornecimento de N e por objetivos específicos de: i ) verificar o efeito das plantas de cobertura nas propriedades físicas e químicas do solo; ii) verificar o efeito das plantas de cobertura na produtividade do milho; iii) verificar as melhores doses de N dentro da consorciação de plantas de cobertura com o milho. Para tanto, foi realizado um experimento no município de Ituverava-SP, no Sitio Córrego das Pedras, em Latossolo Vermelho distróferrico típico, textura argilosa para o ano agrícola de 2007/2008 e 2008/2009. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados com parcelas sub-subdivididas e quatro repetições. As plantas de cobertura utilizadas foram: braquiária, calopogônio e estilosante do campo grande e as doses de N: N0=0; N1=60; N2=120; N3=180 kg de N/ha. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas para a densidade, porosidade, microporosidade e macroporosidade entre plantas de cobertura e profundidade. Não houve diferença significativa para diâmetro médio geométrico e diâmetro médio ponderado. Não foram observados diferença significativa entre plantas de cobertura e doses de N. Foram observadas diferenças significativas de produtividade entre as plantas de cobertura, destacando-se o estilosante do campo grande com maior produtividade, seguido da calopogônio e braquiária safra 2007/08 e estilosante do campo grande, braquiára e calopogônio safra 2008/09. Para dose de N, foi observado aumento de produtividade para ambas as safras, destacando-se a dose N3. Observou-se incremento na produção de um ano para outro / Corn is the main cereal produced in Brazil and among the several factors that cause low productivity, it is possible to detach the incorrect management of the nitrogen. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of cover crops intercropped with corn on the production of the phytomass and the providing of N and for specific aims of: i) checking the effect of cover crops on physical and chemical properties of the soil; ii) checking the effect of cover crops on the corn productivity; iii) verifying the best N rates for the intercropping of cover crops and corn. For such reason, an experiment was conducted in Ituverava – SP, at Córrego das Pedras Farm, at a typical Red Oxisol, clay texture for the agricultural year of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. The experimental design was made in randomized blocks with split plots and four replications. The cover crops used were: Brachiaria brizantha, Calopogonium mucunoides Desv and Stylosanthes capitata and S. macrocephala under the rates of N: N0=0; N1=60; N2=120; N3=180 kg of N/ha. It was not possible to notice significant differences for density, porosity, microporosity and macroporosity among the cover crops and depth. There was no significant difference for the geometric mean diameter and for the average diameter. Significant differences were not noticed among the cover crops and N rates. It was possible to notice significant differences on the productivity among the cover crops, highlighting the Stylosanthes as a cover crop with a higher corn yield, followed by Calopogonium mucunoides Desv and Brachiaria brizantha, harvest 2007/08 and Stylosanthes capitata and S. macrocephala, Brachiaria brizantha and Calopogonium mucunoides Desv, harvest 2008/09. Concerning the N rate, it was possible to notice an increase for both harvests, highlighting the N3 rate. It was possible to observe an increase on production from one year to the other

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-05-26T13:55:59Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - João Vitor de Souza Silva - 2015.pdf: 2745412 bytes, checksum: 72f3f83629987eb1f47a452f8c6e249a (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-05-26T14:06:30Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - João Vitor de Souza Silva - 2015.pdf: 2745412 bytes, checksum: 72f3f83629987eb1f47a452f8c6e249a (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-26T14:06:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - João Vitor de Souza Silva - 2015.pdf: 2745412 bytes, checksum: 72f3f83629987eb1f47a452f8c6e249a (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-05 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The application of phosphate fertilizer is indispensable for achieving sustainable bean production, with P the necessary nutrient virtually throughout your cycle. Thus, cultural management alternatives are being used in the best use of this nutrient, among them the use of brachiaria as plant coverage. The objective of this research was to evaluate the dynamics of phosphorus in the soil with and without the presence of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandú as cover crop and common bean response to fertilization. We used the design in a randomized block design with a split plot arrangement, and the plots had P2O5 doses (0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 kg ha-1), and subplots were composed by the presence and absence of brachiaria as previous cover crop cultivation of beans. For distribution of fertilizer was used trencher containing 4 by tractor pull rods, where the grooves were made about 7 cm. The bean sowing occurred after phosphorus fertilization, using a pneumatic drill with 7 individual lines spaced 0.50 m, putting up 10 seeds per meter. Soil samples were collected in three seasons, namely: 1) fifteen days after sowing bean; 2) thirty daysof soil and compost manually placed. after the sowing of bean and 3) post-harvest bean. In the samples, we performed the phosphorus fractions in soil by Hedley technique. In bean plants were evaluated plant height, number of pods per plant, phosphorus content in the leaf, dry mass of plants, weight of 100 grains and productivity. Treatments of P2O5 and presence Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandú as cover crop, provide changes in the levels of P-labile soil at 15 and 30DAS bean, and P-plábil soil at 15 DAS bean. The presence of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandú as cover crop increased the phosphorus content of the bean leaf, resulting in increased productivity. / A aplicação de fertilizante fosfatado é indispensável para obtenção de produções sustentáveis de feijão, sendo o P o nutriente necessário praticamente em todo seu ciclo. Desta forma, alternativas de manejo cultural estão sendo utilizadas visando o melhor aproveitamento deste nutriente, dentre elas o uso da braquiária como planta de cobertura. Objetivou-se com esta pesquisa avaliar a dinâmica do fósforo no solo com e sem a presença de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandú como planta de cobertura, bem como a resposta do feijoeiro à adubação fosfatada nestes dois sistemas. O experimento foi conduzido em Latossolo vermelho distroférrico na Universidade Federal de Goiás, Regional Jataí – GO, onde o delineamento utilizado foi o de em blocos ao acaso (DBC), em arranjo de parcelas subdivididas, sendo que as parcelas foram compostas por doses de P2O5 (0; 50; 100; 200 e 400 kg ha-1), e as subparcelas foram compostas pela presença e ausência de braquiária como planta de cobertura anterior ao cultivo do feijoeiro. Para distribuição do adubo foi utilizado sulcador contendo 4 hastes de tração tratorizada, onde os sulcos foram feitos aproximadamente 7 cm do solo e o adubo colocado manualmente. A semeadura do feijoeiro ocorreu após adubação fosfatada, utilizando-se uma semeadora pneumática com 7 linhas individuais espaçadas de 0,50 m, colocando-se 10 sementes por metro. Foram realizadas coletas de amostras de solo em 3 épocas, sendo elas: 1) 15 dias após a semeadura do feijoeiro (15DAS); 2) 30 dias após a semeadura do feijoeiro (30DAS) e 3) pós-colheita do feijoeiro (PC). Nas amostras coletadas, efetuou-se o fracionamento de fósforo no solo pela técnica de Hedley. Nas plantas de feijoeiro foram avaliados altura de plantas, número de vagens por planta, teor de fósforo na folha, massa seca de plantas, massa de 100 grãos e produtividade. Os tratamentos, doses de P2O5 e presença de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandú como planta de cobertura, proporcionam alterações nos teores de P-lábil do solo aos 15 e 30DAS do feijoeiro, e P-plábil do solo aos 15 DAS do feijoeiro. A presença da Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandú como planta de cobertura aumentou o teor de P na folha do feijoeiro, refletindo em aumento de produtividade.

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2017-07-25T18:59:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 - Gerson Jos? Yunes Antonio.pdf: 1945359 bytes, checksum: c4d13f26bf950174b314d3a74f465ab8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-25T18:59:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 - Gerson Jos? Yunes Antonio.pdf: 1945359 bytes, checksum: c4d13f26bf950174b314d3a74f465ab8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-22 / This dissertation analyzed strategy of endogenous territorial development - ETD for the establishment of social technology as from process at participatory construction of agroecological knowledge at the hills enviroment in the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro and, demonstrated competitive advantages, local potential and challenges after climate tragedy of January 2011. The study characterized and evaluated potential methodological used or with potential, as well as identify determinants for the adoption of agroecological practices in their production systems, especially regarding the use of cover crop. It were considered, in proposing strategies to expand the adoption of agroecological practices, the 3rd section' microcatchments in Nova Friburgo district. It were used secondary data, literature review, semi structured interviews with actors involved processes in the study area and focus groups with key people in order to observe social behavior, where it became clear the need to improve the efforts of institutions and adaptation to time and the wishes of farmers, with exemplification of the economic gains from the agroecological transition. The way to expand the role and conscious participation in social capital formation will inevitably require organizational, structural and training activities. / A presente disserta??o analisa estrat?gia de desenvolvimento territorial end?geno - DTE para a constitui??o de tecnologia social a partir de processo de constru??o participativa de conhecimentos agroecol?gicos nos ambientes de montanha da Regi?o Serrana Fluminense. S?o evidenciadas vantagens competitivas, potencialidades locais e desafios, ap?s trag?dia clim?tica que acometeu a regi?o em janeiro de 2011. A partir da caracteriza??o e avalia??o das propostas metodol?gicas utilizadas ou com potencial, s?o apresentados determinantes para a ado??o de pr?ticas agroecol?gicas nos sistemas de produ??o, em especial quanto ao uso de plantas de cobertura. Foram consideradas, na proposi??o de estrat?gias para a amplia??o da ado??o de pr?ticas agroecol?gicas, as microbacias do 3? distrito do munic?pio de Nova Friburgo. Utilizou-se dados secund?rios, revis?o bibliogr?fica, entrevistas semiestruturadas com atores participantes dos processos na ?rea de estudo e grupo focal com pessoas-chave, com objetivo de observar o comportamento social. ? evidenciada a necessidade de aprimoramento dos esfor?os das institui??es e adequa??o ao tempo e aos anseios dos agricultores, com exemplifica??o dos ganhos econ?micos decorrentes da transi??o agroecol?gica. O caminho para ampliar o protagonismo e a participa??o consciente com forma??o de capital social passa necessariamente por a??es organizativas, estruturais e formativas.

The potential of Indigofera species as forage and/or cover crops for semi-arid and arid environments was investigated in several experiments conducted on the Hatfield Experimental Farm in Pretoria, South Africa. Dormancy associated with hard seededness is the main constraint for uniform germination and large-scale propagation of these species. In this study, pretreatment increased germination in most accessions with scarification being more effective than boiling water treatment in six accessions, but not in the case of I. vohemarensis 8730. In five accessions (I. cryptantha 7067, I. brevicalyx 7517, I. arrecta 7524, I. spicata 8254 and I. vohemarensis 8730), scarification improved the total germination percentage, though it simultaneously resulted in higher seed mortality of I. brevicalyx 7517, I. arrecta 7524 and I. vohemarensis 8730 than in the control. In four accessions (I. brevicalyx 7517, I. arrecta 7524, I. vohemarensis 8730 and I. trita 10297), boiling water treatment improved germination percentage without causing any significant risk of seed mortality in the latter three species. In a field study, 41 Indigofera accessions were characterized in terms of morphological and agronomic parameters, using multivariate techniques to describe their phenotypic variability. Eight morpho-agronomic groups with various potentials were identified along with eight determinant characteristics that can be regarded as the core attributes for future Indigofera germplasm characterisation. Further evaluation of promising accessions revealed remarkable differences, both between and within species, in terms of plant height, canopy spread diameter, forage biomass, crude protein content, in vitro organic matter digestibility and indospicine level of the forage. These suggest the possibility of directly selecting accessions with forage potential for subsequent evaluation with target animals. The response of four selected Indigofera accessions under simulated moisture deficit stress and non-stress conditions exhibited significant variation. I. amorphoides was relatively sensitive while I. vicioides was able to maintain growth under water stress conditions, while the response of the two I. arrecta accessions were intermediate. The influence of season and species on forage quality was also studied. Spring growth had a significantly higher (P< 0.05) CP content than autumn growth in all species. In vitro digestibility of dry material also tended to decrease from the spring of 2004 to the autumn of 2004. Higher levels of Ca, P, Mg, Zn and Cu concentration were revealed in the leaf meal of the first harvest than in the re-growth harvest. All of the species had Ca, Mg, Zn and Mn concentration levels that could support the requirements of ruminants. P and Cu were slightly deficient for some of the species in the autumn suggesting the need to supplement P and Cu from other sources. Compared to Leucaena forage, Indigofera forage had higher apparent organic matter and dry matter digestibility coefficients and higher crude protein and neutral detergent fibre digestibility coefficients. The difference between Indigofera and Leucaena forage in terms of DM intake per unit of metabolic body weight (DMI g BW-0.75 day-1) was not significant (P> 0.05). The digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) and digestible crude protein intake (DCPI) of the sheep on Indigofera forage was similar to that of sheep fed Leucaena. In this study, lack of differences between Indigofera and Leucaena forage in terms of DOMI, DCPI and DNDFI means that Indigofera forage would likely support similar weight gains as that of Leucaena, but lower than that of M. sativa forage. / Thesis (PhD (Plant Production: Pasture Science))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted

Tillage increases erosion rates and diminishes the quality of soils but has traditionally been a way to manage weeds and prepare a seedbed. No-till vegetable production can ameliorate the ill-effects of tillage in an economically effective way but has not been studied much in California. The objective of this thesis was to determine the viability of no-till vegetable cropping on the Central Coast of California. Tomatoes were grown in no-till and conventionally tilled treatments. Total yield, fruit weight, weed emergence, soil bulk density, soil aggregate stability, and soil organic carbon content were measured and compared. Yields and soil tests in both treatments were similar while weed emergence in the tilled plots was significantly higher than in no-till plots. The results may help vegetable producers determine how to make vegetable production on the Central Coast more sustainable.

No description available.

Cotton (<i>Gossypium hirsutum</i> L.) is a low residue crop, that may not provide sufficient surface residue to reduce erosion and protect the soil. A winter annual cover crop could alleviate erosion between cotton crops. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate selected winter annual cover crops for biomass production, ground cover, and N assimilation. The cover crop treatments were monitored under no-till and conventional tillage systems for the effects on soil moisture, cotton yield and quality. Six cover crop treatments, crimson clover (<i>Trifolium incarnatum</i> L.), hairy vetch (<i>Vicia vilosa</i> L.), hairy vetch and rye (<i>Secale cereale</i> L.), rye, wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L. amend. Thell.), and white lupin (<i>Lupinus albus</i> L.), and two tillage systems (conventional and no-till) were arranged in a split-plot design with four replications. Cover crop biomass production depended on climate conditions. Ground cover percent and N assimilation by cover crops were directly correlated with the amount of biomass produced within cover crop treatments. Within a range of near average winter temperatures, all cover crops except lupin provided enough ground cover to comply with federal conservation tillage standards. More ground cover remained on the soil surface further into the cotton growing season following the small grain treatments compared to the legume cover crop treatments. Soil moisture was higher (P < 0.05) under no-till compared to conventional tillage during the periods of drought in 1997. Tillage system had no effect on cotton yield and quality in 1995 and 1996. High cover crop biomass production coupled with an extended cotton growing season in 1995 resulted in higher lint yield for cotton grown following the hairy vetch + rye treatment compared with cotton grown following the wheat treatment. High heat unit accumulation in October 1995 led to the over maturity of cotton fiber and high micronaire values for cotton grown following all cover crop treatments. The high micronaire values (5.0 - 5.2) for cotton grown in all cover crop treatments except hairy vetch + rye (4.9), resulted in a market price deduction of 1.4 cents per kilogram of lint in 1995. All cover crops used in this experiment, with the exception of lupin, provided enough ground cover within a range of average winter temperatures to meet federal conservation requirements. The winter annual cover crops in a no-till cotton production system provided greater soil moisture conservation during periods of drought, and produced cotton yields and quality comparable to conventional tillage. / Master of Science