INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZATION METHODS ON STRIP-TILLED COTTON

This research was conducted during 1995 and 1996 on a Dothan sandy loa m (fine loamy, siliceous, thermic Plinthic Kandiudults) located at the North Florida Res. and Educ. Center (NFREC), Quincy, FL. The objectiv e was to evaluate the influence of strip tillage (no-till plus in-row subsoiling) and fertilizer application methods on cotton, The followin g treatments were applied before planting (3-9-18 Fertilizer was appli ed at 560 kg ha(-1) on some treatments): 1) Strip till and fertilizer over the row; 2) Strip Gin, fertilizer over the row; and strip till ag ain incorporating the fertilizer in-row; 3) Strip till once; 4) Strip till twice; 5) Broadcast fertilizer and ship till; and 6) Broadcast fe rtilizer, and strip till twice. Plant stand, number, weight of boils, and lint cotton yields were different for 1995 and 1996, A better plan t stand was obtained, in 1996 than 1995 (84 300 and 70 100 plants ha(- 1), respectively); more boils were obtained in 1996 than 1995 (6.6 and 5.7 bolls plant(-1), respectively), and the weights of boils were sig nificantly higher in 1995 than in 1996 (5.8 and 5.3 g.boll(-1), respec tively). Lint cotton yields were higher in 1996 than in 1995 (1083.2 a nd 848.2 kg ha(-1), respectively). Fertilization method did not influe nce plant stand, number and weight of bells, or lint yields and, even though strip tilling twice prepared a better seedbed, it did not influ ence plant stand, number and weight of bells, or lint yields in either 1995 or 1996 at the 5% probability level.