Tillage and Residue Effects on Infiltration into Soils Cropped to Cotton

Greater infiltration of precipitation increases water available for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and sorghum [Sorghum bicolor L. (Moench)] production on the semiarid Texas South Plains. The objective of this study was to determine the short-term effects of tillage and crop residues on water infiltration into an Olton clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Aridic Paleustoll), a Pullman clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Torrertic Paleustoll), and an Amarillo loamy fine sand (fine-loamy, mixed, thermic Aridic Paleustalf). Cropping treatments included (i) conventional tillage of continuous cotton (CVT), (ii) no-tillage, limited residue, of continuous cotton (C-NTL), and (iii) no-tillage of cotton grown in rotation with limited grain sorghum (S-NTL), or (iv) wheat (W-NTL) residues [...]