Common Gtuund


Spring 1996


One hundred years of results


 "In 1896 they didn't call it sustainable agriculture, they
just called it staying in business," says Charles Mitchell,
Extension agronomist at Auburn's Old Rotation, the world's
oldest continuous cotton experiment.
 "This experiment does exactly what sustainable ag
proponents are saying today,
that outstanding crops can be
grown year after year using only
legume nitrogen," he continues.
 As part of the centennial 896 '-."
celebration, Extension agents :. '.
and farmers demonstrated Old
Rotation's principles in com-
mercial cotton fields. Mitchell
organized the SARE-funded
demonstration that allowed
comparisons between standard and new varieties of winter
legumes on seven Alabama cotton farms. Road signs on
field borders allowed regular commuters to keep tabs on the
progress of the farm trials.
 Although 1995, with its record drought, hurricanes and
boll worm infestation, was a terrible cotton year for
Alabama, the demonstrations supported what Old Rotation
has been proving for 100 cotton seasons-that winter
legumes alone are as effective as fertilizer N in producing
optimum cotton yields. Additionally the legume protects the
soil from winter erosion, increases soil organic matter and


 contributes to long-term sustainability of continuous cotton
 production.
 Other results indicate that the old standby hairy vetch
 provided the most nitrogen per acre (124 lbs.) as compared
 to the new A.U. Robin (75 lbs.). However, the A.U. Robin
 matures about two weeks earlier
 than the hairy vetch, making it fit
 -- -- better into the farmers' cropping
 programs. It was also determined
 that vetch is a host for reniform
 S:.nematodes and should not be used
 in fields where reniform nematode
 uburn populations are found.
 The project culminated in the
 Conservation Tillage Cotton
 Production Guide which is
 available from any Alabama Cooperative Extension office as
 Circular ANR-952.
 The Old Rotation Centennial Celebration on October 4
- -wulibe held on the Auburn campus. A full day of entertain-
 ment arid'ductationalactivities are planned to help agricul-
 tural advisors, farmers and consumers understand the
 significance of Old Rotation's 100 years of continuous
 cotton production. Miniature cotton bales made from the
 centennial crop will be available at the celebration.

 For more information request report for Project LST94-5.
UH U i . i -!. '4 :


Address Correction Requested


Southern Region SARE/ACE
1109 Experiment Street
Room 203, Stuckey Building
Georgia Station
Griffin, GA 30223-1797


Peter Hildebrand
University of Florida
PO Box 10240
Gainesville, FL 32611


SPrinted on recycled paper


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