LIBERTYLINK COTTON: AN ECONOMIC COMPARISON TO ROUNDUP READY AND CONVENTIONAL COTTON

摘要

Tolerance studies conducted on LibertyLink cotton since 1995 have shown no visible injury nor reductions in yield when glufosinate was sprayed over the top. In addition, broad-spectrum control of various weeds has been observed with Ignite (glufosinate) in a LibertyLink weed management system. The objective of this research was to compare net revenues above weed control costs in LibertyLink, Roundup Ready, and conventional cotton weed control systems. In 2003 and 2004, an irrigated and dryland studywas conducted at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station near Lubbock, TX, and an irrigated study was conducted at the Texas Tech University Research Farm near New Deal, TX. A randomized block design with a split-plot arrangement and four replicationswas used in all experiments. The main plot factors were the variety of cotton (FM 989, FM 989 RR, or FM 981 LL) and subplot factors were treatments within a variety (weed control system, weed-free, and weedy check). Applications for each weed control system within a variety were applied as needed according to labeled recommendations and were made independent of the other varieties. Weed-free plots were maintained by hand hoeing and cultivation.