Data from: Cover cropping history affects cotton boll distribution, lint yields, and fiber quality

This is digital research data corresponding to a published manuscript,
Cover cropping history affects cotton boll distribution, lint yields, and
fiber quality, in Crop Science, Vol. 63 p. 1209–1220.  There has
been limited introduction of new cover crop species into cotton (Gossypium
hirsutum L.) production within the last 30 years. Mounting evidence shows
that traditional cover cropping species may be detrimental to cotton
production, either by depleting soil fertility with crop removal,
immobilizing minerals from high carbon residue, or excessive quantity of
residue remaining at planting. The objective of this study was to
determine the effects of growing a novel cover crop species, carinata
(Brassica carinata A. Braun), as a winter annual cover crop for cotton
rotation in the southeastern Coastal Plain. Over a 2-year period,
carinata, winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and fallow covers were
maintained over winter months, then rotated into cotton. Each year,
seedcotton and lint yields were collected, along with subsamples for
ginning and subsequent fiber quality analyses. Additionally, end-of-season
plant mapping was conducted on plants from 1-m of row per plot to
determine cover crop effects on boll formation, retention, and
distribution, as well as canopy architecture.

本数据集对应一篇已发表的学术论文——《覆盖作物种植历史对棉铃分布、皮棉产量及纤维品质的影响》，该论文刊载于《作物科学》（Crop Science）第63卷，第1209至1220页。近30年来，棉花（陆地棉Gossypium hirsutum L.）生产领域中，新型覆盖作物品种的推广应用案例极为有限。越来越多的实证研究表明，传统覆盖作物品种可能对棉花生产产生不利影响：其机制包括通过收获覆盖作物消耗土壤肥力、高碳残留物固定矿质养分，或是播种时田间残留秸秆量过多。本研究旨在探究新型覆盖作物物种——埃塞俄比亚芥（Brassica carinata A. Braun，以下简称carinata）作为东南沿海平原棉田轮作冬季一年生覆盖作物的种植效应。试验周期为2年，设置埃塞俄比亚芥、冬小麦（普通小麦Triticum aestivum L.）与休耕三种冬季覆盖处理，冬季过后轮作棉花。每年采集籽棉与皮棉产量数据，并分取子样用于轧花加工及后续纤维品质检测分析。此外，每个试验小区选取1米行长的植株开展季末植株构型测绘，以明确覆盖作物对棉铃形成、保铃率、分布特征以及冠层结构的影响。