The following information is also summarized in a pdf format here: Double-Cropped Cotton Following Wheat

Due to higher wheat prices, and increased wheat acreage, there is considerable interest in double-cropping cotton after wheat is harvested. The success of Boll Weevil Eradication, coupled with transgenic traits for insect management, has allowed cotton producers to take advantage of a longer growing season and renewed interest in cotton as a double-crop option.

Getting a Stand

The first and most paramount consideration is to get a stand. This can be challenging because of the wheat straw residue. Some producers will opt to plant into wheat straw in a no-till fashion while others will choose to burn off the wheat straw. While burning will remove the residue, it should be remembered that the benefits of leaving the residue, such as increased organic matter, greater rainfall infiltration, and less soil erosion will be lost with a burn. Therefore, growers are encouraged to leave the straw in place and plant cotton directly into the stubble without burning.

When planting cotton no-till behind a wheat harvest, care should be taken to ensure that the straw chopper on the combine spreads straw as evenly as possible. Residue managers or “trash wipers” can be of tremendous benefit. However, experience has shown that trash wipers should be operated as lightly as possible to remove the straw and leave the seedbed undisturbed. Similarly, some producers have found that no-till coulters, which are usually fluted, disturb the seedbed more than is needed and often interfere with seed placement. Most have opted to remove fluted coulters when planting cotton into wheat stubble. The goal should be to disturb the seedbed as little as possible in order to preserve moisture. As with any planting operation, good soil-seed contact is needed for good germination. Planting will likely require a minimum of disturbance and possibly slower operating speeds in order to achieve good soil-seed contact.

Managing for Earliness

Pest Management