Thomas T. Bauman

Influence of Weed Management Practices and Crop Rotation on Glyphosate-Resistant Horseweed (Conyza canadensis) Population Dynamics and Crop Yield-Years III and IV

Abstract Horseweed is an increasingly common and problematic weed in no-till soybean production in the eastern cornbelt due to the frequent occurrence of biotypes resistant to glyphosate. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of crop rotation, winter wheat cover crops (WWCC), residual non-glyphosate herbicides, and preplant application timing on the population dynamics of glyphosate-resistant (GR) horseweed and crop yield. A field study was conducted from 2003 to 2007 in a no-till field located at a site that contained a moderate infestation of GR horseweed (approximately 1 plant m−2). The experiment was a split-plot design with crop rotation (soybean–corn or soybean–soybean) as main plots and management systems as subplots. Management systems were evaluated by quantifying in-field horseweed plant density, seedbank density, and crop yield. Horseweed densities were collected at the time of postemergence applications, 1 mo after postemergence (MAP) applications, and at the time of crop harvest or 4 MAP. Viable seedbank densities were also evaluated from soil samples collected in the fall following seed rain. Soybean–corn crop rotation reduced in-field and seedbank horseweed densities vs. continuous soybean in the third and fourth yr of this experiment. Preplant herbicides applied in the spring were more effective at reducing horseweed plant densities than when applied in the previous fall. Spring-applied, residual herbicide systems were the most effective at reducing season-long in-field horseweed densities and protecting crop yields since the growth habit of horseweed in this region is primarily as a summer annual. Management systems also influenced the GR and glyphosate-susceptible (GS) biotype population structure after 4 yr of management. The most dramatic shift was from the initial GR : GS ratio of 3 : 1 to a ratio of 1 : 6 after 4 yr of residual preplant herbicide use followed by non-glyphosate postemergence herbicides. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; horseweed, Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq. ERICA.

Effect of postemergence glyphosate application timing on weed control and grain yield in glyphosate-resistant corn: Results of a 2-yr multistate study

Field studies were conducted at 35 sites throughout the north-central United States in 1998 and 1999 to determine the effect of postemergence glyphosate application timing on weed control and grain yield in glyphosate-resistant corn. Glyphosate was applied at various timings based on the height of the most dominant weed species. Weed control and corn grain yields were considerably more variable when glyphosate was applied only once. The most effective and consistent season-long annual grass and broadleaf weed control occurred when a single glyphosate application was delayed until weeds were 15 cm or taller. Two glyphosate applications provided more consistent weed control when weeds were 10 cm tall or less and higher corn grain yields when weeds were 5 cm tall or less, compared with a single application. Weed control averaged at least 94 and 97% across all sites in 1998 and 1999, respectively, with two glyphosate applications but was occasionally less than 70% because of late emergence of annual grass and Amaranthus spp. or reduced control of Ipomoea spp. With a single application of glyphosate, corn grain yield was most often reduced when the application was delayed until weeds were 23 cm or taller. Averaged across all sites in 1998 and 1999, corn grain yields from a single glyphosate application at the 5-, 10-, 15-, 23-, and 30-cm timings were 93, 94, 93, 91, and 79% of the weed-free control, respectively. There was a significant effect of herbicide treatment on corn grain yield in 23 of the 35 sites when weed reinfestation was prevented with a second glyphosate application. When weed reinfestation was prevented, corn grain yield at the 5-, 10-, and 15-cm application timings was 101, 97, and 93% of the weed-free control, respectively, averaged across all sites. Results of this study suggested that the optimum timing for initial glyphosate application to avoid corn grain yield loss was when weeds were less than 10 cm in height, no more than 23 d after corn planting, and when corn growth was not more advanced than the V4 stage. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; Amaranthus spp. #3 AMASS; Ipomoea spp. # IPOSS; corn, Zea mays L. ‘Roundup Ready®’ # SETFA. Additional index words: Herbicide-resistant crops, weed interference. Abbreviation: POST, postemergence.

Influence of Weed Management Practices and Crop Rotation on Glyphosate-Resistant Horseweed Population Dynamics and Crop Yield

Abstract Horseweed is an increasingly problematic weed in soybean because of the frequent occurrence of glyphosate-resistant (GR) biotypes. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of crop rotation, winter wheat cover crops (WWCC), residual nonglyphosate herbicides, and preplant herbicide application timing on the population dynamics of GR horseweed and crop yield. A field study was conducted at a site with a moderate infestation of GR horseweed (approximately 1 plant m−2) with crop rotation (soybean–corn or soybean–soybean) as main plots and management systems as subplots. Management systems were evaluated by quantifying horseweed plant density, seedbank density, and crop yield. Crop rotation did not influence in-field horseweed or seedbank densities at any data census timing. Preplant herbicides applied in the spring were more effective at reducing horseweed plant densities than when applied in the previous fall. Spring-applied, residual herbicide systems were the most effective at reducing season long horseweed densities and protecting crop yield because horseweed in this region behaves primarily as a summer annual weed. Horseweed seedbank densities declined rapidly in the soil by an average of 76% for all systems over the first 10 mo before new seed rain. Despite rapid decline in total seedbank density, seed for GR biotypes remained in the seedbank for at least 2 yr. Therefore, to reduce the presence of GR horseweed biotypes in a local no-till weed flora, integrated weed management (IWM) systems should be developed to reduce total horseweed populations based on the knowledge that seed for GR biotypes are as persistent in the seed bank as glyphosate-sensitive (GS) biotypes. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; horseweed, Conyza canadensis L. ERICA; corn, Zea mays L; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr; winter wheat, Triticum aestivum L.

Fate of allelochemicals in the soil

SUMMARY Allelochemicals are compounds released by one plant or plant residues that may have a negative or positive effect on other plant. The importance of allelopathy was extensively explored during the past three decades, with the work concentrating in the extraction and identification of the chemicals, and demonstration of activity in petry dish experiments. These compounds interact in the soil environment similarly as herbicides and are subject to processes of degradation such as microbial degradation, oxidation, and photolysis, and processes of removal or transfer, such as volatilization and adsorption. The objective of this review was to access the fate of allelochemicals in the soil environment to help to find strategies to increase its activity. The activity of allelochemical is limited in time (because of slow release from the donor material) and in space (because of the interaction with the environment). Demonstration of allelopathy should include the fate of the proposed chemical in the soil environment, presenting studies of degradation and removal processes.

Common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) interference with corn across the northcentral United States

Abstract Variation in crop–weed interference relationships has been shown for a number of crop–weed mixtures and may have an important influence on weed management decision-making. Field experiments were conducted at seven locations over 2 yr to evaluate variation in common lambsquarters interference in field corn and whether a single set of model parameters could be used to estimate corn grain yield loss throughout the northcentral United States. Two coefficients (I and A) of a rectangular hyperbola were estimated for each data set using nonlinear regression analysis. The I coefficient represents corn yield loss as weed density approaches zero, and A represents maximum percent yield loss. Estimates of both coefficients varied between years at Wisconsin, and I varied between years at Michigan. When locations with similar sample variances were combined, estimates of both I and A varied. Common lambsquarters interference caused the greatest corn yield reduction in Michigan (100%) and had the least effect in Minnesota, Nebraska, and Indiana (0% yield loss). Variation in I and A parameters resulted in variation in estimates of a single-year economic threshold (0.32 to 4.17 plants m−1 of row). Results of this study fail to support the use of a common yield loss–weed density function for all locations. Nomenclature: Common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. CHEAL; corn, Zea mays L. ‘DK404SR’, ‘DK493SR’, ‘DK592SR’, ‘Asgrow RX602SR’.

Influence of Nitrogen Application Timing on Low Density Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia Trifida) Interference in Corn

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of three nitrogen fertilizer application timings on corn and giant ragweed dry weight, corn and giant ragweed nitrogen accumulation, and corn grain yield. By the V8 growth stage, corn plants in treatments which included nitrogen at planting accumulated up to 27% more dry weight and 26% more leaf area than corn in sidedress-only treatments that had not yet received any fertilizer nitrogen. Nitrogen fertilizer application timing did not influence early-season giant ragweed dry weight, but did influence N accumulation. Giant ragweed at 0.5 plants/m2 accumulated up to 16 kg N/ha in 40-cm-tall plants by the V8 corn growth stage and up to 104 kg N/ha when allowed to remain in corn until the end of the growing season. At this density of giant ragweed, corn yields were not reduced if removed by the V8 corn growth stage. However, season-long interference reduced corn yields by up to 19% regardless of nitrogen application timing. Early-season giant ragweed growth was less responsive to nitrogen application timing than corn, suggesting that nitrogen management programs should not be altered significantly to influence giant ragweed competitiveness in corn. However, giant ragweed should be removed in a timely manner to minimize nitrogen accumulation in nitrogen-limiting corn production situations. Nomenclature: Giant ragweed, Ambrosia trifida L. AMBTR, corn, Zea mays L. ‘DKC60-09RR2/YGCB’ and ‘DKC61-45RR/YGCB’

Sinergismo potencial entre herbicidas inibidores do fotossistema II e da síntese de carotenóides

Herbicides that inhibit the electron transport on the photosystem II (PSII) generate oxidative stress. This stress normally is attenuated by carotenoids, which dissipate the electron energy as heat. Hence, we hypothesize that mixtures between PSII inhibitors and carotenoid inhibitors can result in synergism. The objective of this work was to verify the existence of synergism in mixtures of herbicides from both mechanisms of action. Two experiments were conducted in 1998-99 growing season, one with corn, in the USA, and another with soybean in Brazil. At the corn trial, the treatments consisted of isoxaflutole at 52.5g ha-1, atrazine at 840g ha-1, the mixture of both herbicides, and a weedy control. At the soybean trial, the treatments consisted of metribuzin at 280g ha-1, clomazone at 560g ha-1, the mixture of both herbicides, with additional isolated treatments of metribuzin at 560g ha-1, clomazone at 1,120g ha-1, a weed-free and a weedy control. At the corn crop, assessment included the densities of Abutilon theophrasti (ABUTH), Ipomoea hederacea (IPOHE) and Amaranthus retroflexus (AMARE) at 52 days after the treatments (DAT); and the corn grain yield. At the soybean crop, assessment included Bidens pilosa (BIDPI) density, at 30 and 55 DAT; BIDPI cover, control, dry matter and leaf area, at 55 DAT; and soybean grain yield. Apparent herbicide antagonism occurred at the ABUTH, AMARE and IPOHE control, however, herbicide synergism was observed in the corn grain yield. BIDPI results demonstrated synergism for weed cover and control. Despite the complexity to demonstrate herbicide synergism in the field, the results indicate, at least to one species, the occurrence of synergism in the mixture between PSII inhibitors and carotenoid inhibitors.

Assessment of Weed Control Strategies for Corn in the North-Central United States

Field experiments were conducted across the north-central United States to determine the benefits of various weed control strategies in corn. Weed control, corn yield, and economic return increased when a preemergence (PRE) broad-spectrum herbicide was followed by (fb) postemergence (POST) herbicides. Weed control decisions based on field scouting after a PRE broad-spectrum herbicide application increased weed control and economic return. Application of a PRE grass herbicide fb a POST herbicide based on field scouting resulted in less control of velvetleaf and morningglory species, corn yield, and economic return compared with a PRE broad-spectrum herbicide application fb scouting. Cultivation after a PRE broad-spectrum herbicide application increased weed control and corn yield compared with the herbicide applied alone, but economic return was not increased. An early-postemergence herbicide application fb cultivation resulted in the highest level of broadleaf weed control, the highest corn yield, and the greatest economic return compared with all other strategies. Weed control based on scouting proved to be useful in reducing the effect of weed escapes on corn yield and increased economic return compared with PRE herbicide application alone. However, economic return was not greater than the PRE fb planned POST or total POST strategies. Nomenclature: Morningglory species, Ipomoea spp.; velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti L. Medicus #3 ABUTH; corn, Zea mays L. Additional index words: Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH, CHEAL, Chenopodium album, cultivation, economic analysis, field scouting, Ipomoea spp., IPOSS, Setaria spp., SETSS, weed control systems. Abbreviations: EPOST, early postemergence; fb, followed by; POST, postemergence; PRE, preemergence.

Palha no sistema de semeadura direta reduz a infestação de gramíneas anuais e aumenta a produtividade da soja

Increasing the amount of surface crop residues (SCR) can reduce annual weed density in no-till systems. The objectives of this work were to compare the effect of SCR on the infestation of the grass weeds Brachiaria plantaginea (BRAPL) and Setaria faberi (SETFA), and to assess the impact of SCR and weed control on soybean yield. Two factorial experiments were conducted in no-till system under the rotation wheat-soybean infested with SETFA (USA) and oats-soybean infested with BRAPL (Brazil). One factor was SCR (0, 3, 6 and 9tha-1 of wheat or oat straw), whereas the other factor was weed control with and without herbicides. Increasing SCR on the soil surface reduced grass weed density in no-tilled soybean. When weed control depended on herbicides, SCR did not affect soybean yield. However, when weed control depended on SCR, soybean yield increased with increment of SCR, due to reduced weed infestation. Soybean yield cizanged linearly with SETFA density and changed logaritmicaly with BRAPL density.

Mesotrione and atrazine combinations applied preemergence in corn (Zea mays L.)

Field trials were conducted in 2002 and 2003 at seven sites to determine the optimum rates of mesotrione and atrazine applied PRE for minimal crop injury and control of common lambsquarters, velvetleaf, Pennsylvania smartweed, common ragweed, giant ragweed, ivyleaf morningglory, and common cocklebur. All rates of each herbicide resulted in greater than 95% control of triazine-susceptible common lambsquarters. Mesotrione at 105 g ai/ha resulted in greater than 90% control of triazine-resistant common lambsquarters, velvetleaf, and Pennsylvania smartweed. Control of common ragweed was 90% or greater from mesotrione at 158 g/ha in combination with atrazine at 280 g/ha or greater. In addition, mesotrione at 210 g/ha combined with any rate of atrazine provided at least 92% control of common ragweed. Combinations of mesotrione and atrazine only suppressed, and did not effectively control, giant ragweed, common cocklebur, and ivyleaf morningglory. Nomenclature: Atrazine, mesotrione, s-metolachlor, common cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium L. #3 XANST, common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. # CHEAL, common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. # AMBEL, giant ragweed, Ambrosia trifida L. # AMBTR, ivyleaf morningglory, Ipomoea hederacea (L.) Jacq. # IPOHE, Pennsylvania smartweed, Polygonum pensylvanicum L. # POLPY, velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medicus # ABUTH, corn, Zea mays L. Additional index words: Herbicide combination. Abbreviations: ALS, acetolactase synthase; DAT, days after treatment; HPPD, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase; TR, triazine-resistant.