Cover Crop Management Affects Weeds and Yield in Organically Managed Sweetpotato Systems

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1039-1048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle D. Treadwell ◽  
Nancy G. Creamer ◽  
Jonathan R. Schultheis ◽  
Greg D. Hoyt
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crop ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Weed Density ◽  
Organic Systems ◽  
Residue Biomass ◽  
Density And Biomass ◽  
Organically Managed

A 3-yr field experiment was initiated in 2001 to evaluate weed suppression and sweetpotato productivity in three organic sweetpotato production systems. Organic systems were (1) compost and no cover crop with tillage (Org-NC), (2) compost and a cover crop mixture of hairy vetch and rye incorporated before transplanting (Org-CI), and (3) compost and the same cover crop mixture with reduced tillage (Org-RT). A conventional system with tillage and chemical controls (Conv) was included for comparison. Suppression of monocot and dicot weed density and biomass was similar between Org-NC and Org-CI each year, and were frequently similar to Conv. Org-RT was as effective as Org-NC in controlling dicot weed density and biomass each year, but did not suppress monocot weeds. At sweetpotato harvest, an increase in cover crop surface residue biomass in Org-RT was associated with a decrease in cumulative total weed density (R2= 0.43, P = 0.0001); however, the amount of that residue was insufficient to suppress late-emerging monocot weeds. Total sweetpotato yield in Org-RT was at least 45% lower than other systems in 2002 and was most likely due to an increase in monocot weed density and biomass concurrent with a decrease in sweetpotato vine biomass. Total sweetpotato yield was similar among all systems in 2001 and 2004; the exception was lowest yields obtained in the Org-RT system in 2002. Organically managed sweetpotato with or without an incorporated cover crop produced sweetpotato yields equal to conventionally managed systems despite difficulties controlling weeds that emerged later in the season.

scholarly journals Cover Crop Termination Treatment Impacts Weed Suppression Potential

Weed Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin R. Haramoto ◽  
Robert Pearce
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Species Selection ◽  
Weed Biomass ◽  
Weed Density ◽  
Crimson Clover ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Density And Biomass

AbstractWeed management in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacumL.) is accomplished primarily with soil-residual herbicides, cultivation, and hand removal. Management practices that reduce weed emergence, like reduced tillage and cover crop mulches, may improve weed management efficacy. Depending on cover-cropping goals, growers face trade-offs in species selection and management priorities—producing weed-suppressive mulches may lead to transplanting difficulties and soil-residual herbicide interception. Managing more complex cover crop mixtures may result in different challenges. We established on-farm trials across 4 site-years to study impacts of cover crop composition [wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) monoculture or mixture], termination treatment (early or late chemical termination or removing aboveground biomass), and soil-residual herbicides on weed density and biomass. The cover crop mixture contained cereal rye (Secale cerealeL.), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatumL.), and hairy vetch (Vicia villosaRoth.), with canola (Brassica napusL.) at 1 site-year. The mixture typically produced more biomass than monoculture wheat, although composition had few impacts on weed density or biomass. With residual herbicides, termination treatment had few impacts on weed density, suggesting that residues did not adversely affect herbicide efficacy. Without residual herbicides, early-season weed density was often higher following the late-terminated cover crop compared with other termination treatments, though midseason weed density was typically lower. When termination treatment affected final weed biomass, it was lower following late termination, with one exception—crop establishment was reduced at 1 site-year, leading to reduced weed–crop competition and greater weed biomass. Our results suggest that growers can use mixtures and, if well-timed to a rainfall event for incorporation, still effectively use soil-residual herbicides to maintain adequate weed control in tobacco regardless of how the cover crop is managed. Later termination, resulting in more residue, may lead to less weed biomass accumulation in the absence of herbicide use.

Use of a Rolled-rye Cover Crop for Weed Suppression in No-Till Soybeans

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth A. Mischler ◽  
William S. Curran ◽  
Sjoerd W. Duiker ◽  
Jeffrey A. Hyde
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Planting Date ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Herbicide Application ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Weed Density ◽  
No Till ◽  
Density And Biomass

Cover crop management with a roller/crimper might reduce the need for herbicide. Weed suppression from a rolled cereal rye cover crop was compared to no cover crop with and without postemergence herbicide application in no-till soybean. The experiment was designed as a two-way factorial with rye termination and soybean planting date as the first factor and weed control treatment as the second. Cereal rye was drill-seeded in late September and managed using glyphosate followed by a roller/crimper in the spring. Soybean was no-till seeded after rolling and glyphosate was applied postemergence about 6 wk after planting to half the plots. Rye biomass doubled when delaying rye kill by 10 to 20 d. Weed density and biomass were reduced by the rye cover crop in all site–location combinations except one, but delaying rye kill and soybean planting date only reduced both weed density and biomass at a single location. The cover crop mulch provided weed control similar to the postemergence herbicide in two of four locations. Treatments did not affect soybean grain yield in 2007. In 2008, yield at Landisville with rye alone was equal to those yields receiving the postemergence herbicide, whereas at Rock Springs, it was equivalent or less. The net added cost of a rye cover crop was $123 ha−1with or $68.50 ha−1without a postemergence herbicide application. A rolled-rye cover crop sometimes provided acceptable weed control, but weed control alone did not justify the use of the cover crop. The potential for reduced herbicide use and other ecosystem services provided by a cover crop justify further refinement and research in this area.

scholarly journals Preplant Cover Crops Affect Weed and Vine Growth in First-year Vineyards

HortScience ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1040-1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce P. Bordelon ◽  
Stephen C. Weller
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
First Year ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Vicia Villosa ◽  
Weed Density ◽  
Vine Growth

Use of in-row cover crops for weed management in first-year vineyards was investigated in two studies. In the first study, rye (Secale cereal L. 'Wheeler') was fall-planted, overwintered, then managed by three methods before vine planting. Rye was either herbicide-desiccated with glyphosate and left on the surface as a mulch, mowed, or incorporated into the soil (cultivated). Weed density and growth of grapevines (Vitis spp.) were evaluated. Herbicide desiccation was superior to the other methods for weed suppression, with weed densities 3 to 8 times lower than for mowed or cultivated plots. Vine growth was similar among treatments, but the trend was for more shoot growth with lower weed density. In a second study, four cover crops, rye, wheat (Triticum aestivum L. 'Cardinal'), oats (Avena sativa L. 'Ogle'), and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), were compared. Wheat and rye were fall- and spring-planted, and oats and vetch were spring-planted, then desiccated with herbicides (glyphosate or sethoxydim) after vine planting and compared to weed-free and weedy control plots for weed suppression and grapevine growth. Cover crops provided 27% to 95% reduction in weed biomass compared to weedy control plots. Total vine dry mass was highest in weed-free control plots, was reduced 54% to 77% in the cover crop plots, and was reduced 81% in the weedy control. Fall-planted wheat and rye and spring-planted rye plots produced the highest vine dry mass among cover crop treatments. Spring-planted rye provided the best combination of weed suppression and vine growth. Chemical names used: N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine (glyphosate isopropylamine salt); 2-[l-(ethoxyimino)butyl]5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one (sethoxydim).

Response of Weeds to Tillage and Cover Crop Residue

Weed Science ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Teasdale ◽  
C. Edward Beste ◽  
William E. Potts
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Residue ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Common Lambsquarters ◽  
Weed Density ◽  
Tillage Treatment ◽  
Crop Biomass ◽  
Large Crabgrass

Total weed density increased after 1 yr of no-tillage and after 2 yr of conventional tillage in a 4-yr experiment with repeated assignment of the same treatment to the same plots. Large crabgrass, goosegrass, and carpetweed densities were higher in the no-tillage compared with the conventional-tillage treatment in at least 1 yr whereas common lambsquarters density was greater in the conventional-tillage treatment the last year of the experiment. Within the no-tillage treatment, rye or hairy vetch residue reduced total weed density an average of 78% compared to the treatment without cover crop when cover crop biomass exceeded 300 g m–2and when residue covered more than 90% of the soil. Goosegrass, stinkgrass, and carpetweed densities were reduced by cover crop residue in at least 1 yr whereas large crabgrass was unaffected. Common lambsquarters density increased where rye was grown as a cover crop prior to conventional tillage. Despite differences in weed density among treatments, weed biomass was equivalent in all treatments during the last 2 yr.

Comparison of Conventional and Alternative Nursery Weed Management Strategies

1995 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 761-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
James B. Calkins ◽  
Bert T. Swanson
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
Field Management ◽  
Companion Crop ◽  
Herbicide Management

Soil cultivation (3 to 5 times/yr) and herbicide management (oxadiazon, 3.92 kg ai/ha), agricultural standards for reducing weed competition, were compared to three alternative nursery field management systems regarding weed suppression: ‘Norcen’ bird's-foot trefoil companion crop, ‘Wheeler’ winter rye cover crop/mulch, and grass sod (80% ‘Eton’ perennial ryegrass and 20% ‘Ruby’ red fescue). Field management treatment had a significant effect on observed weed populations. Weed densities were also subject to yearly variations caused by climate and endogenous weed life cycles. Herbicide management (oxadiazon) consistently provided the best control of undesired vegetation (0.3 weeds/m2) followed by the grass sod (0.7 weeds/m2), Wheeler rye cover crop/mulch (1.7 weeds/m2), Norcen bird's-foot trefoil companion crop (8.6 weeds/m2), and cultivated (55.7 weeds/m2) treatments, respectively. Although the grass sod treatment provided excellent control of undesired vegetation, as an alternative to cultivation and herbicide use, it proved to be excessively competitive with the nursery crop. The bird's-foot trefoil treatment quickly became infested with broadleaf weeds the eradication of which proved difficult. The Wheeler winter rye cover crop/mulch field management system provided acceptable weed control combined with other beneficial effects on the plant/soil environment. Results support the effectiveness of Wheeler winter rye and perhaps other allelopathic cover crop/mulch systems in controlling undesired vegetation in horticultural field production systems.

scholarly journals Carryover of Common Corn and Soybean Herbicides to Various Cover Crop Species

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cody D. Cornelius ◽  
Kevin W. Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Crimson Clover ◽  
Crop Establishment ◽  
Biomass Reduction

The recent interest in cover crops as component of Midwest corn and soybean production systems has led to the need for additional research, including the effects of residual corn and soybean herbicide treatments on fall cover crop establishment. Field studies were conducted in 2013, 2014, and 2015 in Columbia, Missouri to investigate the effects of common residual herbicides applied in corn and soybean on establishment of winter wheat, tillage radish, cereal rye, crimson clover, winter oat, Austrian winter pea, Italian ryegrass, and hairy vetch. Cover crops were evaluated for stand and biomass reduction 28 d after emergence (DAE). Rainfall from herbicide application to cover crop seeding date was much greater in 2014 and 2015, which resulted in less carryover in these years compared to 2013. When averaged across all herbicides evaluated in these experiments, the general order of sensitivity of cover crops to herbicide carryover, from greatest to least was Austrian winter pea=crimson clover>oilseed radish>Italian ryegrass>hairy vetch>wheat >winter oat>cereal rye. Cereal rye had the fewest instances of biomass or stand reduction with only four out of the 27 herbicides adversely effecting establishment. Pyroxasulfone consistently reduced Italian ryegrass and winter oat biomass at least 67% in both the corn and soybean experiments. In the soybean experiment, imazethapyr- and fomesafen-containing products resulted in severe stand and biomass reduction in both years while flumetsulam-containing products resulted in the greatest carryover symptoms in the corn experiment. Results from these experiments suggest that several commonly used corn and soybean herbicides have the potential to hinder cover crop establishment, but the severity of damage will depend on weather, cover crop species, and the specific herbicide combination.

Drill and broadcast establishment methods influence interseeded cover crop performance in organic corn

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Wallace ◽  
Sarah Isbell ◽  
Ron Hoover ◽  
Mary Barbercheck ◽  
Jason Kaye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
N Retention ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Organic Systems ◽  
Winter Fallow ◽  
Corn Grain

Abstract Organic grain producers are interested in interseeding cover crops into corn (Zea mays L.) in regions that have a narrow growing season window for post-harvest establishment of cover crops. A field experiment was replicated across 2 years on three commercial organic farms in Pennsylvania to compare the effects of drill- and broadcast-interseeding to standard grower practices, which included post-harvest seeding cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) at the more southern location and winter fallow at the more northern locations. Drill- and broadcast-interseeding treatments occurred just after last cultivation and used a cover crop mixture of annual ryegrass [Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot] + orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) + forage radish (Raphanus sativus L. ssp. longipinnatus). Higher mean fall cover crop biomass and forage radish abundance (% of total) was observed in drill-interseeding treatments compared with broadcast-interseeding. However, corn grain yield and weed suppression and N retention in late-fall and spring were similar among interseeding treatments, which suggests that broadcast-interseeding at last cultivation has the potential to produce similar production and conservation benefits at lower labor and equipment costs in organic systems. Post-harvest seeding cereal rye resulted in greater spring biomass production and N retention compared with interseeded cover crops at the southern location, whereas variable interseeding establishment success and dominance of winter-killed forage radish produced conditions that increased the likelihood of N loss at more northern locations. Additional research is needed to contrast conservation benefits and management tradeoffs between interseeding and post-harvest establishment methods.

Herbicide selection to terminate grass, legume, and brassica cover crop species

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-54
Author(s):  
Kara B. Pittman ◽  
Charles W. Cahoon ◽  
Kevin W. Bamber ◽  
Lucas S. Rector ◽  
Michael L. Flessner
Keyword(s):  
Active Ingredient ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Rating Data ◽  
Crimson Clover ◽  
And Control

AbstractCover crops provide a number of agronomic benefits, including weed suppression, which is important as cases of herbicide resistance continue to rise. To effectively suppress weeds, high cover crop biomass is needed, which necessitates later termination timing. Cover crop termination is important to mitigate potential planting issues and prevent surviving cover crop competition with cash crops. Field studies were conducted in Virginia to determine the most effective herbicide options alone or combined with glyphosate or paraquat to terminate a range of cover crop species. Results revealed that grass cover crop species were controlled (94% to 98%) by glyphosate alone 4 wk after application (WAA). Overall, legume species varied in response to the single active-ingredient treatments, and control increased with the addition of glyphosate or paraquat. Mixes with glyphosate provided better control of crimson clover and hairy vetch by 7% to 8% compared with mixes containing paraquat 4 WAA. Mix partner did not influence control of Austrian winter pea. No treatment adequately controlled rapeseed in this study, with a maximum of 58% control observed with single active-ingredient treatments and 62% control with mixes. Height reduction for all cover crop species supports visible rating data. Rapeseed should be terminated when smaller, which could negate weed suppressive benefits from this cover crop species. Growers should consider herbicide selection and termination timing in their cover crop plan to ensure effective termination.

Live and Killed Hairy Vetch Cover Crop Effects on Weeds and Yield in Glyphosate-Resistant Corn

2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 835-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna N. Reddy ◽  
Clifford H. Koger
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Wide Band ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Research Unit ◽  
Corn Yield ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Dry Biomass

A 2-yr field study was conducted from 2002 to 2003 on a Dundee silt loam soil at the Southern Weed Science Research Unit Farm, Stoneville, MS (33°26′N latitude), to examine the effects of hairy vetch cover crop (hairy vetch killed at corn planting [HV-K], hairy vetch killed in a 38-cm-wide band centered over the crop row at corn planting [HV-B], hairy vetch left alive [HV-L], and no hairy vetch [NHV]) and glyphosate postemergence (broadcast, banded, and no herbicide) application on weed control and yield in glyphosate-resistant corn. Two applications of glyphosate at 0.84 kg ae/ha were applied 3 and 5 wk after planting (WAP) corn. Hairy vetch dry biomass was higher in HV-L (4,420 kg/ha) and HV-B (4,180 kg/ha) than in HV-K (1,960 kg/ha) plots at 7 WAP. Hairy vetch reduced densities of pitted morningglory, prickly sida, and yellow nutsedge in HV-B and HV-L compared with NHV plots, but hairy vetch had no effect on densities of barnyardgrass, johnsongrass, and large crabgrass at 7 WAP regardless of desiccation. Total weed dry biomass at 7 WAP was lower in HV-B and HV-L than in HV-K and NHV plots. Corn yield was higher in HV-K (10,280 kg/ha) than in HV-B (9,440 kg/ha) and HV-L (9,100 kg/ha), and yields were similar between HV-K and NHV (9,960 kg/ha). Glyphosate applied broadcast resulted in the highest corn yield (11,300 kg/ha) compared with a banded application (10,160 kg/ha). These findings indicate that hairy vetch cover crop has the potential for reducing the density of certain weed species in glyphosate-resistant corn production systems; however, optimum weed control and higher yield were obtained when glyphosate was used.

Timing of Cover-Crop Management Effects on Weed Suppression in No-Till Planted Soybean using a Roller-Crimper

Weed Science ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 380-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. B. Mirsky ◽  
W. S. Curran ◽  
D. M. Mortenseny ◽  
M. R. Ryany ◽  
D. L. Shumway
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Management ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
No Till ◽  
Termination Date ◽  
Crop Biomass

Integrated weed management tactics are necessary to develop cropping systems that enhance soil quality using conservation tillage and reduced herbicide or organic weed management. In this study, we varied planting and termination date of two cereal rye cultivars (‘Aroostook’ and ‘Wheeler’) and a rye/hairy vetch mixture to evaluate cover-crop biomass production and subsequent weed suppression in no-till planted soybean. Cover crops were killed with a burn-down herbicide and roller-crimper and the weed-suppressive effects of the remaining mulch were studied. Cover-crop biomass increased approximately 2,000 kg ha−1from latest to earliest fall planting dates (August 25–October 15) and for each 10-d incremental delay in spring termination date (May 1–June 1). Biomass accumulation for cereal rye was best estimated using a thermal-based model that separated the effects of fall and spring heat units. Cultivars differed in their total biomass accumulation; however, once established, their growth rates were similar, suggesting the difference was mainly due to the earlier emergence of Aroostook rye. The earlier emergence of Aroostook rye may have explained its greater weed suppression than Wheeler, whereas the rye/hairy vetch mixture was intermediate between the two rye cultivars. Delaying cover-crop termination reduced weed density, especially for early- and late-emerging summer annual weeds in 2006. Yellow nutsedge was not influenced by cover-crop type or the timing of cover-crop management. We found that the degree of synchrony between weed species emergence and accumulated cover-crop biomass played an important role in defining the extent of weed suppression.

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