An Introduction to Weed Management for Conservation Tillage Systems
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C o n s e r v a t i o n T i l l a g e S e r i e s Number Two An Introduction to Weed Management for Conservation Tillage Systems PLANNING A WEED MANAGEMENT VEGEtatiON CONSIDERatiONS PROGRAM To establish a new crop in Managing weeds in reduced-tillage conservation tillage systems, systems requires a planned approach. it is necessary to kill or Through planning, successful suppress emerged vegetation conservation tillage producers anticipate before or at planting time. potential problems, find timely “Preplant” vegetation can include solutions, and make use of integrated a fall-seeded cover crop or an old pest management techniques (IPM), grass or alfalfa hay crop; or it can such as field scouting and crop rotation, simply be weeds that emerge prior to find alternative pest management to crop establishment. Managing such strategies. Flexibility and foresight also vegetation in no-till systems generally aid in success. means using a herbicide, but in reduced- This fact sheet discusses ways to till it can also involve chisel plowing, manage weeds and other vegetation field cultivating, or disking, depending such as hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) in conservation tillage systems using on the desired tillage system. Which or cereal rye (Secale cereale), can cultural, mechanical, and chemical control strategy to use will depend on provide excellent cover when properly control tactics. See individual several factors, including the emerged managed; they may even help to reduce commodity sections within the Penn species, timing of control, and how the presence of certain problem weeds. State Agronomy Guide or related much tillage the grower wants to do. Living mulches like crown vetch publications for specific weed (Coronilla varia) can provide long-term management guidelines for corn, Cover Crops soil management benefits without the soybeans, small grains, and forages. Cover crops often require additional need for annual establishment. Several factors make weed attention in conservation tillage Mismanagement or neglect of management in conservation tillage systems. Winter annual cover crops, any cover crop, however, can lead unique. In reduced-tillage agriculture, to additional weed problems and growing vegetation may already be the potential for significant losses in present at planting time and must be crop yield. See the fact sheet entitled Weed Management Factors in killed or suppressed. Certain types “Cover Crops for Conservation Tillage Conservation Tillage of weeds are more common in no-till Systems” for more information on cover and may require special consideration. ■ Vegetation may be present at crop management. If weed pressure or plant residue is planting time intense, an adjustment in herbicide rate ■ Certain weeds are more common Weeds or alternative control strategies may be Certain traits help define what we call ■ Herbicide rate may require required. Occasional use of selective weeds. A characteristic of many weeds adjustment tillage may be necessary to keep is the ability to invade and succeed problem weeds in line. Finally, other ■ Selective tillage may be necessary under almost any environment. Certain management techniques, such as crop ■ Crop rotation is critical for habitats favor certain weeds, and rotation, are critical. managing problem weeds conservation tillage provides a specific habitat. 2 Annuals reproduction can allow a few plants to operations. Therefore, in limited tillage Annual weeds emerge from the soil, become a large community within a systems, there is greater dependence on produce seed, and die in a single season short time. cultural and chemical control options. or less than one year. There are two The simple perennials, such as types: winter and summer annuals. dandelion and the dock species (Table Cultural Weed Control Winter annuals begin growth in late 1), have one main taproot and spread Cultural weed control may include summer or early fall and set seed in principally by seed. Creeping perennials altering cropping patterns or rotations; spring before dying. Table 1 includes spread by rhizomes, budding roots, row spacing; planting or harvesting examples of these and other types of stolons, tubers, bulbs, or corms; they date; variety selection; and fertility weeds. Summer annuals have a life include Canada thistle, quackgrass, practices. These strategies may be well- cycle that begins in late spring and ends and even woody perennials like wild planned events, such as crop rotation, in late summer or fall. Examples are the blackberry (Table 1). Some perennial or simply preventive techniques that foxtails, fall panicum, large crabgrass, species were once thought to be are more subtle and spontaneous. and small-seeded broadleaved weeds harmless or even aesthetically pleasing. Spot spraying or hand removal of an such as pigweed and lambsquarters An example is Japanese knotweed, isolated infestation can prevent further (Table 1). which now shows up as a weed in no- spread of problem weed species, Some annual weeds can germinate till environments. generally requiring little time or capital with little or no seed burial and are investment. In contrast, rotation to a common to no-till environments. In OPTIONS FOR WEED MANAGEMENT small grain or forage crop to interrupt general, the smaller the seed, the more An important benefit of tillage is weed life cycles or altering the row adapted the plant is to a reduced-tillage weed control. In conservation tillage spacing on a planter to increase crop environment. These problem annual agriculture, the grower relies on the competition over weeds can involve weed species tend to be prolific seed same weed management practices as more time and money. Regardless of producers; they germinate readily under in more conventional tillage systems the level of input, cultural weed control crop residue, and depending on species, but eliminates most or all of the tillage strategies reap long-term benefits. can emerge in the cool soils of April or May or during the warm summer rains of July. Their primary means of spread Table 1. Common weeds in no-till systems. is by seed production. Winter annuals Simple perennials Creeping perennials Biennials Common chickweed Common dandelion Canada thistle Other weeds that thrive under reduced- Henbit Dock spp. Hemp dogbane tillage conditions are the biennials. Red dead nettle Common pokeweed Bindweed spp. These weeds, which include burdock, Shepherdspurse Summer annuals Common milkweed musk, and plumeless thistle, have a Field pennycress Common lambsquarters Horsenettle two-year life cycle (Table 1). Biennials Wild mustard Pigweed spp. Quackgrass emerge from seed and exist as low- Yellow rocket Foxtail spp. Wirestem muhly growing rosettes the first year. The Wild radish Fall panicum Johnsongrass following spring or summer, biennial Pepperweed spp. Large crabgrass Yellow nutsedge plant stems elongate, flower, and produce Downy brome Common ragweed Wild garlic/onion seed, ending their two-year life cycle. Horseweed/marestail Velvetleaf Virginia creeper Biennials usually have a large taproot Prickly lettuce Annual smartweed Wild blackberry that extends deep into undisturbed soils Biennials Eastern black nightshade Sumac spp. of no-till fields. Like annuals, biennials Common burdock Jimsonweed Japanese knotweed reproduce and spread only by seed. Bull thistle Rough (daisy) fleabane Perennials Musk/plumeless thistle Perennial plants live for more than two Wild carrot years. Many reproduce and/or spread Wild parsnip through vegetative means as well as Poison hemlock by seed. Perennials thrive in soils with Common mullein little or no tillage where vegetative 3 Crop rotation may have the largest soil surface. Larger-seeded broadleafs chopping up the perennial root system single impact on weed control. No- (e.g., cocklebur, burcucumber) generally without effective follow-up measures till producers who raise continuous or can germinate from soil depths of 1½ may actually increase the weed multiyear corn, soybeans, or forages can inches or greater. For lasting benefit problem. But tillage combined with an expect to have greater weed problems in conservation tillage systems, tillage effective systemic herbicide application and to invest more time and money must be used in conjunction with other can have a greater impact on weeds than in weed control than their neighbors strategies such as effective herbicide either tillage or herbicide alone. who practice a more diverse rotation. programs and crop rotation. Disking or Regardless of tillage system, crop rotation can provide an opportunity to manage some problem weeds effectively. Table 2. Optimum and maximum seed emergence depth of several Fall-seeded cereal grains like wheat weed species. are very competitive against summer annual weeds that become common in Optimum Maximum corn or soybeans. Including a fall- or Weed (inches) (inches) spring-seeded small grain in the rotation Common lambsquarters 0.2–0.4 2.0 can allow timely herbicide applications Canada thistle 0.4 2.4 for perennial weed management Common chickweed 0.4 0.8 following the small grain harvest. Crabgrass 0.4 1.6 Rotation to forages where repeated Giant foxtail 0.2–0.6 1.2 mowing is part of the management Green foxtail 1.0 3.0 strategy will reduce the frequency of Burcucumber 1.0–2.0 6.0 certain annual and perennial weeds. Grass forage and hay crops can be Sources: King 1966 and Mann 1981. very competitive and can permit the application of several effective broadleaved herbicides. Crop rotation’s benefits are diverse and run