Effects of Integrated Polyethylene and Cover Crop Mulch, Conservation Tillage, and Herbicide Application on Weed Control, Yield, and Economic Returns in Watermelon

AbstractA 3-yr watermelon experiment was established in fall 2013 to evaluate cover crop, polyethylene mulch, tillage, and herbicide application components for weed control, yield, and profitability. Conservation tillage, either with a cereal rye cover crop alone or integrated with polyethylene mulch, was compared to the standard industry practice of conventional tillage with bedded polyethylene mulch. The study also used a non-bedded conventional tillage system without polyethylene to determine polyethylene and cover crop residue effects. Within each of the four systems, herbicide treatments comprised halosulfuron applied (1) at 26.3 g ai ha–1PRE, (2) at 26.3 g ai ha–1POST, or (3) sequentially at 26.3 g ai ha–1PRE and POST. Each system also had a nontreated control. In addition, clethodim was applied in all plots twice POST at 140 g ai ha–1, except for nontreated in each system. In 2014, polyethylene or cereal rye cover crop effectively controlled tall morningglory, coffee senna, and carpetweed early season in nontreated plots, whereas the integration of the two was effective at controlling common purslane. Tall morningglory and purslane control was insufficient late season regardless of production system and herbicide application. In 2015, polyethylene effectively controlled cutleaf eveningprimrose, sicklepod, and arrowleaf sida early season in nontreated plots. Yellow nutsedge control was insufficient late season regardless of production system and herbicide application. Utilizing sequential halosulfuron applications did not increase weed control over PRE or POST alone in all years. Polyethylene use resulted in yields higher than systems without in all years. Across all 3 yr, net returns were highest for polyethylene mulch systems. The results of this experiment underscore the need for more progress in developing integrated conservation systems for watermelon production. Effective herbicides, low-disturbance cultivation, and/or hand weeding are most likely the key to success in conservation specialty crop systems.

Download Full-text

Influence of a Cereal Rye Cover Crop and Conservation Tillage on the Critical Period for Weed Control in Cotton

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/wet.2018.73 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 (6) ◽

pp. 683-690 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andrew J. Price ◽

Nicholas E. Korres ◽

Jason K. Norsworthy ◽

Steve Li

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Critical Period ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

Relative Yield ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Cereal Rye ◽

Winter Fallow

AbstractCover crops are being increasingly recommended as an integrated approach to controlling glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth and other troublesome weeds. Thus, a field experiment was conducted in 2010 through 2012 to evaluate the critical period for weed control (CPWC) in cotton as affected by a cereal rye cover crop and tillage. The management systems evaluated included conventional tillage following winter fallow, conservation tillage (CT) following winter fallow, and CT following a cereal rye cover crop managed for maximum biomass. Throughout most of the growing season, weed biomass in cereal rye cover crop plots was less than the CT winter-fallow system in both years and less than both CT winter fallow and conventional tillage in 2012. The CPWC was shortest in 2010 following conventional tillage; however, in 2012, production system influences on CPWC were less. The presence of the rye cover crop delayed the critical timing for weed removal (CTWR) approximately 8 d compared with fallow treatment both years, while conventional tillage delayed CTWR about 2 wk compared with winter fallow. Relative yield losses in both years did not reach the 5% threshold limit until about 2 wk after planting (WAP) for CT following winter fallow, 3 WAP for CT following a cover crop, and 3.5 WAP following conventional tillage. Thus, CT following winter fallow should be avoided to minimize cotton yield loss.

Download Full-text

Experiences with Conservation Tillage Vegetables in Tennessee

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.9.3.366 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 366-372 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Alvin D. Rutledge

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

Citrullus Lanatus ◽

Crop Protection ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Vicia Villosa

Research yields of conservation tillage (CT) snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. rugosa Bonaf.) have been less than those produced under conventional tillage. This has been due to soil conditions at planting, the cover crop used, weed control and a lack of proper design in equipment for CT. However, some growers have been successful with CT for sweet corn using hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) as the cover crop. On-farm demonstrations of CT with cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. Capitata Group), pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo L.), tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and watermelons [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb) Matsum. & Nak.] have been successful and with good management it is commercially feasible under Tennessee conditions. Advantages include reduced soil erosion, cleaner products, more efficient application of crop protection chemicals, quicker planting after rainfall, lower energy costs and facilitation of harvest in wet weather. Disadvantages include reduced weed control, modifications of existing equipment, less uniformity in seed coverage and problems with transplanting, cover crop residue in mechanically harvested crops, possible delays in early harvest of fresh market crops due to delayed maturity and limited application of soil protective chemicals.

Download Full-text

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

Weed Technology ◽

10.1614/wt-d-09-00004.1 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 253-261 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

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.

Download Full-text

Integration of residual herbicides with cover crop termination in soybean

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/wet.2019.111 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 11-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Derek M. Whalen ◽

Lovreet S. Shergill ◽

Lyle P. Kinne ◽

Mandy D. Bish ◽

Kevin W. Bradley

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Biomass Accumulation ◽

Field Studies ◽

Italian Ryegrass ◽

Cereal Rye ◽

Herbicide Treatments ◽

Residual Herbicide ◽

Herbicide Programs

AbstractCover crops have increased in popularity in midwestern U.S. corn and soybean systems in recent years. However, little research has been conducted to evaluate how cover crops and residual herbicides are effectively integrated together for weed control in a soybean production system. Field studies were conducted in 2016 and 2017 to evaluate summer annual weed control and to determine the effect of cover crop biomass on residual herbicide reaching the soil. The herbicide treatments consisted of preplant (PP) applications of glyphosate plus 2,4-D with or without sulfentrazone plus chlorimuron at two different timings, 21 and 7 d prior to soybean planting (DPP). Cover crops evaluated included winter vetch, cereal rye, Italian ryegrass, oat, Austrian winter pea, winter wheat, and a winter vetch plus cereal rye mixture. Herbicide treatments were applied to tilled and nontilled soil without cover crop for comparison. The tillage treatment resulted in low weed biomass at all collection intervals after both application timings, which corresponded to tilled soil having the highest sulfentrazone concentration (171 ng g−1) compared with all cover crop treatments. When applied PP, herbicide treatments applied 21 DPP with sulfentrazone had greater weed (93%) and waterhemp (89%) control than when applied 7 DPP (60% and 69%, respectively). When applied POST, herbicide treatments with a residual herbicide resulted in greater weed and waterhemp control at 7 DPP (83% and 77%, respectively) than at 21 DPP (74% and 61%, respectively). Herbicide programs that included a residual herbicide had the highest soybean yields (≥3,403 kg ha−1). Results from this study indicate that residual herbicides can be effectively integrated either PP or POST in conjunction with cover crop termination applications, but termination timing and biomass accumulation will affect the amount of sulfentrazone reaching the soil.

Download Full-text

Weed Control in Soybean (Glycine max) with Flumetsulam, Cloransulam, and Diclosulam

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/s0890037x0004224x ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 791-798 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

David R. Shaw ◽

Andrew C. Bennett ◽

Donald L. Grant

Keyword(s):

Glycine Max ◽

Weed Control ◽

Standard Treatment ◽

The Other ◽

Early Season ◽

Late Season ◽

Pitted Morningglory

Cloransulam postemergence (POST), diclosulam preemergence (PRE), and flumetsulam preplant incorporated (PPI) and POST were evaluated in six trials at two locations for control of sicklepod and pitted morningglory in soybean. Sicklepod control with cloransulam plus flumetsulam POST was equivalent to chlorimuron POST in seven of eight comparisons both 3 and 6 wk after treatment. Sicklepod control with cloransulam POST was equivalent to chlorimuron in only three of eight comparisons 3 wk after treatment, but late-season control was equivalent in five of six comparisons. Pitted morningglory control with cloransulam alone or in tank-mixture with flumetsulam POST was equivalent to chlorimuron in all comparisons. Control of sicklepod and pitted morningglory was greater in most comparisons when a POST application followed flumetsulam plus trifluralin PPI compared to only trifluralin PPI. In a total PRE stale seedbed system, where all treatments were tank-mixed with pendimethalin plus glyphosate, sicklepod control with all rates of flumetsulam and 26 or 35 g ai/ha diclosulam was equivalent to the standard treatment of imazaquin or metribuzin plus chlorimuron. None of the total PRE programs controlled sicklepod as well as when glyphosate was applied sequentially POST. Pitted morningglory was controlled 83 to 93% with 26 or 35 g/ha diclosulam, equivalent to imazaquin, metribuzin plus chlorimuron, or sequential glyphosate applications 8 wk after the PRE application. Increasing flumetsulam rate increased pitted morningglory control early season, but flumetsulam was not as effective as the other herbicides.

Download Full-text

Influence of Various Cover Crop Species on Winter and Summer Annual Weed Emergence in Soybean

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/wet.2017.23 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 503-513 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Cody D. Cornelius ◽

Kevin W. Bradley

Keyword(s):

Cover Crop ◽

Italian Ryegrass ◽

Similar Response ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Crop Species ◽

Cereal Rye ◽

Late Season ◽

Winter Annual ◽

Residual Herbicide ◽

Weed Emergence

Field experiments were conducted in 2013, 2014, and 2015 in Columbia and Moberly, Missouri to determine the effects of cereal rye, Italian ryegrass, winter wheat, winter oat, crimson clover, Austrian winterpea, hairy vetch, oilseed radish, and cereal rye plus hairy vetch on winter and summer annual weed emergence in soybean. For comparison purposes, each experiment in each year included a Fall PRE, Spring PRE without residual, and Spring PRE residual herbicide programs. Cereal rye and cereal rye plus hairy vetch reduced winter annual weed emergence by 72 and 68%, respectively, but were not comparable to the Fall PRE which reduced winter annual weed emergence by 99%. The following spring, early-season waterhemp emergence was similar among treatments of cereal rye, cereal rye plus hairy vetch, and the Spring PRE residual herbicide program. In contrast, all cover crop species other than Italian ryegrass reduced late season waterhemp emergence between 21 and 40%, but were not comparable to the Spring PRE residual herbicide program, which reduced late season waterhemp emergence by 97%. All other summer annual weeds excluding waterhemp showed a similar response among cover crop and herbicide treatments. Overall, results from this experiment indicate that certain cover crops are able to suppress winter and summer annual weed emergence, but not to the extent of soil-applied residual herbicides.

Download Full-text

Weed Control in No-tillage Cucumber Production

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.39.4.746d ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 39 (4) ◽

pp. 746D-747

Author(s):

S. Alan Walters* ◽

Scott A. Nolte ◽

Joseph L. Matthews ◽

Bryan G. Young

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Production System ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Production ◽

Amaranthus Retroflexus ◽

Winter Rye ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

No Tillage ◽

Drought Conditions ◽

Soil Temperatures

A field study was conducted in 2002 and 2003 to evaluate various herbicides (ethafluralin & clomazone, halosulfuron, and ethafluralin & clomazone + halosulfuron) with or without a winter rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop in no-tillage `Daytona' cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) production. All herbicides were applied preplant prior to cucumber transplanting, and no injury or stunting to cucumber was observed with any of the treatments evaluated at any time during the two growing seasons. Winter rye provided a significant advantage for weed control compared to the no cover crop production system. The combination of ethafluralin & clomazone + halosulfuron provided the greatest control of smooth crabgrass [Digitaria ischaemum (Schreb. Ex Schweig) Schreb. Ex Muhl.] and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.). Ethafluralin & clomazone provided little redroot pig-weed control, while halosulfuron alone provided no control of smooth crabgrass. Winter rye enhanced cucumber yields in 2002 (drought conditions), while in 2003 (sufficient moisture and cooler soil temperatures), winter rye tended to suppress yields. During drought conditions (2002), treatments with ethafluralin & clomazone and ethafluralin & clomazone + halosulfuron produced similar yields. However, in 2003, treatments with ethafluralin & clomazone + halosulfuron produced greater yields than treatments with ethafluralin & clomazone. Overall, the handweed treatment provided the greatest yields, while the non-treated and halosulfuron only treatment provided the lowest yields. Winter rye will provide some additional weed control in a no-tillage vegetable production system, but may also provide negative effects by suppressing crop yield depending on seasonal growing conditions.

Download Full-text

399 Use of Conservation Tillage and Cover Crops for Sustainable Vegetable Production

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.35.3.461e ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 461E-461

Author(s):

H.J. Hruska ◽

G.R. Cline ◽

A.F. Silvernail ◽

K. Kaul

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

N Fertilizer ◽

No Tillage ◽

Inorganic N ◽

Winter Cover Crop ◽

Winter Cover ◽

Strip Tillage

Research began in 1999 to examine sustainable production of bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) using conservation tillage and legume winter cover crops. Tillage treatments included conventional tillage, strip-tillage, and no-tillage, and winter covers consisted of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), winter rye (Secale cereale L.), and a vetch/rye biculture. Pepper yields following the rye winter cover crop were significantly reduced if inorganic N fertilizer was not supplied. However, following vetch, yields of peppers receiving no additional N were similar to yields obtained in treatments receiving the recommended rate of inorganic N fertilizer. Thus, vetch supplied sufficient N to peppers in terms of yields. Pepper yields following the biculture cover crop were intermediate between those obtained following vetch and rye. When weeds were controlled manually, pepper yields following biculture cover crops were similar among the three tillage treatments, indicating that no-tillage and strip-tillage could be used successfully if weeds were controlled. With no-tillage, yields were reduced without weed control but the reduction was less if twice the amount of residual cover crop surface mulch was used. Without manual weed control, pepper yields obtained using strip-tillage were reduced regardless of metolachlor herbicide application. It was concluded that a vetch winter cover crop could satisfy N requirements of peppers and that effective chemical or mechanical weed control methods need to be developed in order to grow peppers successfully using no-tillage or strip-tillage.

Download Full-text

619 Temporal and Spatial Weed Control Effects on Tart Cherry Orchards

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.34.3.554c ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 554C-554

Author(s):

Yahya K. Al-Hinai ◽

Teryl R. Roper

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Weed Management ◽

Shoot Growth ◽

Tart Cherry ◽

Early Season ◽

Late Season ◽

Cherry Orchard ◽

Temporal And Spatial ◽

June July ◽

Postemergence Herbicides

This experiment was conducted to determine temporal and spatial weed management characteristics for tart cherry orchards. Annual ryegrass and lambsquarter were planted in tree rows of a 14-year-old tart cherry orchard. Vegetation was controlled with nonresidual herbicides (Gramoxone + B-1956) either all season, May, June, July, August, before harvest, after harvest, or not controlled. Shoot growth measurements showed significantly more growth by trees without weed competition during the entire season, May, June, and before harvest compared to the weedy control and postharvest, July, or August treatments. Weedy early season plots reduced the shoot growth by half. All season, before harvest, May, and June weed-free plots showed higher amounts of leaf N compared with weedy controls or late-season treatments. Early season weed control is more important than late season. Vegetation-free areas of 0, 2, 3, and 4 m2 were maintained during 1998 by postemergence herbicides. Tissue analysis showed higher N concentration in leaves with vegetation controlled to 2 m2 or more compared to the weedy control. The critical vegetation free area for young cherry trees is between 0 and 2 m2.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of Organic Spring Cover Crop Termination Practices to Enhance Rolling/Crimping

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy9090519 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 519

Author(s):

Price ◽

Duzy ◽

McElroy ◽

Keyword(s):

Cover Crop ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

The United States ◽

Clove Oil ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Brassica Napus L ◽

Crop Species ◽

Cereal Rye ◽

Crimson Clover ◽

Clear Plastic

With organic farming hectarage and cover crop interest increasing throughout the United States, effectively timed cover crop termination practices are needed that can be utilized in organic conservation tillage production systems. Four commercially available termination treatments approved by Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) were evaluated, immediately following mechanical termination with a cover crop roller/crimper and compared to a synthetic herbicide termination to access termination rates. Treatments included rolling/crimping followed by (1) 20% vinegar solution (28 L a.i. ha−1 acetic acid), (2) 2.5 L a.i. ha−1 45% cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum L.) oil (cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, eugenol acetate)/45% clove oil (eugenol, acetyl eugenol, caryophyllene) mixture, (3) 0.15 mm clear polyethylene sheeting applied with edges manually tucked into the soil for 28 days over the entire plot area (clear plastic), (4) broadcast flame emitting 1100 °C applied at 1.2 k/h (flame), (5) glyphosate applied at 1.12 kg a.i. ha−1 (this non-OMRI-approved, non-organic conservation tillage cover crop termination standard practice was included to help ascertain desiccation, regrowth, and economics), and (6) a non-treated control. Five cover crop species were evaluated: (1) hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), (2) crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), (3) cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), (4) Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativum L.), and (5) rape (Brassica napus L.). Three termination timings occurred at four-week intervals beginning mid-March each year. In April or May, organic producers are most likely to be successful using a roller crimper as either a broadcast flamer for terminating all winter covers evaluated, or utilizing clear plastic for hairy vetch, winter peas, and cereal rye. Ineffectiveness and regrowth concerns following cover crop termination in March are substantial. Commercially available vinegar and cinnamon/clove oil solutions provided little predictable termination, and producers attempting to use these OMRI-approved products will likely resort to cover crop incorporation, or mowing, to terminate covers if no other practice is readily available.

Download Full-text