scholarly journals Performance of WeedSOFT for Predicting Soybean Yield Loss

2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 478-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn M. Hock ◽  
Stevan Z. Knezevic ◽  
Alex R. Martin ◽  
John L. Lindquist

Decision support systems (DSSs) have been developed to assist producers and consultants with weed management decisions. WeedSOFT is a DSS currently used in several states in the north-central region of the United States. Accurate estimates of crop yield loss due to weed interference are required for cost-effective weed management recommendations. WeedSOFT uses competitive indices (CIs) to predict crop yield loss under multiple weed species, weed densities, and relative times of weed emergence. Performance of several WeedSOFT versions to predict soybean yield loss from weed competition was evaluated using CI values in WeedSOFT version 9.0 compared to new CI values calculated from weed dry matter, weed volume, and soybean yield loss in two soybean row spacings (19 and 76 cm) and two relative weed emergence times (at soybean emergence and first trifoliate leaf stage). Overall, new CI values improved predictions of soybean yield loss by as high as 63%. It was especially true with using new CI values based on yield loss compared to those based on weed dry matter or weed volume. However, there were inconsistencies in predictions for most weed species, suggesting that additional modifications are needed to further improve soybean yield loss predictions.

Weed Science ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn M. Hock ◽  
Stevan Z. Knezevic ◽  
Alex R. Martin ◽  
John L. Lindquist

Weed competitiveness can be quantified with the concept of competitive index (CI), a relative scale of weed competitiveness. Field studies were conducted in 2002 and 2003 in northeastern and southeastern Nebraska to evaluate the influence of soybean row spacing and relative weed emergence time on the competitiveness of major weed species in soybean. Ten weed species were seeded in soybean spaced 19 and 76 cm apart at the planting, emergence, and first trifoliate leaf stages of soybean. Total weed dry matter (TDM), weed plant volume, and percent soybean yield loss were arbitrarily selected as a base for determining the CI for each weed species. Soybean yield loss was the least variable parameter used to quantify weed competitiveness and rank their CIs. In general, weeds grown with soybean planted in 19-cm rows produced less TDM, plant volume, and reduced soybean yield less than weed species grown in 76-cm rows. Later-emerging weeds produced less TDM, plant volume, and reduced soybean yield less than the early-emerging ones. In general, broadleaf species were more competitive than grass weed species. Common sunflower was the most competitive weed species in this study.


Weed Science ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 533-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Cowan ◽  
Susan E. Weaver ◽  
Clarence J. Swanton

Field experiments were conducted to determine the influence of time of emergence and density of single and multispecies populations of pigweed and barnyardgrass on soybean yield and competitive abilities of pigweed and barnyardgrass. Pigweed and barnyardgrass were established at selected densities within 12.5 cm on either side of the soybean row. Pigweed and barnyardgrass seeds were sown concurrently with soybean and at the cotyledon stage of soybean growth. Time and density of pigweed and barnyardgrass seedling emergence relative to soybean influenced the magnitude of soybean yield loss. Maximum soybean yield loss ranged from 32 to 99%, depending upon time of emergence relative to soybean. Pigweed was more competitive than barnyardgrass across all locations, years, and time of weed emergence. When pigweed was assigned a competitive index of 1 on a scale from 0 to 1, the competitive ability of barnyardgrass ranged from 0.075 to 0.40 of pigweed, depending upon location and time of emergence. This is the first multiple weed species study to include time of weed emergence relative to the crop. Competitive index values for multiple weed species must be calculated from field experiments in which weeds are grown with the crop under differing environmental conditions.


Weed Science ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen R. Canner ◽  
L. J. Wiles ◽  
Robert H. Erskine ◽  
Gregory S. McMaster ◽  
Gale H. Dunn ◽  
...  

Theory and models of crop yield loss from weed competition have led to decision models to help growers choose cost-effective weed management. These models are available for multiple-species weed communities in a single season of several crops. Growers also rely on crop rotation for weed control, yet theory and models of weed population dynamics have not led to similar tools for planning of crop rotations for cost-effective weed management. Obstacles have been the complexity of modeling the dynamics of multiple populations of weed species compared to a single species and lack of data. We developed a method to use limited, readily observed data to simulate population dynamics and crop yield loss of multiple-species weed communities in response to crop rotation, tillage system, and specific weed management tactics. Our method is based on the general theory of density dependence of plant productivity and extensive use of rectangular hyperbolic equations for describing crop yield loss as a function of weed density. Only two density-independent parameters are required for each species to represent differences in seed bank mortality, emergence, and maximum seed production. One equation is used to model crop yield loss and density-dependent weed seed production as a function of crop and weed density, relative time of weed and crop emergence, and differences among species in competitive ability. The model has been parameterized for six crops and 15 weeds, and limited evaluation indicates predictions are accurate enough to highlight potential weed problems and solutions when comparing alternative crop rotations for a field. The model has been incorporated into a decision support tool for whole-farm management so growers in the Central Great Plains of the United States can compare alternative crop rotations and how their choice influences farm income, herbicide use, and control of weeds in their fields.


2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathanael D. Fickett ◽  
Chris M. Boerboom ◽  
David E. Stoltenberg

Approximately 50% of the genetically modified herbicide-resistant corn hectares in the United States are treated only with POST-applied herbicides for weed management. Although a high degree of efficacy can be obtained with POST-applied herbicides, delayed timing of application may result in substantial corn yield loss. Our goal was to characterize on-farm corn–weed communities prior to POST herbicide application and estimate potential corn-yield loss associated with early-season corn–weed competition. In 2008 and 2009, field surveys were conducted across 95 site-years in southern Wisconsin and recorded weed species, density, and height in addition to crop height, growth stage, and row spacing. WeedSOFT® was used to predict corn yield loss. Common lambsquarters, velvetleaf, dandelion, common ragweed, andAmaranthusspecies were the five most abundant broadleaf weed species across site-years, present in 92, 86, 59, 45, and 44% of all fields, respectively, at mean densities of 19, 3, 3, 4, and 3 plants m−2, respectively. Mean plant heights among these species were 17 cm or less. Grass and sedge species occurred in 96% of fields at a mean density of 25 plants m−2and height of 7 cm. The mean and median of total weed density across site-years were 96 and 52 plants m−2, with heights of 14 and 13 cm, respectively. Mean predicted corn yield loss was 4.5% with a mean economic loss of $62 ha−1. However, predicted yield loss was greater than 5% on one-third of the site-years, with a maximum of 26%. These results indicate that delayed application of POST herbicides has led to corn yield loss due to early-season weed-crop competition on a substantial number of fields across southern Wisconsin, and suggest that management tactics need to be improved to protect corn yield potential fully.


Weed Science ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott M. Swinton ◽  
Douglas D. Buhler ◽  
Frank Forcella ◽  
Jeffrey L. Gunsolus ◽  
Robert P. King

Previous efforts to model crop yield loss from multiple weed species constructed competitive indices based on yield loss from individual weed species. Our model uses a multispecies modification of Cousens’ rectangular hyperbolic yield function to estimate a nonlinear competitive index for weed-crop interference. Results from 13 Minnesota and Wisconsin data sets provide measures of the relative competitiveness of mixed green and yellow foxtails, common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, velvetleaf, and several other weed species. Competition coefficient estimates are stable over years, but not locations.


2015 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 101-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shah Fahad ◽  
Saddam Hussain ◽  
Bhagirath Singh Chauhan ◽  
Shah Saud ◽  
Chao Wu ◽  
...  

Weed Science ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 416-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R. Jeschke ◽  
David E. Stoltenberg ◽  
George O. Kegode ◽  
Christy L. Sprague ◽  
Stevan Z. Knezevic ◽  
...  

Potential crop yield loss due to early-season weed competition is an important risk associated with postemergence weed management programs. WeedSOFT is a weed management decision support system that has the potential to greatly reduce such risk. Previous research has shown that weed emergence time can greatly affect the accuracy of corn yield loss predictions by WeedSOFT, but our understanding of its predictive accuracy for soybean yield loss as affected by weed emergence time is limited. We conducted experiments at several sites across the Midwestern United States to assess accuracy of WeedSOFT predictions of soybean yield loss associated with mixed-species weed communities established at emergence (VE), cotyledon (VC), first-node (V1), or third-node (V3) soybean. Weed communities across research sites consisted mostly of annual grass species and moderately competitive annual broadleaf species. Soybean yield loss occurred in seven of nine site-years for weed communities established at VE soybean, four site-years for weed communities established at VC soybean, and one site-year for weed communities established at V1 soybean. No soybean yield loss was associated with weed communities established at the V3 stage. Nonlinear regression analyses of predicted and observed soybean yield data pooled over site-years showed that predicted yields were less than observed yields at all soybean growth stages, indicating overestimation of soybean yield loss. Pearson correlation analyses indicated that yield loss functions overestimated the competitive ability of high densities of giant and yellow foxtail with soybean, indicating that adjustments to competitive index values or yield loss function parameters for these species may improve soybean yield loss prediction accuracy and increase the usefulness of WeedSOFT as a weed management decision support system.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Colbach ◽  
Sandrine Petit ◽  
Bruno Chauvel ◽  
Violaine Deytieux ◽  
Martin Lechenet ◽  
...  

The growing recognition of the environmental and health issues associated to pesticide use requires to investigate how to manage weeds with less or no herbicides in arable farming while maintaining crop productivity. The questions of weed harmfulness, herbicide efficacy, the effects of herbicide use on crop yields, and the effect of reducing herbicides on crop production have been addressed over the years but results and interpretations often appear contradictory. In this paper, we critically analyze studies that have focused on the herbicide use, weeds and crop yield nexus. We identified many inconsistencies in the published results and demonstrate that these often stem from differences in the methodologies used and in the choice of the conceptual model that links the three items. Our main findings are: (1) although our review confirms that herbicide reduction increases weed infestation if not compensated by other cultural techniques, there are many shortcomings in the different methods used to assess the impact of weeds on crop production; (2) Reducing herbicide use rarely results in increased crop yield loss due to weeds if farmers compensate low herbicide use by other efficient cultural practices; (3) There is a need for comprehensive studies describing the effect of cropping systems on crop production that explicitly include weeds and disentangle the impact of herbicides from the effect of other practices on weeds and on crop production. We propose a framework that presents all the links and feed-backs that must be considered when analyzing the herbicide-weed-crop yield nexus. We then provide a number of methodological recommendations for future studies. We conclude that, since weeds are causing yield loss, reduced herbicide use and maintained crop productivity necessarily requires a redesign of cropping systems. These new systems should include both agronomic and biodiversity-based levers acting in concert to deliver sustainable weed management.


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