Combination of Herbicide Band Application and Inter-Row Cultivation Provides Sustainable Weed Control in Maize

Donato Loddo,Maria Grazia Tommasini,Chiara Morsiani,Antonio Pederzoli,Maurizio Sattin,Laura Scarabel,Renato Canestrale

doi:10.3390/agronomy10010020

Donato Loddo, Maria Grazia Tommasini + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10010020

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Abstract

Herbicides have facilitated weed management but their incorrect use can lead to environmental contamination. Reducing herbicide use by limiting their application to a band along the crop row can decrease their environmental impact. Three field experiments were conducted in North-eastern Italy to evaluate herbicide band application systems integrated with inter-row hoeing for silage maize. Post-emergence herbicide band application (sprayed area 50% of total field; herbicide dose 50% of that recommended, application with an inter-row cultivator prototype) was compared with pre-emergence band application (sprayed area 33% of total field; herbicide dose 33% of that recommended, application with a seeder) and pre-emergence broadcast application (sprayed area 100% of total field; full recommended herbicide dose, application with a boom sprayer) that is standard management for maize. Weed density and composition were evaluated before and after post-emergence herbicide application and at crop harvest. Crop yield was also recorded. Weed density in untreated areas ranged between 5 and 15 plants m−2 in the different experiments. Optimal weed control and good yields were achieved without significant differences between all treatments. Herbicide band application can provide optimal weed control in silage maize, at the same time allowing a relevant reduction of herbicide input.

Highlights

IntroductionWidespread and incorrect use of herbicides, especially if repeated over a long period of time, can lead to contamination of ground and surface waters through leaching, run-off, spray drift and volatilization
Herbicides significantly contribute to more efficient and effective weed control, their use has facilitated crop management, allowed soil tillage to be reduced and increased crop yield and profitability.widespread and incorrect use of herbicides, especially if repeated over a long period of time, can lead to contamination of ground and surface waters through leaching, run-off, spray drift and volatilization
Herbicide contamination poses a serious threat to drinking water resources and aquatic ecosystems; environmental contamination and impacts on different organisms have frequently been reported in several cropping system worldwide [1,2,3]

Summary

Introduction

Widespread and incorrect use of herbicides, especially if repeated over a long period of time, can lead to contamination of ground and surface waters through leaching, run-off, spray drift and volatilization. Agronomy 2020, 10, 20 repeatedly [5,6] and the general public are showing increasing concern and awareness on health risks and environmental impacts related to pesticide use. To date the basic principles of IWM are still not fully adopted: e.g., weed control strategies in the vast majority of cropping systems are based on broadcast application of herbicides at full dose, since farmers are concerned about increasing the complexity and the associated risk of weed management with low herbicide use [8,9,10]. An integration of multiple complementary tactics, e.g., mechanical and cultural control, is necessary to reduce the reliance on herbicides [5] since the reduction of herbicide doses alone should be avoided as it leads to a decrease in control efficacy and increasing risk of herbicide resistance evolution [11,12]

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