Economics of Alternative Management Practices for Jointed Goatgrass in Winter Wheat in the Pacific Northwest

Abstract

Jointed goatgrass (JGG) (Aegilops cylindrica) is an invasive annual grass weed that reduces winter wheat yield and quality. In the past 20 to 30 years, there has been much research conducted on jointed goatgrass; however, there has never been an empirical economic evaluation of jointed goatgrass in wheat during this time. This 7-year study evaluated the agronomic benefits and economic returns of twelve integrated weed management (IWM) systems based on crop yield and quality, jointed goatgrass populations, and dockage penalties. The twelve systems were all combinations of burn (B) and no burn (N) treatments; three crop rotations of soft white winter wheat-fallow-winter wheat-fallow (WW-F-WW-F), soft white spring wheat-fallow-winter wheat-fallow (SW-F-WW-F) and spring barley-fallow-winter wheat-spring barley (SB-F-WW); and two methods of winter wheat seeding, integrated (I) and standard (S). By far, the best systems for improving crop yield and quality and reducing jointed goatgrass populations and dockage were either B:SW-F-WW-F:S or N:SW-F-WW-F:S. These systems also had the highest profitability. If growers in the wheat-fallow region would adopt these two systems, they would increase profitability and sustainability and decrease herbicide resistance in jointed goatgrass.