Effect of tillage on timing ofSetariaspp. emergence and growth

Abstract

Weed management can be a significant challenge in cropping systems, partly because the effects of tillage systems on weed seedbank and seedling population dynamics are not well understood. Field research was conducted from 1994 to 1996 in established tillage plots consisting of moldboard plow (MP), chisel plow (CP), and no-tillage (NT). The objectives were to determine the effects of long-term tillage systems on the timing and duration ofSetariaspp. emergence and percentage cumulative emergence from the soil seedbank and to investigate the effect of tillage onSetariaspp. density and seed production following glyphosate application atSetariaspp. heights of 5, 10, and 15 cm. NT contained a greater number ofSetariaspp. seed in the 0- to 1-, 1- to 3-, and 3- to 6-cm depths than MP or CP systems. There was little difference between the three tillage systems at depths greater than 6 cm.Setariaspp. emergence was greater in NT than in MP or CP in 1994 and 1996 and greater than in MP in 1995. There was a substantial increase inSetariaspp. emergence in NT between 3 and 4 weeks after planting (WAP) in 1994 and between 5 and 6 WAP in 1995 and 1996. Significant emergence did not occur past 5 to 6 WAP in 1994 and 1995 but continued over a longer period of time in 1996.Setariaspp. plants consistently reached targeted herbicide application heights 4 to 9 d earlier in NT than in CP and MP. In 1994, finalSetariaspp. density was greater in NT compared to CP and MP at the 5- and 10-cm herbicide application timings. When glyphosate was applied to 15-cm-tallSetaria, very few weeds were present following application across all tillage systems. In 1995, NT resulted in greaterSetariaspp. density than MP or CP across all application timings. There was no difference in finalSetariaspp. density between MP and CP across all glyphosate timings in 1994 and 1995. Seed production was negligible in MP and CP, regardless of glyphosate timing. In NT, however, significant seed production occurred, especially with early application. Results indicate that the effectiveness of nonresidual herbicides forSetaria faberiHerrm. control is influenced by tillage system and the timing of application.