Effects of Tillage and Light Environment on Emergence of 13 Annual Weeds

Abstract

Seeds of many plant species require a brief exposure to light to induce germination. Modifying the light environment during soil tillage may alter weed emergence in agricultural systems. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of secondary tillage conducted during daylight and at night on the emergence of 13 summer annual weed species under the same soil and environmental conditions. Annual grass and large-seeded broadleaf species showed little response to light environment during tillage. However, emergence was often less when no tillage was conducted than with any tillage by light environment combination. Emergence of small-seeded broadleaf species often was lower when tillage was conducted during darkness than with tillage during the light. Reductions varied by experiment and species and ranged from 70% for common lambsquarters to less than 30% for Pennsylvania smartweed. Large variations in response also occurred within species.