Evaluation of Corn (Zea mays L.) Yield-loss Estimations by WeedSOFT® in the North Central Region1

Abstract

Field studies were conducted in 2000 and 2001 to evaluate corn yield-loss predictions generated by WeedSOFT, a computerized weed management decision aid. Conventional tillage practices were used to produce corn in 76-cm rows in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. A total of 21 site-years from these seven states were evaluated in this study. At 4 wk after planting, weed densities and size, crop-growth stage, estimated weed-free yield, and environmental conditions at the time of application were entered into WeedSOFT to generate POST treatments ranked by percent maximum yield (PMY). POST treatments were chosen with yield losses ranging from 0 to 20%. Data were subjected to linear regression analysis by state and pooled over all states to determine the relationship between actual and predicted yield loss. A slope value equal to one implies perfect agreement between actual and predicted yield loss. Slope value estimates for Illinois and Missouri were equal to one. Actual yield losses were higher than the software predicted in Kansas and lower than predicted in Michigan, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Slope value estimate from a data set containing all site years was equal to one. This research demonstrated that variability in yield-loss predictions occurred at sites that contained a high density of a single weed specie (>100/m2) regardless of its competitive index (CI); at sites with a predominant broadleaf weed with a CI greater than five, such as Palmer amaranth, giant ragweed, common sunflower, and common cocklebur; and at sites that experience moderate to severe drought stress.Nomenclature: common cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium L. #3 XANST; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. # CHEAL; common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. # AMBEL; common sunflower, Helianthus annuus L. # HELAN; common waterhemp, Amaranthus rudis Sauer. # AMATA; corn, Zea mays L. # ZEAMX; eastern black nightshade, Solanum ptycanthum Dun. # SOLPT; green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. # SETVI; giant foxtail, Setaria faberi Herrm. # SETFA; giant ragweed, Ambrosia trifida L. # AMBTR; fall panicum, Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx. # PANDI; ivyleaf morningglory, Ipomoea hederacea (L.) Jacq. # IPOHE; large crabgrass, Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. # DIGSA; morningglory spp., Ipomoea spp. # IPOSS; Palmer amaranth, Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats. # AMAPA; Pennsylvania smartweed, Polygonum pensylvanicum L. # POLPY; pitted morningglory, Ipomoea lacunosa L. # IPOLA; prickly sida, Sida spinosa L. # SIDSP; redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L. # AMARE; velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medicus # ABUTH; Venice mallow, Hibiscus trionum L. # HIBTR.Additional index words: Bioeconomic model, decision support system, herbicide decision aid.Abbreviations: CI, competitive index; DSS, decision support system; HPMY, highest percent maximum yield; PMY, percent maximum yield; TCL, total competitive load.