Grass Weed Management Systems in Grain Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

Abstract

Field experiments in 1984 and 1985 near Headland, AL involved the influence of 18 integrated weed management systems incorporated from nine herbicide-tillage systems (H-T) and two row patterns on control of large crabgrass and Texas panicum, crop yield, and net returns in grain sorghum. The conventional-tillage system plus herbicide combinations; alachlor preplant incorporated (PPI), atrazine postemergence (POST), and paraquat POST directed, provided 90% or greater control of large crabgrass throughout the season and high sorghum yields in one of two years; and 90% or greater control of Texas panicum from mid-June through mid-August and high sorghum yields in both years. Results in 1984 and 1985 similar to those above were obtained with strip tillage plus herbicide combinations; alachlor PPI, atrazine POST, and paraquat POST directed; alachlor PPI and tridiphane plus atrazine POST; and tridiphane plus atrazine POST and paraquat POST directed. Row patterns did not consistently influence control of large crabgrass, Texas panicum, or sorghum yield. Economic net returns ranged from – $20 to $210 per hectare for the large crabgrass control systems in 1984; however, low sorghum yields in 1985 resulted largely in negative returns. Similar net returns were obtained in the Texas panicum experiment.