Integrated Weed Management Systems for Irrigated Corn (Zea mays) Production in Colorado—A Case Study

Abstract

Cooperative research was initiated by a multidisciplinary team of weed scientists and agricultural economists in 1975 that laid the foundation for integrated weed management research in Colorado. Colorado's integrated weed management research has four phases: weed seed bank decline, systems approach to weed management, bioeconomic modeling, and multiple weed management tactics. Each phase considered weed seed bank, weed control efficacy, weed control costs, crop yield, and gross margin. All four phases emphasize the need for a weed management system that minimizes seed production in situations where a high soil weed seed bank exists. However, once the weed seed bank is reduced, a weed management program with less than 100% weed control can be employed without increasing the seed bank. Intensive weed management systems are seldom justified when economics, weed control, and weed seed bank are considered. Integrated weed management approaches require integrating crop and weed biology with management tactics. Integrated weed management requires advanced managerial skills and often more time than traditional approaches.