Volunteer Corn (Zea mays) Interference in Soybeans (Glycine max)

Abstract

Volunteer corn (Zea maysL. # ZEAMX) is a troublesome weed in soybeans [Glycine max(L.) Merr.] grown in the Corn Belt. Field studies were conducted in 1983 and 1984 at Champaign, IL, to determine the soybean growth and yield parameters affected by volunteer corn interference. Soybean yield was inversely and linearly related to volunteer corn clump density, with yield losses reaching 25% at 5380 clumps/ha (10 plants/clump). Volunteer corn clumps of 1, 4, 7, and 10 plants reduced soybean yields by 6, 16, 21, and 22%, respectively, at a density of 5380 clumps/ha. Treatments of either the butyl ester of fluazifop {(±)-2-[4-[[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy] propanoic acid} or glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] were applied at various dates between 2 and 12 weeks after soybean emergence (WAE) to a volunteer corn infestation of 5380 clumps/ha (10 plants/clump). Volunteer corn caused soybean yield losses of 2, 6, 12, 19, and 27% when herbicides were applied at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 WAE, respectively. Volunteer corn interference reduced soybean seed yield, plant dry weight, pod number, seed number, leaf fresh weight, and leaf area index, within 40 cm of a clump of 10 volunteer corn plants. A clump of 10 volunteer corn plants reduced soybean pod number/plant within a radius of 86 cm.