Weed Control and Corn (Zea mays) Response to Planting Pattern and Herbicide Program with High Seeding Rates in North Carolina

Mitchell K Williams,Wesley J Everman,Ronnie W Heiniger,David L Jordan

doi:10.1155/2014/261628

Abstract

Effective weed control in corn (Zea maysL.) is important to optimize yield. Concern over environmental impact of atrazine and selection for glyphosate resistance has increased the need to develop alternative strategies that use herbicides other than atrazine and glyphosate and appropriate cultural practices to control weeds. Research was conducted during 2011 and 2012 to determine weed and corn response to herbicide programs containing dicamba, glufosinate, and glyphosate applied postemergence alone or with atrazine in single- and twin-row planting patterns. Planting pattern had no effect on common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifoliaL.) and Texas panicum (Panicum texanumL.) population and did not interact with herbicide program. Effective weed control hastened maturity in some but not all instances. Under weed-free conditions, corn grain yield was higher in 5 of 7 trials when planted in twin rows versus single rows at equivalent corn populations (141,000 plants ha−1). These results suggest that while planting pattern may not impact weed control dramatically, planting corn in twin rows may be an effective alternative to single-row planting patterns because of increased yield under high corn populations.

Highlights

Effective weed management continues to be important in obtaining optimum corn yields [1]
Application of a POST herbicide decreased density of common ragweed regardless of POST herbicide treatment compared with Smetolachlor alone (Table 1)
Lack of an interaction of hybrid and herbicide program suggests that both glufosinate and glyphosate are effective in controlling common ragweed when applied using the appropriate herbicide-tolerant hybrid [17]

Summary

Introduction

Effective weed management continues to be important in obtaining optimum corn yields [1]. Common ragweed is among the top ten most common weeds in corn in North Carolina [2]. Other troublesome broadleaf weeds include Palmer amaranth Wats.), common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), and sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia (L.) Irwin and Barneby) [2]. Texas panicum is considered one of the most troublesome weeds in corn production in the southeast US [3]. Several herbicides control Texas panicum in corn but not always completely [3,4,5]

Methods

Results

Conclusion