Weed Control and Plant Residue Maintenance with Various Tillage Treatments in a Winter Wheat‐Fallow Rotation1

Abstract

AbstractLate spring tillage gave the most effective weed control in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)‐fallow rotation. Downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) populations in winter wheat on May 1 following plow, one‐way, and sweep plow fallow treatments were 11, 22, and 24 plants per square meter, respectively. Tillages only in July or August with the sweep plow or one‐way did not effectively control downy brome in the subsequent wheat crop. Yields of winter wheat were highest on the mold‐board plow plots followed by one‐way and sweep plow plots tilled in July and again in April. July tillages with the sweep plow or one‐way resulted in the lowest winter wheat yields. During the fallow year, weed control in June was best on moldboard‐plowed plots followed by May tillages with the sweep plow and the one‐way. Quantities of plant residues on the soil surface prior to seeding winter wheat on sweep plow, one‐way, and plot treatments were 896, 728, and 54 kg/ha, respectively.