Inter-row Cultivation Research Articles

The effect of soil deepening on soybean yield by using various sowing machines

The influence of agricultural methods and soil and climatic conditions on soybean cultivation in the southern regions of the Amur Region was researched. Schemes of two-factor experiments to study the effectiveness of deepening the arable layer of soil during crop cultivation in 2014–2016 included the following options. Factor A – tillage: autumn – disk plowing or cultivation; spring disk plowing or cultivation; summer – inter-row cultivation with or without para-plowing. The options were combined in different ways, whereby the option of soil tillage with a disc harrow in autumn and spring was taken as control. Factor B: sowing with seeders SZ-5.4 and SP-3.6 L with row spacing (options – 15, 45 and 60 cm) with various tillage systems. In 2017–2018 experiments were carried out according to the following schemes. Factor A – tillage: in autumn tillage depth at 0.12 m with a disc harrower PM-8; in spring, before sowing – at 0.10 m (cultivator Case Tiger Mate 225 – control); autumn – tillage depth at 0.28 m (cultivator Lemken Karat 9/400); spring, before sowing – at 0.10 m (Case Tiger Mate 225). Factor B – seeding units included Amazon DMC 9000 (control); Amazon DMC 1200, Case Pro Disk 500 AFS, John Deer 1890, Lemken Solitair 12, Horsch Pronto 9 DC, Tom’ 12, SP-3.6 L. Deep autumn cultivation, in contrast with disk plowing, ensures a more favorable waterair regime for plants and an increase in soybean yield. Seeding units Case Pro Disk 500 AFS, John Deer 1890, Amazon DMC 9000 and SP-3.6 L used in combination with Lemken Karat 9/400 + Case Tiger Mate 255 machines for deepening the arable layer provided an increase in soybean yield by 25.0–38.3% compared to soil tillage with discs. It is recommended to use wide-span seeding units for soybean cultivation in large and medium-sized farms in fields with subdued relief in accordance with high-intensity technology. It is advisable to use SP-3.6 L seeder with a seed shoe for organic crop production in small-scale agricultural enterprises.

Energy efficiency of protection of black poplar plantings from weeds

Purpose. Determine the energy efficiency of growing black poplar plantings.Methods. Field, laboratory.Results. It is established that from the energy point of view, the use of mulching allowed to obtain more energy with the harvest than spent on the technology of planting and caring for black poplar plants. The best mulching options were the use of straw layer 5 cm with Kee of 4.78. In addition, with the use of wood sawdust Kee values were at the level of the control weed version of the experiment. Application of the herbicide Stomp 330 EC, 5 l/ha contributed to obtaining Kee at the level of 4.21, and for the application of herbicide Zenkor 70, WG, 1.5 kg/ha, Kee was 4.77, and for the application of herbicide Starga EC, 2.0 respectively 4.24 and with the application of Stefam New, EC, 1.0 l/ha,4.89. The highest energy efficiency ratio was obtained with the combined application of Starga (1.5 l/ha) + Stefam New (0.5 l/ha), 5.27. In black poplar plantations, where in the first year of vegetation three consecutive inter-row cultivations were carried out, a total of 97.9 GJ/ha of energy was formed in three years at an energy efficiency coefficient of 4.77. The use of three hand weeding required additional human labor costs, but in total this had a negligible effect on the energy efficiency ratio of 4.94. However, the use of manual labor on an industrial scale is impossible due to the actual lack of sufficient labor reserves and the need for decent pay for employees, which cannot be justified even by high values of energy efficiency.Conclusions. It was established that in black poplar plantations without the presence of weeds the total energy yield for three years was 107.6 GJ/ha, whereas plantings without weed control provided the formation of only 46.1 GJ/ha, and the energy efficiency of the herbicide protection of black poplar provided the formation of 87.1 to 106.4 GJ/ha.

Economic and Bioenergy Efficiency of Cultivation of Saflor Varieties Depending on Care for Cultivations on Herbicide-Free and Herbicide

Economic and Bioenergy Efficiency of Cultivation of Saflor Varieties Depending on Care for Cultivations on Herbicide-Free and Herbicide

Techniques for rational use of technical equipment in sunflower oilseeds production

The paper summarizes the 5-year experimental data of the authors on the study of various technologies for sunflower cultivation in the soil and climatic conditions of the Republic of Tatarstan. Particular attention is paid to improving the methods of rational use of modern technological means with regards to the biological characteristics of the studied culture. It has been established that the classical technology of sunflower cultivation with deepening of the arable layer, diagonal closing of moisture, presowing cultivation to the depth of 6-8 cm, placement of rows in the South-North direction pre- and post- sowing harrowing and inter-row cultivation provides 93 % of the planned yield. The profitability of oilseed production is 69.2 %, and net profit is 13.7 thousand rubles per hectare. 7.4 thousand rubles of proceedings in cash comes to an enterprise from the sale of 1 ton of grown products. In large holding agricultural entities of Tatarstan with sunflower areas of more than 250-300 hectares, weed control using the Clearfield system excludes harrowing of crops and inter-row cultivation. The use of selective herbicide intended only for a single hybrid allows the 70 to 100 % weeds destruction without damaging the main crop. The economic indicators of the mixture of the developed agricultural technology with chemical crops weeding are quite high. Specifically, the profitability is 59.6 % and the cost of production of 1 ton of oilseeds is lower than its sales price by 6.7 thousand rubles.

УРОЖАЙНОСТЬ ПРИ ВРЕМЕННОМ УКРЫВАНИИ ПОСАДОК КАРТОФЕЛЯ РАННЕГО В УСЛОВИЯХ МОСКОВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

In the Moscoww region, frosts are quite probable to return until the fi rst decade of June. To protect potatoes from the returning cold weather, it is possible to use a temporary covering material in the “planting – seedling emergence” period. The authors have studied the use of covering materials on early potato varieties of Udacha, Zhukovsky early, Red Scarlet, Snegir’, and Meteor. Studies have been conducted on the test plot of the Vegetable Growing Department of Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy in 2017-2019. Non-woven white and black material of the same density of 17 g/m2 was used for covering. No covering was used in the check variant. The cultivation technology was standard,it included tillage (plowing, spring tillage, and cutting ridges before planting), as well as plant care (inter-row cultivation and hilling-up). Planting was carried out with a single-row potato planter. The earliest emergence of seedlings was observed under white covering material with a diff erence of 5-6 days in relation to the check variant. In the variant with a black covering material, the diff erence averaged 3-4 days. Due to covering, planting was carried out earlier than expected and the crop was formed by July 15. The interphase period between potato planting and seddling emergence decreased, while that from seddling emergence to harvesting increased, consequently, the yield increased by 11.6…14.7%. The maximum yield was obtained with the Red Scarlet variety using the white covering material, the minimum – in the check variant without covering. The same trend is typical for other varieties. It has been established that covering with any material has a positive eff ect on the duration of the potato growing season and the yield by increasing the period of tuberization. Covering allows getting early potato varieties 2 weeks earlier in the Moscow region.

Influence of Sowing Times and Agricultural Plant Care on Water Consumption and Productivity of Sunflower Hybrid Region

Influence of Sowing Times and Agricultural Plant Care on Water Consumption and Productivity of Sunflower Hybrid Region

Process modeling of the first inter-row cultivation in laboratory conditions

The paper considers the formation process of secondary soil ridges by working bodies with flat discs during the first mechanized interrow cultivation of crops in laboratory conditions. Taking account of the agrotechnical requirements and the physical and mechanical properties of the soil, we adopted the reference profile of the soil ridge formed during mechanized inter-row cultivation of crops, which can conditionally be accepted as ideal, as well as the original optimization criterion kсэ1 . After practical implementation of studies in the tillage bin and statistical processing of the obtained data, the corresponding equations were obtained in which the independent process factors were expressed in natural and encoded values. It was found that a change in the speed of a cultivator within 1.2 2.4 m / s, with angles of attack>кk of flat discs from 5º to 20º, increases the distance at which the soil is thrown off and the thickness of the soil layers covering the sides and the upper base of the primary ridge (kсэ1 → max). At angles of attack>кk of flat discs within the limits of 25º ... 30º and the speed of the cultivator from 1.2 m / s to 1.6 m / s, an increase in the thickness of the covered soil layers hпр, occurs, and the coefficient kсэ1 is maximum ((kсэ1 = 0.98 with a flat disc diameter of 0.3 m).

АГРОТЕХНИЧЕСКАЯ И ЭНЕРГЕТИЧЕСКАЯ ОЦЕНКА МАШИН ДЛЯ НАРЕЗКИ ГРЯД И ГРЕБНЕЙ

The authors propose a method for the assessment the energy effi ciency of soil cultivation machines for forming seedbeds and ridges when growing potatoes, Jerusalem artichoke and other vegetables, taking into account the relationship between agrotechnical and energy indicators. The paper describes the results of comparative fi eld tests of tillage machines with diff erent working tools for the same type of technological processes. It is advisable to use the indicator of the unit power consumption, referred to the average diameter of soil clods. The indicator of specifi c power per average clod diameter for the FGF-1 rotary tiller amounted to 4.0...4.3 kW/mm, for the GPK-2 rotary tiller – 3.3...4.3 kW/mm, and for the KG-1 ridge cultivator – 2.6...3.2 kW/mm. The required power for operation of the cultivator with passive working tools at the maximum possible speed is 5...15% lower, however, the GPK-2 and FGF-1 tillers with active working tools demonstrated higher agrotechnical indicators. For cutting ridges on pre-planting treatment of loamy soil of a medium and heavy mechanical composition, it is recommended to use a rotary cultivator FGF-1, for cutting ridges – a rotary tiller GPK-2. On pre-planting ridging and post-planting inter-row cultivation of light loamy soil the KG-1 tiller with passive working tools is a more preferable solution

Effect of deep work on the green blood system

The result of the study have been scientifically proven to be the best agro-technology for the formation, growth and cultivation of high-quality cotton yields by differentiating inter-row cultivation in the conditions of ancient irrigated and original soils of Andijan region

Increased seeding rate and multiple methods of mechanical weed control reduce weed biomass in a poorly competitive organic crop

Weed management in organic lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is challenging due to its poorly competitive nature with weeds and the lack of organic herbicides for field crops. In-crop mechanical weed control methods such as rotary hoeing, harrowing and inter-row cultivation, and the cultural practice of increased crop seeding rate, are established weed management tools in organic field crops. They have however not previously been combined into an integrated weed management system for weakly competitive grain crops. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of mechanical weed control (rotary hoeing, harrowing and inter-row cultivation) and crop seeding rate alone and in combination on weed suppression and yield in organic lentil. A two-factor randomized complete block design experiment was conducted at two locations in Saskatchewan, Canada in 2016 and 2017. The factors mechanical weed control methods including the rotary hoe, the harrow and inter-row cultivation and an untreated control, and seeding rates including conventional recommended and double recommended seeding rate. All treatments were tested as stand-alone or combined in a factorial fashion. Increased crop seeding rate and mechanical weed control affected response variables independently of each other. Doubling the seeding rate of lentil reduced weed biomass by 16% and increased lentil yield by 23% averaged across the four site-years. Treatments that included only a single mechanical weed control methods resulted in poor or incomplete weed suppression at all sites. Two mechanical weed control methods were required to maximize yield, and three were required to minimize weed biomass. Early weed control with a rotary hoe, followed by inter-row cultivation prior to canopy closure was the most consistent mechanical weed control treatment across the four site-years. Averaged across the four site-years, rotary hoeing + inter-row cultivation reduced weed biomass by 70%, and increased crop yield by 65%. The treatment maintained low weed populations across the longest time duration and controlled weeds in both the inter- and intra-row spaces, while minimizing crop injury. Doubling crop seeding rate and using two appropriately timed mechanical weed control methods provided weed suppression while increasing yield by 46% in a weakly competitive organic lentil crop.

Seed Germination Ecology of Soldier Thistle (Picnomon acarna): An Invasive Weed of Rainfed Crops in Iran

AbstractSoldier thistle [Picnomon acarna(L.) Cass.] is widely distributed throughout rainfed fields across western Iran, where it decreases crop yields and interferes with harvest operations. This study was conducted to determine the influence of different factors on seed germination and seedling emergence ofP. acarna. Freshly harvested seeds were dormant and required an after-ripening period for breaking dormancy. Seed germination was greatly promoted by light. Germination occurred over a wide spectrum of constant and fluctuating temperature regimes, ranging from 5 to 35 C, with highest germination at constant (74%) and fluctuating (94%) temperatures of 20 and 20/10 C. Seed germination ofP. acarnawas tolerant to osmotic potential, while salt stress significantly inhibited its germination percentage. pH was not an inhibiting factor for germination ofP. acarnaseeds. Seedling emergence decreased exponentially with an increase in seed burial depth in the soil; at soil burial depths of 4 cm or greater, no seedlings were able to reach the soil surface. The results suggest that significant seed germination ofP. acarnain rainfed fields is possible, and the weed has great potential to spread throughout rainfed systems in western Iran. Based on these results, effective control ofP. acarnacan be achieved by applying interrow cultivation in row crops and deep tillage at seedbed preparation.

Inter-row cultivation - an agro-technical measure for increasing soybean yield

In order to examine the influence of inter-row cultivation on the soybean yield, a trial was set up in the Agricultural School in Backa Topola from 2015 to 2017. Three soybean varieties were selected at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad. Galina, Sava and Rubin were used. The trials included the different number of inter-row cultivations: control - without inter-row cultivation, one inter-row cultivation, two and three inter-row cultivations of soybean crops. Obtained results showed that an average yield of soybean increased with an increase in the number of inter-row cultivations during the soybean vegetation period. With one inter-row cultivation, the yield increase was 5.33%, with two inter-row cultivations - 7.10% and with three cultivations - 7.33%. In the years with a lower precipitation, the influence of intra-row cultivation was much more effective. In 2017, the increase ranged from 10.33% to 13.62%, and in 2016 from 3.09% to 4.27%. Yield was increased due to reduced evapotranspiration of soil moisture as well as prevention of descending of water into deeper layers. During summer, this allowed better water conservation in the soil for critical periods, and also increased the activity of microorganisms as well as more intensive mineralization of organic matter, which ultimately influenced the yield.

Disentangling the carbon budget of a vineyard: The role of soil management

The environmental sustainability of viticulture can be enhanced with the application of conservative management practices (e.g. resident vegetation or cover crop on the inter-row), which can lead to an increase of soil carbon (C) sequestration. However, studies disentangling the vineyard C budget are still very scarce. In this context, comparing vineyard net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) with soil fluxes is especially useful. From January 2015 to August 2016, we continuously monitored vineyard NEE with the eddy covariance method and ground CO2 fluxes with an automated chamber system in a commercial vineyard in North Eastern Italy. At the site, inter-rows are covered with resident herbaceous vegetation, however, due to low soil permeability, soil cultivation (ripping or tillage) was performed on alternate alleys in autumn and, sometimes, spring in order to improve water infiltration. Measured annual soil respiration was comparable, but lower, to values estimated by previous studies in vineyards and the net uptake of the grass cover laid in the middle of yearly C budget range reported in the literature for grasslands. At the end of the measurement period, the vineyard ecosystem showed to be a net sink of CO2, absorbing around −233 gC m−2. However, the C sequestration could have been much greater if no soil cultivation had been applied. Indeed, the ground compartment was a source of CO2, but without inter-row cultivation it could have been a net sink, with an overall vineyard C budget of about −421 gC m−2. This confirms that grass cover of the inter-rows can play an important role in the C budget of woody crops. Additionally, the pattern of C fluxes reveals that the activity of herbaceous vegetation in summer decreased well before vines, thus reducing water competition during dry periods. These results provide important information for the tuning of management practices aimed at improving the environmental sustainability of viticulture.

Dynamics of grass stand formation in poplar plantations on different types of reclamations of disturbed lands of Western Donbass

The purpose of our research was to study the long-term dynamics of the herbage cover at different stages of growth and development of poplar plantations on the types of artificial soils of the forest reclamation area. The object of research is flora phytotoxic dumps of «Blagodatna» coal mine, where imported substrates such as sand-clay, clay loam, red-brown earth and humic soil in various combination were applied to create reclamations layer on the surface of the mine dumps (Dnipropetrovsk region, Pavlograd region). Type 1: 30 cm of soil mass of typical chernozem (SMTC), 50 cm of red-brown earth, 80 cm of alluvial sand-clay and sand, and deeper there is the coal mine solid; type 2: 30 cm of SMTC, 80 cm of sand, and mine solid deeper; type 3: 30 cm of SMTC, 60 cm of alluvial sand-clay, 60 cm of clay, and deeper there is mine solid; type 4: 40 cm of SMTC, 30 cm of red-brown earth, 40 cm of sand and mine solid deeper; type 5: 55 cm of alluvial sand-clay, deeper there is mine solid. Stationary observations were carried out in poplar plantations of 8-, 16-, 27- and 34-year-old age on permanent trial plots. They were presented with a black poplar and seven hybrid poplars. The research has established that climatic conditions, influence of surrounding phytocenoses of undisturbed lands, inheritance by pedozems of seed material of grass plants with a fertile layer of the soil set the direction of succession on the way of formation of zonal herbal group. The long-term growth of the role of the arid element indicates the formation of a structure close to the zonal flora. The formation of the flora of technical soils in poplar plantations occurs in four stages: the first is pioneer plant communities, which begins with the completion of the technical phase of reclamation and confined to the stages of forest formation; the second is a simple grouping that is associated with the development of the stand until the closure of canopy and inter-row soil cultivation; the third is a complex grouping that is fraught with pole wood stage of stand development and partial getting sparse; the fourth in our studies, is partially closed when gradually tree plants disappear and their influence disappears. In addition to the influence of tree vegetation, its age and stage of development, the formation of lower layers of biogeocenoses is significantly influenced by the conditions stipulated by the stratigraphy and the power of artificial substrates, as well as the elements of the landscape, both created initially and formed as a result of the fragmentary subsidence of the dump territory. These factors, depending on their dynamic changes, regulate correlation between various groups of biomorphs, climamorphs, trofomorphs, hygromorphs, heliomorph and zenomorphs in the grass cover. Created forest vegetation conditions on the plateau and the upper third of the dump do not meet the needs of hybrid poplars under conditions of acute shortage of moisture, which are characteristic of the steppe zone. Fast-growing poplar hybrids can be used as a pioneer culture up to 15–20 years of age.

Profitability of abrasive weeding in organic grain and vegetable crops

AbstractWeed competition, especially within the crop row, limits the productivity and profitability of organic crop production. Abrasive weeding, a mechanical alternative to hand weeding, uses air-propelled grits to control small weed seedlings growing within the crop row. Recent research has demonstrated the successful use of abrasive weeding to reduce weed competition and increase yields in organic maize (Zea mays), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and green and red pepper crops (Capsicum annuum), but the profitability of this weed control tactic has not been assessed. Our objective was to determine the profitability of abrasive weeding using empirical yield data from three previously published studies, a range of crop prices and revenues, and a range of costs for wages, grit applicator ownership, tractor use, abrasive grits, and fuel. Results suggest that abrasive weeding was not profitable in organic maize production, and may reduce net income by US$223–3537 ha−1 compared with inter-row cultivation alone for weed control. The cost of abrasive weeding in maize was largely dependent on the cost of abrasive grits and the cost to own a four-row grit applicator (US$736–2105 yr−1). However, abrasive weeding was less expensive than hand weeding, especially as the scale of production increased. Abrasive weeding was profitable in tomato and pepper crops and increased net mean income by US$12,251–33,265 ha−1. However, abrasive weeding was not 100% effective and hand weeding for weed-free conditions was always the most profitable approach to in-row weed management in vegetable crops. The profit potential of the hand-weeded, weed-free treatments demonstrates the importance of weed control in high-value specialty crops–even those grown in plastic mulch film. Despite the profit potential for hand weeding observed here, labor is increasingly difficult to source, retain and afford, and abrasive weeding offers a mechanical alternative with 66% less labor required. Further research is needed to improve the efficacy of abrasive weeding and to reduce the cost of abrasive grits and application.

Комплексная система защиты кукурузы от вредителей и болезней

Защита посевов кукурузы от вредителей и болезней является одним из важнейших резервов увеличения валовых сборов зерновой продукции. Предлагаемые рекомендации позволяют доступными методами реально оценивать складывающуюся ситуацию о распространенности, численности и вредоносности главнейших вредителей и болезней кукурузы. В комплексе мероприятий, обеспечивающих получение высоких урожаев кукурузы, видное место принадлежит борьбе с ее болезнями и вредителями. Правильная диагностика болезней, знание причин их развития являются основой успешного проведения профилактических и защитных мероприятий. Своевременное и качественное проведение указанных агротехнических мероприятий, таких как обработка почвы, соблюдение севооборота, подбор урожайных и адаптивных гибридов, двух- и трехкратные междурядные обработки позволят получить экологически более безопасную и экономически оправданную продукцию зерна кукурузы.

Field Pea and Lentil Tolerance to Interrow Cultivation

AbstractInterrow cultivation is a selective, in-crop mechanical weed control tool that has the potential to control weeds later in the growing season with less crop damage compared with other in-crop mechanical weed control tools. To our knowledge, no previous research has been conducted on the tolerance of narrow-row crops to interrow cultivation. The objective of this experiment was to determine the tolerance of field pea and lentil to interrow cultivation. Replicated field experiments were conducted in Saskatchewan, Canada, in 2014 and 2015. Weekly cultivation treatments began at the 4-node stage of each crop, continuing for 6 wk. Field pea and lentil yield linearly declined with later crop stages of cultivation. Cultivating multiple times throughout the growing season reduced yield by 15% to 30% in both crops. Minimal yield loss occurred when interrow cultivation was conducted once at early growth stages of field pea and lentil; however, yield loss increased with delayed and more frequent cultivation events.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE MECHANICAL CULTIVATION-OPERATION FOR SUGAR-BEET CROP

The aim of this study is to develop the mechanical inter-row cultivation operation for sugar-beet crop at big-scale projects. The investigated parameters were inter-row cultivator forward speed (4, 5, 6 and 7 km/h), number of shares (1, 2, 3) and weed intensity (without, low “ 40 weed/m2”). The main results were:The maximum cultivation-efficiency of 100 % was obtained using forward speed of 4 km/h, number of shares of 3 and at low weed intensity ( 40 weed/m2). The maximum sugar-beet root yield of 35.5 ton/fed was obtained using forward speed of 4 km/h, number of shares of 3 and without weed. Meanwhile, the minimum sugar-beet root yield of 22.39 ton/fed was obtained using forward speed of 7 km/h, number of shares of 1 and at very high weed intensity (> 40 weed/m2).

How to effectively influence the soil during surface treatment

Surface treatment includes soil presowing, steam, inter-row cultivation and is performed by cultivators or combined u machines. The applied working organs carry out one-way free action on the soil. This leads to a displacement, discarding of soil sections in one or different directions, depending on the shape of the flat surface of the working organ. The resistance associated with discarding the soil, giving kinetic energy is in a quadratic dependence on the speed S of the working movement. Therefore, most often there is a restriction not exceeding 12 km/h, thereby restraining ^ productivity growth. The absence of counteraction does not allow providing a high degree of crumbling and leveling of the soil surface. That is why when surface processing of soil in combination with soil cultivating paws discs, harrows, equalizers, rollers of different modifications on cultivators are installed. They carry out soil re-grinding and О leveling the surface. However, this significantly increases the specific material consumption of soil cultivating units. ^ It for some of them reaches 300-400 kg/m. This is an additional material and financial costs, in addition, there is a О reconsolidation of the soil, deterioration of conditions for the growth and development of plants. It is necessary to 1 analyze and test different ways of affecting the soil: multidirectional, constrained and concentrated. It has been established that in order to improve the quality of the surface treatment of soil, it is necessary to use a multidirectional, constrained or concentrated effect, using innovative technical solutions of soil cultivating working organs. As a result, stabilization of the depth of processing is ensured, removal of moist soil on the day surface is excluded, productivity is increased and energy costs are reduced.

WEED AND SEEDBANK MANAGEMENT WITH INTEGRATED METHODS AS INFLUENCED BY TILLAGE

Many growers perceive that reduced herbicide inputs and greater reliance on mechanical methods will result in increased weed management problems over time. Previous research has shown short-term benefits of integrated weed management strategies, but information concerning the long-term implications of these strategies is lacking. Therefore, research was conducted from 1992 through 1995 to determine the influence of full-rate preemergence broadcast, half-rate preemergence broadcast plus cultivation, and full-rate preemergence band plus cultivation treatments on weed population and seedbank dynamics in no-tillage (NT), chisel plow (CP), and moldboard plow (MP) systems in both continuous corn (CC) and corn—soybean (CS) rotation. Seventeen weed species were identified in the plant population and seedbank across all treatments, but common lambsquarters, giant foxtail, and redroot pigweed dominanted. Vertical distribution of weed seeds in soil was influenced by tillage, with 74, 59, and 43% of the total viable seed of these species less than 10 cm deep in NT, CP, and MP, respectively. In contrast, seed dormancy in the spring was not influenced greatly by tillage and averaged 79, 10, and 42% for common lambsquarters, giant foxtail, and redroot pigweed, respectively, across tillage methods. Crop rotation was not a major factor influencing weed population and seedbank dynamics. From 1992 to 1995, reduction of shoot biomass and seed production of the predominant weed species were similar among weed management treatments in most tillage and crop rotation systems. The influence of weed management treatments on the seedbank was also similar, with up to 50, 95, and 92% less seed of common lambsquarters, giant foxtail, and redroot pigweed, respectively, in the seedbank in 1995 than in 1992. Corn and soybean grain yields were similar among weed management treatments and were greater than the nontreated check in each tillage and crop rotation treatment. These results indicate that reduced herbicide inputs plus interrow cultivation were as effective as full-rate herbicide inputs for the management of several annual weed species in both conventional- and conservation-tillage systems over 4 yr.