Timing of Cover-Crop Management Effects on Weed Suppression in No-Till Planted Soybean using a Roller-Crimper

• Published in: Weed science Vol. 59; no. 3; pp. 380 - 389
• Main Authors: Mirsky, S. B, Curran, W. S, Mortenseny, D. M, Ryany, M. R, Shumway, D. L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 810 East 10th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044-8897 Weed Science Society of America 01-07-2011; Cambridge University Press
• Subjects: Agricultural practices; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; annual weeds; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biomass production; Cereal grains; Cover crops; Crop management; Cropping systems; Cropping systems. Cultivation. Soil tillage; Cultivars; Cyperus esculentus; Energy crops; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Cropping systems and patterns; heat; Herbicides; integrated weed management; mulches; no-tillage; Parasitic plants. Weeds; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; planting and termination date; Planting date; roller-crimper; Rye; Soil conservation; Soil quality; Soybeans; Spring; summer; Vicia villosa; Weed communities; Weed control; WEED MANAGEMENT; Weeds; roller-crimper; Cover crops; Cereal rye, Secale cereale L; planting and termination date; mulches; hairy vetch, Vicia villosa Roth; yellow nutsedge, Cyperus esculentus L; Cover crop; Zero tillage; Soybean; Dicotyledones; Weed science; Angiospermae; Mulching; C3-Type; Cultural practice; Weed control; Vegetals; Termination date; Glycine max; Soil management; Grain legume; Leguminosae; Crop management; Spermatophyta; Timing; Oil plant (vegetal); Planting
• DOI: 10.1614/WS-D-10-00101.1
• EISSN: 1550-2759
• ISSN: 0043-1745

Integrated weed management tactics are necessary to develop cropping systems that enhance soil quality using conservation tillage and reduced herbicide or organic weed management. In this study, we varied planting and termination date of two cereal rye cultivars (‘Aroostook’ and ‘Wheeler’) and a rye/hairy vetch mixture to evaluate cover-crop biomass production and subsequent weed suppression in no-till planted soybean. Cover crops were killed with a burn-down herbicide and roller-crimper and the weed-suppressive effects of the remaining mulch were studied. Cover-crop biomass increased approximately 2,000 kg ha−1 from latest to earliest fall planting dates (August 25–October 15) and for each 10-d incremental delay in spring termination date (May 1–June 1). Biomass accumulation for cereal rye was best estimated using a thermal-based model that separated the effects of fall and spring heat units. Cultivars differed in their total biomass accumulation; however, once established, their growth rates were similar, suggesting the difference was mainly due to the earlier emergence of Aroostook rye. The earlier emergence of Aroostook rye may have explained its greater weed suppression than Wheeler, whereas the rye/hairy vetch mixture was intermediate between the two rye cultivars. Delaying cover-crop termination reduced weed density, especially for early- and late-emerging summer annual weeds in 2006. Yellow nutsedge was not influenced by cover-crop type or the timing of cover-crop management. We found that the degree of synchrony between weed species emergence and accumulated cover-crop biomass played an important role in defining the extent of weed suppression.