Herbicide and Rye Cover Crop Residue Integration Affect Weed Control and Yield in Strip-Tillage Peanut

Abstract

Reduced-tillage peanut production is increasing due to reduced production costs and increased environmental and economic benefits compared to conventional systems. Experiments were conducted in Alabama and Georgia between 2005 and 2007 to evaluate a strip-tillage system utilizing a high-residue cereal rye cover crop, in comparison to a conventional tillage system. Six weed management schemes were evaluated including a preemergence (PRE) application of pendimethalin alone at 1.12 kg ai/ha or in combination with Smetolachlor at 1.36 kg ai/ha. Both PRE applications were applied alone or followed by (fb) a postemergence (POST) application consisting of a mixture of paraquat at 0.140 kg ai/ha plus bentazon at 0.56 kg ai/ha plus 2,4-DB at 0.224 kg ae/ha. The remaining two treatments consisted of a no-herbicide control and aforementioned POST-only application. In 2005 at the Alabama location, pendimethalin plus metolachlor with or without a POST application controlled all weeds .91% in the strip tillage treatment and controlled tall morningglory, yellow nutsedge, and common bermudagrass .83% in the conventional tillage system. Pendimethalin fb a POST application controlled all weeds . 97%, except large crabgrass (75%) and common bermudagrass (# 58%) regardless of tillage system. In 2007, pendimethalin and pendimethalin plus S-metolachlor followed by (fb) a POST application controlled smooth pigweed, tall morningglory, large crabgrass, Florida beggarweed, and sicklepod 70 to 99%, across tillage systems. In 2005 at the Georgia location, large crabgrass control was consistently reduced in strip-tillage compared to conventional tillage regardless of herbicide treatment. In 2006, pendimethalin plus S-metolachlor fb POST controlled common bermudagrass and yellow nutsedge 74 to 99%. Herbicide treatment effect on peanut yield varied with environment. Peanut yield was equivalent or greater by 25% or more in 3 of 4 site years utilizing strip-tillage indicating a yield advantage compared to conventional tillage. Peanut market grade was not affected by any herbicide treatments or tillage methods evaluated. Results show that producers can maintain weed control, equivalent grade and yield in reduced-tillage systems when utilizing a high-residue conservation agriculture system integrated with a PRE plus POST herbicide system.

Effect of cover-crop biomass, strip-tillage residue disturbance width, and PRE herbicide placement on cotton weed control, yield, and economics

“…In conservation tillage systems, use of high-biomass cover crops, overlapping residual herbicides, and, in extreme cases, strategic inversion tillage to bury shallow-germinating weed seeds such as Palmer amaranth are being recommended by state cooperative extension systems for control of herbicide-resistant and troublesome weeds to regain adequate weed control (Cahoon and York 2019;Culpepper et al 2020;Price et al 2011Price et al , 2016aSmith et al 2019). High-biomass winter cover crops, especially cereal cover crops preceding broadleaf cash crops, provide early-season weed suppression and are increasingly used with other weed management tactics for integrated weed control (Aulakh et al 2011(Aulakh et al , 2012(Aulakh et al , 2015Hand et al 2019;Loux et al 2017;Mirsky et al 2011;Norsworthy et al 2011;Palhano et al 2017;Price et al 2006Price et al , 2007Price et al , 2011Price et al , 2016bReeves et al 2005;Ryan et al 2011;Smith et al 2011).…”

Competing with the competitors in an endless competition: a systematic review of nonchemical weed management research in peanut (Arachis hypogea) in the United States

“…However, the literature on weed management in peanut in the United States includes only a few examples of weed management programs centered on preventive measures. Apart from preventive weed management practices used in combination with curative measures, only about 3% of the published weed research studies in peanut in the United States have focused mainly on the impact of preventive measures on weed management: crop rotation (Johnson et al 2001; Leon et al 2015; Tiwari et al 2021), stale seedbed (Johnson and Mullinix 1995, 2000), cover crops (Aulakh et al 2015; Dobrow et al 2011; Johnson et al 2010; Lassiter et al 2011; Price et al 2007), row spacing (Johnson et al 2005; Stephenson and Brecke 2011), planting pattern (Besler et al 2008; Brecke and Stephenson 2006; Colvin et al 1985; Grichar et al 1994; Kharel et al 2022), planting date (Kharel et al 2022; Linker and Coble 1990), and the use of competitive cultivars (Fiebig et al 1991; Leon et al 2016; Place et al 2010, 2012). These are examples of weed-preventive measures that have been studied in peanut in the United States, and these measures were mainly tested in combination with curative measures, particularly chemical weed control.…”

Organic Weed Control and Cover Crop Residue Integration Impacts on Weed Control, Quality, Yield and Economics in Conservation Tillage Tomato-A Case Study

“…Cover crops in conservation-tillage systems can be Organic Farming -A Promising Way of Food Production terminated during early reproductive growth by mechanically rolling and treating with burndown herbicides to leave a dense mat of residue (> 4,500 kg/ha) on the soil surface into which cash crops are planted [13,14]. Adoption of high residue cover crops is increasing in southeastern U.S. corn (Zea mays L.) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) row crop systems [15,16,17,18,19,20]. Because the southeastern U.S. typically receives adequate rainfall in the winter months, timely planted winter cover crops can attain relatively high maturity and biomass before termination.…”