ARS | Publication request: Economics of alternative management practices for jointed goatgrass in winter wheat in the Pacific Northwest

Submitted to: Crop Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: November 16, 2011
Publication Date: February 27, 2012
Repository URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/55139
Citation: Walters, C.G., Young, F.L., Young, D.L. 2012. Economics of alternative management practices for jointed goatgrass in winter wheat in the Pacific Northwest. Crop Management. Online. DOI: 10.1094/CM-2012-0227-01-RV.

Interpretive Summary: Information on the economic evaluation of jointed goat grass in the wheat production regions of the U.S. does not exist. This weed is genetically similar to winter wheat and reduces crop yield and quality (high weed seed contamination) and increases farm inputs. Twelve managment systems were evaluated to control jointed goatgrass in wheat, including combinations of stubble burn or no burn, a standard or an integrated practice of planting winter wheat, and three crop rotations. The spring wheat-fallow-winter wheat rotation with a standard practice of planting winter wheat, either burning or not burn stubble, had the highest net profits, highest grain yield and quality, and lowest weed densities. Adoption of these systems by wheat producers would improve farm profitability and sustainability and would decrease jointed goatgrass competition and infestations.

Technical Abstract: Jointed goatgrass (JGG) (Aegilops cylindrica) is an invasive annual grass weed that reduces winter wheat yield and quality. In the past 20 to 30 years, there has been much research conducted on jointed goatgrass; however, there has never been an empirical economic evaluation of jointed goatgrass in wheat during this time. This 7-year study evaluates the agronomic benefits and economic returns of 12 integrated weed management (IWM) systems based on crop yield and quality, jointed goatgrass populations, and dockage penalties. The 12 systems were all combinations of burn (B) and no burn (N) treatments; three crop rotations of winter wheat fallow-winter wheat-fallow (WW-F-WW-F), spring wheat-fallow-winter wheat-fallow (SW-FWW-F) and spring barley-fallow-winter wheat-spring barley (SB-F-WW-SB); and two methods of winter wheat seeding, integrated (I) and standard (S). By far the best systems for improving crop yield and quality and reducing jointed goatgrass populations and dockage were either B:SW-F-WW-F:S or N:SW-F-WW-F:S. These systems also had the highest profitability. If growers in the wheat-fallow region would adopt these two systems, they would increase net profitability and sustainability and decrease herbicide resistance in jointed goatgrass.