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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #108816
Title: GERMINATION AND EMERGENCE OF COMMON WATERHEMP

Author
item STOLLER, EDWARD
item WAX, LOYD
item HAGER, AARON - UNIV OF ILLINOIS
item SPRAGUE, CHRISTY - UNIV OF ILLINOIS
item SIMMONS, FREDERICK - UNIV OF ILLINOIS

Submitted to: North Central Weed Science Society US Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Common waterhemp is spreading rapidly as a problem weed in the corn belt, but there is limited information on its biology. We studied seed germination responses to temperature in the laboratory and emergence in corn and soybean under notill and conventional tillage systems in 1997 and 1998. In the laboratory studies essentially no seeds germinated at temperatures from 5 to 15 C, but germination percentage increased as temperature increased from 15 C to 35 C. Much greater germination percentages were observed when diurnal temperature alternated +40% of the mean temperatures above 15 C, with maximum germination at 30 C. Emergence in the field began in early May and continued for six to eight weeks. There was no difference in emergence between corn and soybean, but about twice as many seedlings emerged in notill as in conventional till in either corn or soybean. Field emergence was generally encouraged by favorable soil moisture conditions.