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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Weed and Insect Biology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #396786
Research Project: Biology of Weed-Crop Interactions to Improve Weed Management Strategies in Northern Agro-ecosystems

Location: Weed and Insect Biology Research

Title: Evaluation of agronomic traits and ecosystem benefits provided by sulfonylurea-resistant Camelina sativa and Brassica napus

Author
item Anderson, James
item Bigger, Brant
item HOWATT, KIRK - North Dakota State University
item METTLER, JOSEPH - North Dakota State University
item BERTI, MARISOL - North Dakota State University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/6/2022
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz], an oilseed species of Brassicaceae, does not have approved herbicides for weed control, which limits its expansion as a commercial crop. To evaluate agronomic traits and ecosystem services of non-transgenic cultivars of sulfonylurea-resistant camelina and canola (Brassica napus L.), a field study was conducted near Fargo, North Dakota. Two replicated locations (NDSU and NW22) were set up in a randomized complete block design including four blocks of camelina, canola, and fallow per location. Camelina and canola were seeded (18 May) at 4.9 and 2.9 kg ha-1, respectively, using 19-cm row spacing. Data was collected mid- and late-season (29 June and 22 July, respectively) for crop and weed stem count (no. m-2), biomass dry matter (kg m-2), and nutrient (N, P, K, S) content (kg ha-1), as-well-as final season (7 August) seed yield (kg ha-1) and fatty acid profile for camelina and canola treated with and without sulfonylurea. Using Prefer 90 (NIS) at 0.25% v/v, camelina was treated with thifensulfuron at 6.3 g a.i. ha-1, and canola was treated with thifensulfuron at 10.5 g a.i. ha-1 and tribenuron at 5.3 g a.i. ha-1. Sulfonylurea-resistant camelina and canola reduced late-season dry weight biomass of weeds by > 75% and = 60%, respectively, compared with fallow plots. Application of sulfonylurea herbicides to camelina or canola prior to mid-season analyses was not a significant factor (P=0.05) for reducing weed pressure and generally had little impact on altering crop biomass, seed yield, nutrient retention, or fatty acid profiles. However, in some cases, herbicide treatment had an additive effect of reducing weed pressure over that of camelina or canola alone. Depending on the rotational cropping system, sulfonylurea-resistant camelina and canola should provide additional options for improving integrated weed management approaches in the upper Midwest and northern Great Plains of the U.S.A.