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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #401656
Research Project: Conservation Systems to Improve Production Efficiency, Reduce Risk, and Promote Sustainability

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: Influence of a cereal rye cover crop and conservation tillage on the critical period for weed control in cotton

Author
item Price, Andrew
item KUMARI, ANNU - Auburn University
item GAMBLE, AUDREY - Auburn University
item LI, STEVE - Auburn University
item KOORES, NICHOLAS - University Of Ioannina

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2023
Publication Date: 1/30/2023
Citation: Price, A.J., Kumari, A., Gamble, A., Li, S., Koores, N. 2023. Influence of a cereal rye cover crop and conservation tillage on the critical period for weed control in cotton [ABSTRACT]. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In the Southeast and Mid-South U.S., morningglory spp., pigweeds including glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth, sicklepod, crabgrass spp., goosegrass, and nutsedge spp. among others, are the major troublesome cotton weeds. In addition, widespread glyphosate resistant horseweed and Palmer amaranth has reemphasized the need for alternate herbicide resistant weed control strategies, especially in conservation systems. A field experiment was conducted in 2010 through 2012, to evaluate the critical period of weed control (CPWC) in cotton as affected by tillage and cereal rye cover crop. The management systems included conventional tillage with no cover crop, conservation tillage with winter fallow, and conservation tillage with a cereal rye cover crop managed for maximum biomass. Relative yield was regressed as a function of the two constituents of the CPWC: the critical timing for weed removal and critical weed free period. The presence of rye cover crop was removed CPWC onwards for about a week compared to fallow treatment in 2010. However, the presence of the rye cover crop compared with fallow treatment showed no differences in 2012, although the CPWC could be slightly delayed later in the growing season under the presence of rye. Relative yield losses in both years did not reach the 5% threshold limit until 2 and 3 ½ weeks after planting for all treatments except in case of rye cover crop and fallow treatments in 2012. In these treatments CWFP ended relatively earlier, approximately 2 weeks after planting for rye and fallow treatments.