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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #98442
Title: SOIL-WATER RELATIONS IN SOYBEAN WITH DIFFERENT WEED REMOVAL TIMING

Author
item KIEFFER, DOUG - UNIV OF ILLINOIS
item PARKER, DANIEL - UNIV OF ILLINOIS
item SIMMONS, FREDERICK - UNIV OF ILLINOIS
item WAX, LOYD

Submitted to: North Central Weed Science Society US Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/14/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Experiments were conducted to determine the soil water status in soybean-weed competition studies, where weeds are controlled at various times, with different methods of control, including removal mechanically or with different modes of action of herbicides applied postemergence to the crop and weeds. Both greenhouse and field studies were instrumented to allow continuous monitoring of soil moisture status during the growth and development of soybeans and weeds at various populations and under various soil water regimes. The first year of these studies helped to establish baseline date and provided guidelines for future studies. We were able to establish patterns of soil moisture depletion with various weed populations and with various timings of weed removal. In our field studies, depletion of soil moisture correlated well with crop yield reduction, leading us to the conclusion that competition for soil moisture plays an important role in the early competition aspects of weed/crop interference. As weed populations reach a certain threshold level, controlling the species that we chose for our model, giant foxtail, in a timely manner, was very important in precluding excess moisture depletion and resulting yield reduction. Additional studies in greenhouse and field sites will be continued to fine-tune and modify conclusions as needed.