Weed Management Considerations in Alternative Tillage Systems

1. Weed Management Considerations in Alternative Tillage Systems Fabián Menalled Cropland Weed Specialist 719 Leon Johnson Hall Montana State University menalled@montana.edu 406-994-4783

2. Advantages of No-Till Systems • Soil erosion • Soil moisture • Crop yield • Economic returns

3. Approximately 20-30% of input costs

4. “The success of conservation tillage in the NGP depends on the development of agronomicallly and economically viable weed management systems” Derksen et al., 1996

5. Issues to Consider(Related to Weed Management) • Weed biology • Seed & seedling fate • Management considerations • Herbicide resistance • Weed shifts • Herbicide persistence and crop damage

6. 37% 61% 74% 25% 23% 9% 38% 16% 18% Chisel No-Till Tillage and Seed Distribution 0 2 Soil Depth (inch) 4 6 Plowed After Swanton et al., 2000

7. Depth and Seed Fate * Mortality of small seeds is usually high at the surface

8. Harpalus pensylvanicus

9. Gryllus pennsylvanicus

10. Peromyscus maniculatus Photo courtesy of P. Westerman

11. Seedbanks • Field Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) • Green Foxtail (Setaria viridis) • Wild Oat (Avena fatua) • Kochia (Kochia scoparia) Tillage and Seedbank Dynamics • Location: Arthur Post Research Farm • Seed densities: 800, 1600, 3200, 6400 seeds/m2 • Burial depths: surface, top 10 centimeters

12. 2. Spring 2005 Greenhouse germination 4. Test for germination and viability 5. Fall 2005 Spring 2006 Fall 2006 Repeat with remaining samples 1. Seedling emergence 3. Separate seeds

13. Foxtail • Density P=0.003 • Depth x crop P=0.0041

14. Pennycress • Density x crop P=0.01882

15. Kochia • Depth P<0.001 • Density P=0.00129

16. Wild Oat • Depth P<0.001 • Density P=0.015 • Depth x crop P=0.004

17. Time of Emergence Surface % emergence

18. Questions, so far?

19. Issues to Consider(Related to Weed Management) • Weed biology • Seed & seedling fate • Management considerations • Herbicide resistance

20. wheat fallow wheat fallow wheat Grassy Weeds fallow

21. Crop Rotation “Rotation of crops, when accompanied by care in the use of pure seed, is the most effective means yet devised for keeping land free of weeds.”Leighty (1938)

22. Tillage and Crop Rotation “Changing tillage practices without increasing crop diversity…has generally led to increased weed problems, especially if monoculture is practice” Derksen et al., 2002

23. Crop Rotation and Weeds • Seed date = April or May • Seed rate = 100 or 150% • Fertilizer timing = fall or spring • Herbicide = 50% or 100% • 4 years / 2 sites Blackshaw et al., 2005

24. Redroot pigweed Common lambsquarters Wild oat Wild buckwheat

25. Seeding Date No effect on yield After Blackshaw et al., 2005

26. Seeding Rate Sometimes higher yield in 150% seed rate After Blackshaw et al., 2005

27. Fertilizer Timing No large effect in yield After Blackshaw et al., 2005

28. Herbicide Dose No large effect in yield (especially in high seeding rate) After Blackshaw et al., 2005

29. Conclusions • Weed biomass, weed seedbank, and crop yield • Similar between 50% and 100% in-crop herbicide • Combined use of early seeding rate, higher crop seed, and spring-applied fertlizer • Competitive stand • Productive crop After Blackshaw et al., 2005

30. Questions, so far?

31. Issues to Consider(Related to Weed Management) • Weed biology • Seed & seedling fate • Management considerations • Herbicide resistance

32. Approximately 20-30% of input costs

33. Herbicide Resistance is NOT due to: • Sprayer skips or plugged nozzles • Weather problems that cause poor control 3. Plants that are ‘naturally tolerant’ to the herbicide 4. Genetic changes caused by the herbicide

34. Herbicide Resistance is: The ability of a plant to survive and reproduce after treatment with a dose of herbicide that would normally kill the plant Banvel-resistant kochia

35. Susceptible Resistant

36. Where do Resistant Weeds Come From? It’s all about selection….. One in one million, billion, trillion….?

37. Herbicide application: selection pressure for resistant plants Reproduction (sets seeds) DNA mutation: allows resistance to a herbicide Herbicide application: selection pressure Resistance passed on to next generation Succeeding generations are also resistant DNA

38. 1990 Resistance to Fargo 1970 Fargo Cross Resistance to Avenge Multiple resistance Fargo, Avenge & Assert 1996 Resistance to Assert Early 1990s Assert Wild Oat, Herbicide Resistance Beginning of Time 2004 Resistance to Discover

40. Idaho Prickly lettuce Kochia Russian thistle Wild Oat Italian ryegrass Mayweed chamomile Wyoming Kochia Italian ryegrass North Dakota Kochia Green foxtail Wild oat Redroot pigweed Wild mustard E. black nightshade Utah Kochia Herbicide Resistance

41. Alberta Wild Oat Common hempnettle False cleavers Kochia Ball mustard Green foxtail Spiny sowthistle Common chickweed Field pennycress Saskatchewan Kochia Green foxtail Wild oat Russian thistle Herbicide Resistance (Canada)

42. Herbicide Resistance • Selection intensity • Herbicide efficacy • Length of soil residual period • Number of herbicide applications / year

43. Selection Pressure is Affected by: Herbicide Quality “Better” herbicide = more chance of resistance

44. Herbicide Resistance • Selection intensity • Herbicide efficacy • Number of herbicide applications / year • Genetics of resistance • ALS or ACCase vs. EPSP synthase • Weed biology • Genetic variability • Reproduction mechanism

45. Resistance Management • Keep selection pressure low • Rotate herbicide families • Use non-herbicide control measures • Use tankmixes (?) • Rotate crops

46. To Till or Not to Till?

47. Questions?