The role of annual forages in integrated weed management

Abstract

A first experiment (experiment 1) investigated the effect of cropping systems involving annual forages on the density of weed seeds in the seedbank, density of weed seedlings in a subsequent pea crop, and species composition of weed communities. The 11 treatments for experiment 1 were as follows: wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Katepwa) sprayed with grass and broadleaf herbicide, harvested for grain; wheat sprayed with broadleaf herbicide only, harvested for grain; wheat, unsprayed, harvested for grain; winter triticale (Triticosecale cv. Pika), simulation grazed; spring triticale (cv. Banjo), cut for silage; winter and spring triticale intercrop, cut for silage then simulation grazed; sorghum sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench X Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf., common), cut for hay; non-dormant alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. Nitro), cut for hay; weed fallow, cut for silage, sweet clover (Melilotus officinales L. cv. Norgold)/triticale doublecrop, cut for hay then simulation grazed; and fall rye, harvested for grain. A second experiment (experiment 2) investigated the effect of selected forage systems on weed density under conventional and zero tillage. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)