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Benefits and Risks of Economic vs. Efficacious Approaches to Weed Management in Corn and Soybean

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Allan S. Hamill ,
Susan E. Weaver ,
Peter H. Sikkema ,
Clarence J. Swanton ,
Francois J. Tardif  and
Gabrielle M. Ferguson
Allan S. Hamill
Affiliation:
Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Harrow, Ontario, Canada N0R 1G0
Susan E. Weaver*
Affiliation:
Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Harrow, Ontario, Canada N0R 1G0
Peter H. Sikkema
Affiliation:
Ridgetown College, University of Guelph, Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada N0P 2C0
Clarence J. Swanton
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
Francois J. Tardif
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
Gabrielle M. Ferguson
Affiliation:
Global Agricultural Business Enterprises Inc., Alvinston, Ontario, Canada N0N 1C0
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: weavers@agr.gc.ca
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Abstract

A 3-yr study was conducted on nine farms across southern Ontario to evaluate the risks and benefits of different approaches to weed management in corn and soybean. Weed control decisions were based on field scouting and recommendations from the Ontario version of HADSS™, the herbicide application decision support system. Treatments were selected to maximize profit (economic threshold approach) or to maximize yield (highest treatment efficacy). Reduced rates of the high efficacy treatment for each field also were included. Weed density before and after treatment, crop yields, weed seed return, and the effect of weed control decisions on weed density 1 yr after treatment were assessed. Crop yield varied among years and farms but was not affected by weed control treatment. Weed control at 28 d after treatment (DAT) was often lower and weed density, biomass, and seed production 70 DAT were often higher with the profit maximization approach compared with the yield maximization approach. However, weed density 1 yr later, after each cooperator had applied a general weed control program, did not vary significantly among the previous year's weed control treatments. Reduced rates of the high efficacy treatments did not lead to increased weed problems the next year, despite lower weed control and increased weed seed production in some years. During the 3 yr of the study, weed control costs with the profit maximization approach were approximately Can$45/ha less than with the yield maximization approach.

Keywords

Corn, Zea mays L.soybean, Glycine max (L.) MerrEconomic thresholdnet benefitreduced rateweed seed rainDAT, days after treatmentHADSS, herbicide application decision support systemPOST, postemergence
Type
Research
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 18 , Issue 3 , September 2004 , pp. 723 - 732
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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