A field study was conducted from 1987 to 1992 to determine the effectiveness of several treatments consisting of combinations of glyphosate and/or quizalofop with tillage to control quackgrass in legume plowdown and continuous annual crop rotations. The treatments were imposed on the quackgrass in 1987 and/or 1988, evaluated in 1989 (cycle 1), reimposed on the same plots in 1990 and/or 1991 and re-evaluated in 1992 (cycle 2). Where continuous barley was grown, glyphosate applied at 0.45 kg/ha before seeding in 1987 (cycle 1) and 1990 (cycle 2), and combined with fall tillage in the first two years of each cycle, reduced quackgrass shoot density and rhizome dry weight by more than 96%. In a legume plowdown rotation, consisting of barley underseeded to red clover followed by plowdown and barley in subsequent years, quackgrass was reduced by a similar amount by glyphosate at 0.45 kg/ha applied in 1987 and 1990 before seeding or in 1988 and 1991 at 5 d before or 6 wk after red clover plowdown. Quackgrass reduction from all of these treatments was as effective as the labelled rate of glyphosate (0.90 kg/ha) applied at the same times, and also as effective as glyphosate applied at 0.45 kg/ha in combination with tillage in a year of fallow. Without fall tillage the efficacy of glyphosate applied before seeding was reduced. Quizalofop at 0.20 kg/ha applied to canola in a rotation of canola followed by two years of barley, reduced quackgrass, but was less effective than glyphosate treatments with fall tillage. Reducing quackgrass populations resulted in significant increases in crop yields.

A 2-yr (2009 to 2010), no-till (direct-seeded) “follow-up” study was conducted at five western Canada sites to determine weed interference impacts and barley and canola yield recovery after 4 yr of variable crop inputs (seed, fertilizer, herbicide). During the initial period of the study (2005 to 2008), applying fertilizer in the absence of herbicides was often worse than applying no optimal inputs; in the former case, weed biomass levels were at the highest levels (2,788 to 4,294 kg ha−1), possibly due to better utilization of nutrients by the weeds than by the crops. After optimal inputs were restored (standard treatment), most barley and canola plots recovered to optimal yield levels after 1 yr. However, 4 yr with all optimal inputs but herbicides led to only 77% yield recovery for both crops. At most sites, when all inputs were restored for 2 yr, all plots yielded similarly to the standard treatment combination. Yield “recovery” occurred despite high weed biomass levels (> 4,000 kg ha−1) prior to the first recovery year and despite high wild oat seedbank levels (> 7,000 seeds m−2) at the end of the second recovery year. In relatively competitive narrow-row crops such as barley and canola, the negative effects of high soil weed seedbanks can be mitigated if growers facilitate healthy crop canopies with appropriate seed and fertilizer rates in combination with judicious herbicide applications to adequately manage recruited weeds.

Weed management strategies can influence insect infestations in field crops, yet no attempts have been made previously to manipulate weed populations in canola for integrated weed and insect management. Field studies were conducted during 2003 to 2005 at Lacombe and Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada to manipulate weed and root maggot, Delia spp. (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), interactions in canola. Densities of monocot weeds were varied by altering herbicide applications, with rates ranging from 0 to 100% of the rate recommended. Weed populations declined, and yields were variable with increased herbicide rates. Root maggot damage decreased with increases in monocot weed dry weight for both canola species at both study sites. Results support the hypothesis that heterogenous environments, arising from mixed populations of monocot weeds with canola, minimize opportunities for females of Delia spp. to complete the behavioral sequence required for oviposition, leading to reduced infestation levels in weedy systems. However, effects of dicot weeds on root maggot infestations varied between sites as a result of site-related differences in weed species complexes. When wild mustard was common, crop damage increased, because this weed can serve as an alternate host for root maggots. The study emphasizes the importance of adopting crop management practices that are compatible for both weed and root maggot control.

Research is needed to develop more comprehensive integrated weed management systems that would facilitate greater adoption by farmers. A field study was conducted to determine the combined effects of seed date (April or May), seed rate (recommended or 150% of recommended), fertilizer timing (fall or spring applied), and in-crop herbicide rate (50 or 100% of recommended) on weed growth and crop yield. This factorial set of treatments was applied in four consecutive years within a barley-field pea–barley-field pea rotation in a zero-till production system. Both barley and field pea phases of the rotation were grown each year to account for variable environmental conditions over years. Weed biomass was often lower with May than with April seeding because of more weeds being controlled with preplant glyphosate. However, despite fewer weeds being present with May seeding, barley yield was only greater in 1 of 4 yr and field pea yield was actually lower with May than with April seeding in 3 of 4 yr, indicating that optimum seed date is highly dependent on crop species and environmental conditions. Higher crop seed rates reduced weed biomass and increased crop yield in 2 of 4 yr in each of barley and field pea. Fertilizer timing had little effect on weed competition in barley, but spring- compared with fall-applied fertilizer reduced weed biomass and increased field pea yield in 2 of 4 yr. In-crop herbicides applied at 50% compared with 100% rates sometimes resulted in greater weed biomass and lower crop yields with recommended crop seed rates, but few differences were noted at high crop seed rates. Indeed, the weed seed bank at the conclusion of the 4-yr study was not greater with the 50% compared with 100% herbicide rate when high crop seed rates were used. This study demonstrates the combined merits of early seeding (April), higher crop seed rates, and spring-applied fertilizer in conjunction with timely but limited herbicide use to manage weeds and maintain high yields in rotations containing barley and field pea.

Dry peas (pea) usually require early and effective weed management for optimum yields. However, it is not always possible to control all weeds with a single herbicide application. In experiments at Lacombe and Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, we determined the relative importance of controlling redstem filaree or wild oat, or both species. Bentazon, sethoxydim, or a imazethapyr/imazamox mixture was applied to control redstem filaree, wild oat, or both weeds, respectively. None of the herbicides caused visually detectable crop injury. Time of weed removal effects on pea yield were inconsistent. In addition, applying half or full herbicide rates did not usually influence weed biomass, pea yield, or pea seed weight. Averaged across all variables except herbicide, pea yield losses due to competition from redstem filaree, wild oat, or both species averaged 31, 47, or 53%, respectively. When redstem filaree and wild oat were controlled with imazethapyr/imazamox, pea yields were the same as weed-free check plots in three of four location-years (89% of weed-free yields for all four location-years). Optimal pea yields in weed communities with redstem filaree and wild oat as dominant species were more dependent upon selecting an herbicide that controlled both species than a specific time of weed removal or herbicide rate.

Growing crops that exhibit a high level of competition with weeds increases opportunities to practice integrated weed management and reduce herbicide inputs. The recent development and market dominance of hybrid canola cultivars provides an opportunity to reassess the relative competitive ability of canola cultivars with small-grain cereals. Direct-seeded (no-till) experiments were conducted at five western Canada locations from 2006 to 2008 to compare the competitive ability of canola cultivars vs. small-grain cereals. The relative competitive ability of the species and cultivars was determined by assessing monocot and dicot weed biomass at different times throughout the growing season as well as oat (simulated weed) seed production. Under most conditions, but especially under warm and relatively dry environments, barley cultivars had the greatest relative competitive ability. Rye and triticale were also highly competitive species under most environmental conditions. Canada Prairie Spring Red wheat and Canada Western Red Spring wheat cultivars usually were the least competitive cereal crops, but there were exceptions in some environments. Canola hybrids were more competitive than open-pollinated canola cultivars. More importantly, under cool, low growing degree day conditions, canola hybrids were as competitive as barley, especially with dicot weeds. Under most conditions, hybrid canola growers on the Canadian Prairies are well advised to avoid the additional selection pressure inherent with a second in-crop herbicide application. Combining competitive cultivars of any species with optimal agronomic practices that facilitate crop health will enhance cropping system sustainability and allow growers to extend the life of their valuable herbicide tools.

Herbicide-resistant cultivars account for over 90% of the canola grown in western Canada and cultivars resistant to glyphosate dominate the market. Field experiments were conducted at three locations in Alberta to compare the glyphosate system with more traditional herbicide regimes. Glyphosate applied before seeding in spring resulted in better weed control, lower dockage, and higher canola yield and net return than 2,4-D applied in the fall. Glyphosate applied once (two- to four-leaf canola) or twice (two- to four-leaf followed by five- to six-leaf canola) in-crop provided similar weed control, dockage, and canola yield as ethalfluralin applied PRE in the fall followed by an in-crop mixture of sethoxydim, ethametsulfuron, and clopyralid; and superior weed control and canola yield and lower dockage than ethalfluralin alone or an in-crop mixture of sethoxydim and ethametsulfuron. The in-crop glyphosate applications resulted in higher net revenues than the other treatments. There was little or no advantage to applying glyphosate twice compared with once in-crop. The amount of active ingredient entering the environment varied with the herbicide regime but was lower with the glyphosate system than with most of the traditional regimes, especially when glyphosate was applied only once in-crop.

Effective, long-term wild oat management requires an integrated approach that uses management techniques beyond simple herbicide application. A 5-yr (1996 to 2000) zero tillage study was conducted to assess the influence of barley harvest timing on wild oat densities in subsequent years at Lacombe, AB, Canada and Melfort, SK, Canada. Harvest timings included barley harvested 1 wk after heading (early), approximately 14 to 16 d later at the soft dough stage (normal), and at maturity (grain). In the absence of herbicides, wild oat densities decreased in silage plots harvested early and increased in grain plots. Reductions were more distinct at Lacombe where barley phenological differences and whole plant moisture contents between early and normal silage harvests were greater than at Melfort. Half rates of wild oat herbicides (ICIA 0604 and imazamethabenz) did not augment reductions in wild oat densities after early silage harvest, but did improve wild oat management after normal silage harvest, and in grain production. At Lacombe, early silage harvest reduced wild oat densities more than did herbicides in grain production. Similar trends were apparent at Melfort but were not statistically significant. Early barley silage harvests may be an effective integrated weed management tool for wild oat.

Herbicide-resistant canola dominates the canola market in Canada. A multiyear field experiment was conducted at three locations to investigate the effect of time of weed removal (two-, four-, or six-leaf canola) and herbicide rate (50 or 100% recommended) in three herbicide-resistant canola systems. Weeds were controlled in glufosinate-resistant canola (GLU) with glufosinate, in glyphosate-resistant canola (GLY) with glyphosate, and in imidazolinone-resistant canola (IMI) with a 50:50 mixture of imazamox and imazethapyr. Canola yields were similar among the three canola cultivar–herbicide systems. Yields were not influenced by 50 vs. 100% herbicide rates. Timing of weed removal had the greatest effect on canola yield, with weed removal at the four-leaf stage giving the highest yields in most cases. Percent dockage was often greater for GLU and IMI than for GLY. In comparison with the other treatments, dockage levels doubled for GLU after application at 50% herbicide rates. The consistency of monocot weed control was usually greater for GLY than for GLU or IMI systems. However, weed biomass data revealed no differences in dicot weed control consistency between IMI and GLY systems. Greater dockage and weed biomass variability after weed removal at the six-leaf stage or after low herbicide rates suggests higher weed seed production, which could constrain the adoption of integrated weed management practices in subsequent years.

There is no published information on the impact of volunteer barley on wheat yield loss or on the economics of controlling barley with a herbicide. With the registration of imazamox-resistant wheat, it is now possible to control volunteer barley in wheat. Thus, the likelihood of growing wheat in rotation with barley may increase. Field experiments were conducted in 2003 and 2004 at Beaverlodge, Lacombe, and Edmonton, AB, Canada, and Saskatoon, SK, Canada, to determine the impact of volunteer barley on yield of imazamox-resistant spring wheat seeded at relatively low (100 kg ha−1) and high (175 kg ha−1) rates. Barley was seeded at different densities to simulate volunteer barley infestations. Regression analysis indicated that wheat-plant density influenced the effects of volunteer barley interference on wheat yield loss, economic threshold values, and volunteer barley fecundity among locations and years. Economic thresholds varied from as few volunteer barley plants as 3 m−2 at Beaverlodge in 2003 and 2004 to 48 m−2 at Lacombe in 2003. In most cases, wheat yield loss and volunteer barley fecundity were lower and economic thresholds were higher when wheat was seeded at the higher rate. For example, averaged over both years at Beaverlodge initial slope values (percentage of wheat yield loss at low barley density) were 4.5 and 1.7%, and economic threshold values of volunteer barley plants were 3 m−2 and 8 m−2 at low and high wheat seeding rates, respectively. Results indicate that volunteer barley can be highly competitive in wheat, but yield losses and wheat seed contamination due to volunteer barley can be alleviated by seeding wheat at a relatively high rate.

Wild oat causes more crop yield losses and accounts for more herbicide expenditures than any other weed species on the Canadian Prairies. A study was conducted from 2001 to 2005 at four Canadian Prairie locations to determine the influence of repeated cultural and herbicidal management practices on wild oat population density, biomass, and seed production, and on barley biomass and seed yield. Short or tall cultivars of barley were combined with normal or double barley seeding rates in continuous barley or a barley–canola–barley–field-pea rotation under three herbicide rate regimes. The same herbicide rate regime was applied to the same plots in all crops each year. In barley, cultivar type and seeding rate were also repeated on the same plots year after year. Optimal cultural practices (tall cultivars, double seeding rates, and crop rotation) reduced wild oat emergence, biomass, and seed production, and increased barley biomass and seed yield, especially at low herbicide rates. Wild oat seed production at the quarter herbicide rate was reduced by 91, 95, and 97% in 2001, 2003, and 2005, respectively, when tall barley cultivars at double seeding rates were rotated with canola and field pea (high management) compared to short barley cultivars at normal seeding rates continuously planted to barley (low management). Combinations of favorable cultural practices interacted synergistically to reduce wild oat emergence, biomass and seed production, and to increase barley yield. For example, at the quarter herbicide rate, wild oat biomass was reduced 2- to 3-, 6- to 7-, or 19-fold when optimal single, double, or triple treatments were combined, respectively. Barley yield reductions in the low-management scenario were somewhat compensated for by full herbicide rates. However, high management at low herbicide rates often produced more barley than low management in higher herbicide rate regimes.

The inclusion of winter cereals in spring-annual rotations in the northern Great Plains may reduce weed populations and herbicide requirements. A broad range of spring and winter cereals were compared for ability to suppress weeds and maximize grain yield at Lacombe (2002 to 2005) and Lethbridge (2003 to 2005), Alberta, Canada. High seeding rates (≥ 400 seeds/m2) were used in all years to maximize crop competitive ability. Spring cereals achieved high crop-plant densities (> 250 plants/m2) at most sites, but winter cereals had lower plant densities due to winterkill, particularly at Lethbridge in 2004. All winter cereals and spring barley were highly effective at reducing weed biomass at Lacombe for the first 3 yr of the study. Weed suppression was less consistently affected by winter cereals in the last year at Lacombe and at Lethbridge, primarily due to poor winter survival. Grain yields were highest for spring triticale and least for spring wheat at Lacombe, with winter cereals intermediate. At Lethbridge, winter cereals had higher grain yields in 2003 whereas spring cereals had higher yields in 2004 and 2005. Winter cereals were generally more effective at suppressing weed growth than spring cereals if a good crop stand was established, but overlap in weed-competitive ability among cultivars was considerable. This information will be used to enhance the sustainable production of winter and spring cereals in traditional and nontraditional agro-ecological zones.

A study was initiated in 2001at four locations in western Canada to investigate an integrated approach to managing wild oat, the region's worst weed. The study examined the effects of combining semidwarf or tall barley cultivars with normal or twice-normal barley seeding rates in either continuous barley or a barley–canola–barley–field pea–barley rotation. Herbicides were applied at 25, 50, and 100% of recommended rates. The first phase of the study was completed in 2005. This paper reports on the second phase, which was continued for four more years at two of the locations, Beaverlodge and Fort Vermilion, AB, Canada. The objective was to determine the long-term impact of the treatments on wild oat seed in the soil seed bank. In 2009 (final year), the diverse rotation combined with the higher barley seeding rate (optimal cultural practice) resulted in higher barley yields and reduced wild oat biomass compared to continuous barley and lower barley seeding rate (suboptimal cultural practice). In contrast to the first phase, barley yield was higher with the semidwarf cultivar, and cultivar had no effect on wild oat management. Wild oat seed in the soil seed bank decreased with increasing herbicide rate, but amounts were often lower with the optimal cultural practice. For example, at the recommended herbicide rate at Beaverlodge, an approximate 40-fold reduction in wild oat seed occurred with the optimal compared to the suboptimal cultural practice. The results indicate that combining optimal cultural practices with herbicides will reduce the amount of wild oat seed in the soil seed bank, and result in higher barley yields. Optimal cultural practices may also compensate for reduced herbicidal effects in terms of reducing wild oat seed accumulation in the soil seed bank and increasing barley yield. The results have implications for mitigating the evolution of herbicide resistance in wild oat.

Field experiments were conducted at three locations in 2003 and 2004 to examine clethodim and quizalofop-P efficacy on spring wheat seedlings when applied alone or in tank mixtures with herbicides used to control broadleaf weeds. Clethodim at the recommended rate of 30 g/ha reduced spring wheat biomass by 63 to 98% and was only >90% in three of six site years. In contrast, quizalofop-P at the recommended rate of 36 g/ha reduced wheat biomass >90% in all cases. Clethodim or quizalofop-P could be tank mixed with 2,4-D ester, bromoxynil, or bromoxynil plus MCPA ester with little risk of reduced efficacy on wheat. However, 2,4-D amine was highly antagonistic to both herbicides. The commercial mixture of thifensulfuron plus tribenuron reduced clethodim, but not quizalofop-P, efficacy on wheat. Herbicide options exist for simultaneous control of volunteer glyphosate-resistant canola and glyphosate-resistant wheat if the latter technology were to be commercialized in the future.

Field experiments were conducted in 1996, 1997, and 1998 at Lacombe and Lethbridge, AB, to determine the influence of early weed competition on field pea yields. Wild oat and Tartary buckwheat were removed from plots at weekly intervals after pea emergence by hand-weeding and maintained weed-free for the remainder of the growing season. Tartary buckwheat produced slightly more biomass than wild oat at Lacombe, whereas wild oat produced much more biomass than Tartary buckwheat at Lethbridge. Weed-free pea yields at Lacombe were always two- to threefold higher than at Lethbridge. At Lethbridge, early competition with Tartary buckwheat in all years, and with wild oat in 1998, did not reduce pea yields. In 1996 and 1997 at Lethbridge, pea yield reductions due to wild oat began at 2 wk after pea emergence; for the next 2 wk yield loss was linear, decreasing at an average rate of 97 kg/ha per day. Early weed competition led to pea yield losses at Lacombe in all 3 yr. The onset of yield loss at Lacombe over the 3-yr period ranged from 1 to 2 wk after pea emergence; for the next 2 to 3 wk yield loss was linear, decreasing at an average rate of 45 kg/ha per day. Yield losses after full-season weed competition ranged from 40 to 70% at both sites. Usually, the beginning of the critical weed-free period was at 1 or 2 wk after pea emergence. Optimum pea yields usually required weed removal very early in the pea life cycle; weed removal beyond 2 wk after pea emergence often protected only suboptimal yields.

Field-scale experiments were conducted at several western Canada locations to determine the importance of early weed removal over variable landscapes. In eight of 10 cases, imidazolinone-resistant (IR) canola yield decreased linearly as herbicide application (15/15 g/ha imazamox/imazethapyr or 15/15 g/ha imazamox/imazethapyr plus 150 g/ha clopyralid) was delayed beyond the one- to two-leaf stage. In two of 10 cases, canola oil content also decreased as herbicide treatment was delayed. Canola yields at all environments (location by year combinations) averaged 2,073, 1,872, or 1,650 kg/ha when treated at the one- to two-, three- to five-, or six- to seven-leaf stage, respectively. Assuming canola prices from a low of $250/t to a high of $650/t, growers could lose $50 to $131/ha, respectively, by delaying herbicide application from the one- to two- to the three- to five-leaf stage, or $106 to $275/ha, respectively, by delaying herbicide application from the one- to two- to the six- to seven-leaf stage.

Glyphosate-resistant canola was seeded at Vegreville, Alberta, in 1997 and 1999 and barley in rotation with the canola in 1998 at three seeding rates. The effects, at each crop seeding rate, of variable glyphosate (canola) and tralkoxydim plus bromoxynil plus MCPA (barley) rates on crop yield, net economic return and seed production by wild oat, wild mustard, and wild buckwheat, and the amount of weed seed in the soil seed bank was determined. Crop seeding rate influenced the response of canola and barley yield and weed seed production to herbicide rate. At the lowest crop seeding rates, yield responses tended to be parabolic with yields increasing up to one-half and three-quarters of the recommended herbicide rates and trends toward reduced yields at the full rates. This response was not evident at the higher crop seeding rates, where, in most cases the yield reached a maximum between one-half and the full recommended rate. The effects of the herbicides on weed seed production, especially at the lowest rate, were often superior at the higher crop seeding rates. The results indicate that seeding canola and barley at relatively high rates may reduce risk associated with lower crop yields and increased weed seed production at lower than recommended herbicide rates. However, the current cost of herbicide-resistant canola seed may preclude the adoption of this integrated weed management practice by growers.

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) crops are produced over large areas in North America. A study was conducted at six western Canada research sites to determine seed date and tillage system effects on weed populations in GR spring wheat and canola cropping systems from 2000 to 2003. Four-year wheat–canola–wheat–pea rotations were devised with varying levels of GR crops in the rotation. Weed populations were determined at pre– and post–in-crop herbicide application intervals in 2000 and 2003. Early seeding led to higher and more variable in-crop wild oat and wild buckwheat populations. High frequencies of in-crop glyphosate wheat in the rotation usually improved weed management and reduced weed density and variability. Canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) across all locations revealed that by 2003, green foxtail, redroot pigweed, sowthistle spp., wild buckwheat, and wild oat, all associated with the rotation lacking in-crop glyphosate. Similar CDA analyses for individual locations indicated specific weeds were associated with 3 yr of in-crop glyphosate (Canada thistle at Brandon, henbit at Lacombe, and volunteer wheat, volunteer canola, and round-leaved mallow at Lethbridge). However, only henbit at Lacombe and volunteer wheat at Lethbridge occurred at significant densities. Although excellent weed control was attained in rotations containing a high frequency of GR crops, the merits of more integrated approaches to weed management and crop production should also be considered. Overall, rotations including GR spring wheat did not significantly increase short-term weed management risks in conventional tillage or low soil-disturbance direct-seeding systems.

Field experiments were conducted at Vegreville and Lacombe, AB, to determine the influence of barley (Hordeum vulgare) variety and seeding rate on interference of wild oat (Avena fatua) with barley. Barley variety and seeding rate affected barley density, height at maturity, and seed yield, as well as wild oat shoot dry weight and seed yield in most experiments, but there was no variety by seeding rate interaction. As expected, the semidwarf varieties Falcon and CDC Earl were the shortest. Barley seedling emergence and subsequent plant densities varied among varieties, locations, and years. The hull-less varieties Falcon and CDC Dawn had the poorest emergence in most cases, whereas AC Lacombe and Seebe had the highest emergence. Wild oat shoot dry matter and seed production was highest in the Falcon, CDC Dawn, and CDC Earl plots, suggesting that these were the least competitive with wild oat. Barley yield loss from wild oat interference also tended to be highest in these varieties. Poor emergence of Falcon and CDC Dawn and the shorter stature of Falcon and CDC Earl likely contributed to their relatively poor competitiveness with wild oat. Increasing the seeding rate improved the competitiveness of all varieties, as evidenced by reduced wild oat shoot dry matter and seed production and, in some cases, improved barley yields.

Early weed removal in canola gives the crop a competitive advantage over weeds and is therefore widely recommended for optimal crop production, but no studies have been undertaken previously to determine the effect of this practice on insect infestations. Four field experiments were conducted at Lacombe and Beaverlodge, AB, Canada, in 1999–2001 for a total of 10 site-years to determine the effect of time of weed removal on root maggot (Delia spp.) egg deposition and larval damage to taproots. The experiments also investigated the effects of other factors such as cultivar, seeding date, herbicide application rate, fertilizer rate and placement, and use of a nitrification inhibitor on root maggot damage and oviposition. Damage to taproots and oviposition declined by approximately 6 and 23%, respectively, with a delay in weed removal from the two- to six-leaf stage of canola development. The effect of time of weed removal on root maggot damage and egg density sometimes varied with site and cultivar, but the main effect of time of weed removal was more prominent (smaller P values) than interactions with site. The most plausible explanation for this effect relates to the behavioral sequence of events that precedes oviposition in mated, gravid female flies. Heterogeneous environments, such as weedy backgrounds in canola plantings, minimize opportunities for females of Delia spp. to complete the behavioral sequence required for oviposition, leading to reduced infestation levels in weedy systems. However, yield improvements achieved with early weed removal exceeded the yield benefit derived by lowered root maggot pressure when weeds were removed later. Nevertheless, current efforts to reduce pesticide use in agriculture may promote broader adoption of cultural control strategies for weed and root maggot management. In some situations, it may then be appropriate to ameliorate root maggot damage by maintaining some weedy background.