Harvest weed seed controls (HWSC) destroy weed seeds that are retained by the plant at crop harvest, which would typically be spread by the harvester along with other field residues. HWSC exploits coincidental maturity between crops and weeds, so an experiment was designed to collect weed seeds as they shatter throughout the growing season and through a simulated harvest delay. This experiment monitored four economically important broadleaf species and two grass species in a soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) field. Results indicated that broadleaf species shattered seed at rates accelerating through the growing season, while grass species shattered more seed early in the growing season. Field experiments in organic and conventional winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) fields infested with Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot) compared two HWSC techniques to grower-standard weed management programs in each system, including both no-till and full-till standard treatments in the conventional system. Italian ryegrass populations were monitored, and wheat yield was measured both before and after HWSC application. In both organic and conventional cropping systems, HWSC treatments did not provide better Italian ryegrass control than the grower-standard treatments. The conventional program including tillage boosted Italian ryegrass populations. These results suggest that HWSC treatments did not enhance Italian ryegrass control compared to grower-standard practices in either the organic or conventional systems. Additionally, broadleaf weeds may retain enough seeds to be viable targets for HWSC. Incorporating best practices, such as a timely crop harvest, is key for understanding and optimizing HWSC. / Master of Science / Harvest weed seed controls (HWSC) destroy weed seeds that the weed plant retains at the time of crop harvest. On a typical farm, these weed seeds pass through the crop harvester and get spread across the field along with other plant materials. HWSC directly targets weed seeds, differentiating itself from normal weed management practices, such as herbicides, that kill emerging or emerged weed plants. With HWSC, weed seeds never enter the soil seed bank, thus depleting weed populations over time. HWSC works through mechanical means, such as crushing, burning, or removal. For conventional farmers battling herbicide resistant weeds, HWSC can provide effective weed management by diversifying weed management programs. HWSC also has promise as a new chemical-free weed management for organic farmers.
HWSC relies on crops and weeds having coincidental maturity; seeds released from the plant (shattered) before crop harvest cannot be targeted by HWSC. An experiment was designed to collect weed seeds weekly as they shatter throughout the growing season, continuing until three weeks after the ideal date to harvest crops, thereby simulating a situation where weather or logistical factors prevented a timely crop harvest. This experiment monitored four broadleaf species and two grass species that infest soybean fields. Broadleaf species shattered seeds at increasing rates throughout the soybean growing season, with each species shattering over 50% of captured seed during the simulated harvest delay. Compared to broadleaf weeds, grass species shattered relatively more seed early in the growing season. This experiment indicates that broadleaf weeds may be more suited to control by HWSC.
HWSC was also used in organic and conventional winter wheat fields infested with Italian ryegrass. These experiments compared two HWSC techniques, windrow burning of field residue and residue removal to standard weed management programs in each system. Windrow burning incinerates field residues, eliminating weed seeds within. Residue removal takes all field residues off the field for disposal elsewhere. While the standard organic weed management program involved tillage by default, the conventional cropping system featured both no-till and full-till standard weed management programs. Italian ryegrass populations were monitored through population counts, biomass collections, and counting of seed remaining at harvest. Wheat yield was also recorded. These measurements were taken both before HWSC application and after the first year of HWSC, to compare year-to-year changes.
In the organic cropping system, Italian ryegrass populations grew and wheat yield decreased at similar rates for both HWSC treatments and the standard weed management program. In the conventional cropping system, Italian ryegrass populations declined and wheat yield increased for HWSC and the no-till standard treatments. Tillage, however, boosted Italian ryegrass populations, keeping them at similar levels to the previous growing season. These results suggest that HWSC treatments did not enhance Italian ryegrass control compared to standard practices in either the organic or no-till conventional systems.
Though these results indicate that broadleaf weeds may retain enough seeds to be viable targets for HWSC, more research is needed to optimize HWSC for Italian ryegrass control, especially for organic growers. Incorporating best agricultural practices, such as a timely crop harvest, is key for improving HWSC’s efficacy. Commercial implementation of HWSC depends on further understanding of how specific HWSC practices, such as windrow burning, interact with the agricultural landscape, including effects on landscape aesthetics and soil nutrition. HWSC holds promise for diversifying weed management and limiting reliance on herbicides, but its true potential is yet to be revealed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/78827 |
| Date | 07 September 2017 |
| Creators | Haring, Steven C. |
| Contributors | Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science, Flessner, Michael L., Cahoon, Charles W., Everman, Wesley J. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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