G99-1389 Cultural Practices to Improve Weed Control in Winter Wheat

This NebGuide explains the influence of cultural practices on weeds in winter wheat. Precipitation and temperature greatly influence crop and weed growth in the semiarid areas of the central Great Plains. Precipitation in Nebraska varies from 14 to 24 inches where fallow is practiced. The purpose of fallow is to control weeds and, when not cropping a field, to store water and stabilize winter wheat fields. With good prewheat-fallow techniques, sufficient soil moisture is usually available to establish winter wheat. Peak rainfall occurs in May and June during the pollination and grain-filling period of winter wheat. The latter part of June, July, and first part of August is the hottest period. High temperatures may cause stress to the wheat and weeds, reducing weed control if herbicides are applied after harvest

G91-1009 Getting Started in Ecofarming: Growing the Winter Wheat Crop

Cultural practices can improve the weed competitiveness of winter wheat in an ecofallow program, thus increasing the effectiveness of herbicides. Ecofarming is a popular conservation tillage practice used in Nebraska areas where winter wheat is produced. It requires a high degree of management, but the rewards through higher crop yields and erosion protection are worth the effort. In Nebraska the winter wheat-fallow rotation is the common rotation used in areas of less than 17 inches of rainfall, while in areas that receive 17 to 22 inches the winter wheat-corn or sorghum fallow rotation is most common. In 1988, 41 percent of the available wheat stubble fields in west central and southwest Nebraska and 11 percent in the Panhandle were sprayed with a herbicide after wheat harvest. In 1986 a field survey was taken one to two months after herbicides were applied after winter wheat harvest. Results indicated that many cultural practices greatly influenced weed control in the winter wheat stubble. The purpose of this NebGuide is to explain how some of these cultural practices can be used by farmers to improve the weed competitiveness of their winter wheat. Hence, when herbicides are used their effectiveness is increased

G92-1071 Ridge Plant Systems: Weed Control

Advantages and disadvantages of the ridge plant system, weed control before and at planting and economics of the system are discussed. Ridge planting combines tillage and herbicides to achieve improved weed control in row crops. Crop seed is planted into ridges formed during cultivation and/or ditching of the previous crop. In ridge planting, the planter follows the old row and ridge clearing sweeps or disks move the surface soil, residue and much of the weed seed out of the row. Weed seeds are deposited between the rows where, upon germination, they can be controlled with cultivation. Two cultivations are generally used for weed control. The first cultivation loosens the soil and the second rebuilds the ridge. The ridge plant system is well suited to furrow-irrigationd crops. It also works well with dryland crops or those under center pivot irrigation. On furrow irrigationd land, corn or sorghum stalks may need to be shredded to assist in decomposition and hence irrigation because crop residue slows water advance in the furrow. Slowing the water may be a benefit, however, on soils which have a low water intake rate. With center pivot and dryland acres the need for shredding depends on how much residue the cultivator can handle

G92-1071 Ridge Plant Systems: Weed Control

Advantages and disadvantages of the ridge plant system, weed control before and at planting and economics of the system are discussed. Ridge planting combines tillage and herbicides to achieve improved weed control in row crops. Crop seed is planted into ridges formed during cultivation and/or ditching of the previous crop. In ridge planting, the planter follows the old row and ridge clearing sweeps or disks move the surface soil, residue and much of the weed seed out of the row. Weed seeds are deposited between the rows where, upon germination, they can be controlled with cultivation. Two cultivations are generally used for weed control. The first cultivation loosens the soil and the second rebuilds the ridge. The ridge plant system is well suited to furrow-irrigationd crops. It also works well with dryland crops or those under center pivot irrigation. On furrow irrigationd land, corn or sorghum stalks may need to be shredded to assist in decomposition and hence irrigation because crop residue slows water advance in the furrow. Slowing the water may be a benefit, however, on soils which have a low water intake rate. With center pivot and dryland acres the need for shredding depends on how much residue the cultivator can handle

EC05-130 Guide for Weed Management in Nebraska

One of the major thrusts of all University of Nebraska weed science faculty is the Guide for Weed Management in Nebraska. This guide is not just the work of one or two people, rather it is a joint effort of all the authors to produce a comprehensive, information-packed resource. Each weed science faculty member is responsible for particular sections of the guide. The process of reviewing the current content, checking labels and research data and updating the content can be an extensive process. Each year new herbicide active ingredients and trade names are introduced and figuring out what a herbicide is and what it can control can be a sizeable task. The authors also meet twice a year to discuss feedback from readers, how the current guide is being used, and what changes should be made in the future. This circular deals principally with herbicides as an aid for crop production. The suggestions for use are based on results at Nebraska research centers and elsewhere. Consult product labels for additional information

Review of \u3ci\u3eReducing Soil Water Evaporation with Tillage and Straw Mulching\u3c/i\u3e by S. K. Jalota and S. S. Prihar

The future of rain-fed agriculture depends upon reducing soil water evaporation and improving soil water storage. We must reduce runoff and increase water infiltration. By keeping more crop residue on the soil surface, growers are reducing erosion. Increased water infiltration has led to problems in some areas where fallow was practiced by causing saline seeps. Farmers will adapt to farming methods that conserve more soil water and increase crop production. Reducing Soil Water Evaporation with Tillage and Straw Mulching presents an excellent review of the literature (over 230 research papers) explaining the process of reducing water evaporation with tillage and crop residue and its importance to crop production. The process of evaporation from the soil is complex. Different cropping systems, soils, climate, and rainfall patterns vary around the world, adding to the complexity

G81-551 Ecofarming: Spring Row Crop Planting and Weed Control in Winter Wheat Stubble

Weed control, stubble management and planters for planting in winter wheat stubble are covered here. Planting corn, sorghum or soybeans into untilled, weed-free winter wheat stubble that is 10 months old is an accepted practice in the Central Great Plains States. In Nebraska, this system is known as ecofallow. Treating the stubble with herbicides following wheat harvest (ecofallow) offers several advantages: Weed and volunteer wheat growth can be eliminated. Weed growth robs valuable moisture that could be used by the next year\u27s crop. Standing stubble provides an excellent snow trap during the winter. Snow melt can provide moisture for the next year\u27s crop. Stubble on the soil surface can insulate soil to reduce evaporation of moisture that accumulates in the profile. It also protects the soil from wind and water erosion. Wind velocity at the surface is reduced by wheat stubble, and stubble absorbs the impact of the raindrops and slows runoff, which reduces erosion and increases infiltration

G91-1010 Managing Corn and Sorghum Residues During the Ecofarming Fallow Period

This NebGuide explains how to maintain an appropriate residue cover with ecofarming in the fallow period before winter wheat to reduce soil erosion and conserve soil moisture. Ecofarming is a system of controlling weeds and managing crop residues throughout a crop rotation with minimum use of tillage. This will reduce soil erosion and production costs while increasing weed control, water infiltration, moisture conservation and crop yields. In the winter wheat-ecofallow corn or grain sorghum-fallow rotation, corn or grain sorghum is no-till planted into winter wheat stubble in May. During the previous summer or fall the winter wheat stubble was treated with herbicides to control weeds and increase soil water storage. This fallow period between winter wheat harvest and corn or grain sorghum planting is called ecofallow