Documentation of Weed Infestation Levels in Alabama Cotton

Mike Patterson, Dale Monks, and Eric Webster


 
ABSTRACT

Cotton fields were surveyed in 1986 for weed infestation levels just prior to harvest. Weed growth stage varied from seedling to mature. Horsenettle, johnsongrass, annual morningglory, nutsedge, prickly side, spotted spurge, and trumpetcreeper were mostly mature weeds which had escaped control measures. Many weeds showed signs of reduced growth due to herbicide injury. The surveys were conducted in three counties containing the largest acreages of cotton in the state. Four farms were surveyed in each county. Weeds were counted in two meter square areas at twenty stops in fields on each farm.

Greater numbers of uncontrolled weeds were evident in 1986 due to poor activation of preemergence herbicides after planting and reduced efficacy of post-directed sprays on drought stressed weeds. The results of this years survey show Xanthium, Sorghum, Ipomoea, and Side species were among the most prevalent weeds occurring in Alabama cotton fields. Sicklepod (Cassia obtusifolia) infestations are isolated in the Tennessee Valley, but increase in cotton fields located in central and south Alabama. These relative counts correlate well with the estimated infestation acreages published in the 1986 Proceedings.



Reprinted from 1987 Proceedings: Beltwide Cotton Production Research Conferences pp. 364 - 365
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998