Documentation of Uncontrolled Weeds in South Alabama Cotton

Mike Patterson and Eric Webster


 
ABSTRACT

Cotton fields were surveyed in three south Alabama counties just prior to harvest in 1988. Only mature weeds were counted. Fields on three selected farms in each county were surveyed. Weeds were counted by species in two meter square areas at 20 stops in fields on each farm. Weed counts were converted to a 100 m2 basis for reporting purposes.

Nutsedge species primarily (Cyperus esculentus) were found in large numbers on farms in each county. This is an increase from the 1987 survey of three central Alabama counties. A 1986 survey of three north Alabama counties showed very low nutsedge populations present on the red clay loam soils of the Tennessee Valley. This may be due to longer use of the arsenical herbicides (MSMA, DSMA) in fields which have been planted to cotton for several years. Both Florida beggarweed and bristly starbur were counted in cotton fields in each county and are localized weeds which were not found in northern and central Alabama cotton fields.

Annual morningglory species and common bermudagrass were both present in large numbers in south Alabama cotton fields. Bermudagrass was present in most cotton fields surveyed in north and central Alabama also and appears to be an increasing problem for cotton producers.



Reprinted from Proceedings: 1989 Beltwide Cotton Research Conferences pg. 389
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998