Early-Season Production Management Practices: Weeds

A.C. York


 
ABSTRACT

Effective weed management is one of many production practices necessary for a successful and profitable cotton production system. Failure to adequately control weeds can reduce yield and quality. Weeds caused an average 7.7% yield loss across the cotton belt in 1984 after growers' attempts at control (68). In addition to yield losses, weeds cause other direct and indirect losses such as reduction in quality, cost of extra land preparation and cultivation, herbicide application costs, herbicide costs, and increased harvesting costs (2).

Studies have shown the necessity for early-season weed control in cotton (4,9,30,49,53). As a general rule, weeds need to be controlled for 6 to 8 weeks after cotton is planted but the exact length of time is variable. The required length of control depends upon factors such as soil type, weather conditions, geographical location, weed species, cultivars, soil fertility, and row spacing (5,6,11,47,52,53,58). Some early-season weed interference will not adversely affect yields if the weeds can be removed and the crop can be kept weed-free for the remainder of the season (9,30,36,49,53). Although postemergence control of grasses is feasible, reliance on total postemergence programs usually results in inadequate control of broadleaf weeds (10,26). Broadleaf weed control requires soil-applied herbicides in combination with postemergence herbicides as needed.



Reprinted from Proceedings of the 1986 Beltwide Cotton Production Conference pg. 12
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998