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Tillage method and glyphosate‐resistant alfalfa termination timing affect soil properties and subsequent corn yield
Author(s) -
Clark Jason D.,
Yost Matt A.,
Cardon Grant E.,
Ransom Corey V.,
Creech J. Earl
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.1002/agj2.20478
Subject(s) - agronomy , tillage , glyphosate , silage , sowing , dicamba , no till farming , conventional tillage , crop , environmental science , biology , weed control , soil water , soil fertility , soil science
Application of glyphosate [N‐(phosphonomethyl) glycine]‐containing herbicides and tillage, alone or in combination, has been the standard for removing declining alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) stands. With glyphosate no longer an option to control glyphosate‐resistant alfalfa, different termination strategies are needed. Field studies across four site‐years in Utah evaluated the effect of tillage type and timing (fall conventional till, spring conventional till, fall strip‐till, spring strip‐till, and no‐till) and herbicide timing (fall, spring, in‐crop, and no herbicide) of 2,4‐D (2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and dicamba (3,6‐dichloro‐2‐methoxybenzoic acid) on penetration resistance, alfalfa regrowth, corn ( Zea mays L.) emergence rate, and silage corn yield. Across tillage treatments, fall, spring, and in‐crop herbicide timings compared with no herbicide reduced alfalfa stem count and biomass by at least 74 and 92%, respectively. Emergence rate was greatest under fall and spring conventional till or spring strip‐till compared with fall strip‐till or no‐till. Silage corn yield was greatest and similar with fall or spring herbicide applications for all tillage systems and conventional tillage with an in‐crop herbicide application (19–27 Mg ha −1 ), followed by in‐crop herbicide application for conservation tillage systems and fall and spring conventional till without herbicide application (14–20 Mg ha −1 ), and lastly when only conservation tillage was used to terminate alfalfa (5–15 Mg ha −1 ). Silage corn yield can be optimized when glyphosate‐resistant alfalfa is terminated with herbicides prior to planting, regardless of tillage type or timing. Termination of glyphosate‐resistant alfalfa by herbicides after corn emergence, depending on tillage, reduces silage corn yield 9–19%.