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Rick Boydston
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Dr. Rick Boydston

Research Agronomist

Introduction

Research at a Glance

Dry bean cultivar response to flumioxazin.  Dry bean cultivars vary in their tolerance to the herbicide flumioxazin. A Petri dish bioassay is being developed to screen dry bean cultivar tolerance to the herbicide.   The amount of green tissue present after 48 hr exposure of imbibed seed to the herbicide correlates well with results of longer (2 week) greenhouse bioassays in which flumioxazin is applied to preemergence to beans planted in a soil.

Preemergence herbicide performance in chickpea production.   Performance of preemergence herbicides in chickpea production often is erratic due to poor activation of herbicides from lack of timely rainfall. Timing of herbicide application in relation to chickpea planting and mechanical incorporation tools are being evaluated to improve preemergence herbicide performance.

Interaction of genetic x environment x management in dry beans.  Dry bean cultivar performance is being tested under different irrigation and tillage levels to determine optimum performance of cultivars under full and deficit irrigation regimes and convention and strip tillage. Strip tillage may reduce inputs, reduce soil erosion, and conserve soil moisture.