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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #244556
Title: Herbicide and rye cover crop residue integration affect weed control and yield in strip-tillage peanut

Author
item AULAKH, J - Auburn University
item SAINI, M - Auburn University
item Price, Andrew
item Faircloth, Wilson
item VAN SANTEN, E - Auburn University
item WEHTJE, G - Auburn University
item KELTON, J - Auburn University

Submitted to: Peanut Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/2015
Publication Date: 5/26/2015
Citation: Aulakh, J.S., Saini, M., Price, A.J., Faircloth, W.H., Van Santen, E., Wehtje, G.R., Kelton, J.A. 2015. Herbicide and rye cover crop residue integration affect weed control and yield in strip-tillage peanut. Peanut Science. 42:30-38.

Interpretive Summary: Acreage of reduced tillage peanut production is increasing mainly due to reduced production costs and increased environmental and economic benefits compared to conventional systems. Experiments were conducted in Alabama and Georgia to evaluate strip tillage systems, utilizing high residue cereal rye cover crop for weed control and peanut yield, in comparison to conventional tillage systems. Prowl plus Dual provided greater than 91% control of all weeds in strip tillage and = 85% control of tall morningglory, yellow nutsedge and bermudagrass in the conventional tillage system. Prowl provided 84% and 82% control of smooth pigweed and large crabgrass, but only 57% and 55% control of Florida beggarweed and sicklepod, respectively. Subsequent post-emergence application alone was inadequate in controlling these four weeds. Peanut yield was greater in 3 of 4 experiments utilizing strip tillage system indicating a yield advantages for utilizing strip vs. conventional tillage. Peanut market grade was not affected by any herbicide treatments or tillage methods evaluated.

Technical Abstract: Acreage of reduced tillage peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production is increasing mainly due to reduced production costs and increased environmental and economic benefits compared to conventional systems. Experiments were conducted in Alabama and Georgia to evaluate strip tillage systems, utilizing high residue cereal rye cover crop for weed control and peanut yield, in comparison to conventional tillage systems. Six weed management schemes were evaluated including a pre-emergence (PRE) application of pendimethalin alone at 1.12 kg a.i. ha-1or in combination with S-metolachlor at 1.36 kg a.i. ha-1. Both PRE treatments were applied alone or in conjunction with a post emergence (POST) application consisting of a tank mixture of paraquat at 0.140 kg a.i. ha-1 plus bentazon at 0.56 kg a.i. ha-1 plus 2, 4-DB at 0.224 kg a.i. ha-1. The remaining two treatments consisted of a no-herbicide control and the aforementioned POST application applied alone. In 2005 at our Alabama location, pendimethalin PRE alone provided 81% control of yellow nutsedge and 84% control of tall morningglory in strip tillage. Pendimethalin plus metolachlor provided greater than 91% control of all weeds in strip tillage and = 85% control of tall morningglory, yellow nutsedge and bermudagrass in the conventional tillage system. Greater than 97% control of all weeds was observed irrespective of tillage system in treatments containing both PRE and POST applications. In Alabama in 2007, pooled over tillage systems, pendimethalin provided 84% and 82% control of smooth pigweed and large crabgrass, but only 57% and 55% control of Florida beggarweed and sicklepod, respectively. Post-emergence application alone was inadequate in controlling these four weeds. Peanut yield was greater in 3 of 4 experiments utilizing strip tillage system indicating a yield advantages for utilizing strip vs. conventional tillage. Higher peanut yields were observed at the Georgia location compared to the Alabama location. Since weed interference was negligible at Dawson in 2005, no-herbicide plots yielded 5346 kg ha-1 whereas the same treatment yielded least in 2007 (2995 kg ha-1). Peanut market grade was not affected by any herbicide treatments or tillage methods evaluated.