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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #423851
Research Project: Agronomic and Engineering Solutions for Conventional and Organic Conservation Agricultural Systems in the Southeastern U.S.

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: Digging into the role of edaphic factors on herbicide resistance: A meta-analysis

Author
item AHLERSMEYER, ANDREW - Auburn University
item GHOSH, RAKESH - Auburn University
item Price, Andrew
item MAITY, ANIRUDDHA - Auburn University

Submitted to: Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/21/2025
Publication Date: 2/24/2025
Citation: Ahlersmeyer, A., Ghosh, R., Price, A.J., Maity, A. 2025. Digging into the role of edaphic factors on herbicide resistance: A meta-analysis [abstract]. Southern Weed Science Society, Charleston, SC January 26-29, 2025.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Edaphic factors are influential for all aspects of agronomy, including weed science. Several studies have documented the effects of various edaphic factors on weed germination, physiology, morphology, and reproduction. For example, different weed species are known to have variable responses to stresses like salinity, sodicity, pH, and water/nutrient availability. Soil tillage also provides unique benefits and drawbacks for weed control. Consequently, weed control using herbicides is largely dependent on factors like soil texture, cation exchange capacity (CEC), pH, and soil organic matter (SOM). Alterations of those factors can present a unique situation for both weed proliferation and herbicide efficacy. However, it remains uncertain if the development of herbicide resistance can be influenced by these edaphic factors. The objective of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the relationships among edaphic factors and resistance of weeds to numerous herbicides throughout the U.S. We conducted a systematic review of literature and extracted 11 peer-reviewed publications with n = 412 observations following standard protocol for a meta-analysis. Information on the level of resistance to 23 herbicides among 9 weed species and their corresponding surface-level edaphic factors (CEC, pH, electrical conductivity [EC], texture, bulk density, and SOM) were extracted by entering GPS coordinates of each weed biotype in these publications into Web Soil Survey. Linear relationships were measured using a correlation matrix and simple linear regression analysis. Preliminary results revealed interesting relationships among variables, such as an increasing trend in herbicide resistance with increasing soil pH. We plan to include more data points by expanding the search criteria to include herbicides with at least some level of soil residual activity. We anticipate that the results conferred from this meta-analysis will provide novel insights into the role of edaphic factors on the development and expression of herbicide resistance. Furthermore, we aim to translate these results into applicable information for farmers and stakeholders.