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An assessment of reduced herbicide and fertilizer inputs on cereal grain yield and weed growth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

F.C. Stevenson ,
A.M. Johnston ,
S.A. Brandt  and
L. Townley-Smith
F.C. Stevenson
Affiliation:
Research Scientist, 206A Dunlop Street, Saskatoon, SK, CanadaS7N 2B7;
A.M. Johnston*
Affiliation:
Western Canada Director, Potash & Phosphate Institute of Canada, CN Tower Midtown Plaza, Suite 704, Saskatoon, SK, CanadaS7K 1J5;
S.A. Brandt
Affiliation:
Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Farm, Box 10, Scott, SK, CanadaSOK 4A0;
L. Townley-Smith
Affiliation:
Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration, 1800 Hamilton Street, Regina, SK, CanadaS4P 4L2.
*
Corresponding author is A.M. Johnston ([email protected]).
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Abstract

Although crop production and weed growth could change if herbicides and fertilizer inputs were reduced, the short-term impact in an annual cropping system in the Northern Great Plains is not well understood. Data were collected from 14 sites in Saskatchewan, Canada, to investigate the influence of weed control method (cultural vs. herbicides) and N and P fertilizers on crop yield of fall rye, spring wheat, and barley, and the presence and number of weed species. Cultural weed control included 25% greater crop seeding rate, preseeding tillage closer to the time of seeding, and fertilizer N banding in closer proximity to the seed. Four weed species (wild oat, lambsquarters, wild buckwheat, and field penny cress) occurred more frequently in plots with cultural weed control compared with herbicide weed control for all cereal crops. However, straw and grain yields of all crops were unaffected by weed control method at all sites. The addition of fertilizer had a major impact on crop growth and some weed species. Green foxtail occurred more often in unfertilized compared with fertilized plots for all cereal crops. Straw and grain yields of all cereal crops were higher in fertilized compared with unfertilized plots. Crop yield response to fertilizer inputs was not consistent among sites for the three cereal crops. Producers making drastic reductions in fertilizer inputs may experience reductions in crop yields because of limited nutrient levels. However, the results indicate that herbicide inputs could be reduced or eliminated periodically with no short-term yield loss in cereal cropping systems.

Keywords

cereal crop yieldscultural practicesN and P fertilizersweed presence
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 15 , Issue 2 , June 2000 , pp. 60 - 67
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2000

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