Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T22:06:19.177Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A rotation design to reduce weed density in organic farming

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2010

Randy L. Anderson
Randy L. Anderson*
Affiliation:
USDA-ARS, Brookings, SD57006, USA
*
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Weeds are a major obstacle to successful crop production in organic farming. Producers may be able to reduce inputs for weed management by designing rotations to disrupt population dynamics of weeds. Population-based management in conventional farming has reduced herbicide use by 50% because weed density declines in cropland across time. In this paper, we suggest a 9-year rotation comprised of perennial forages and annual crops that will disrupt weed population growth and reduce weed density in organic systems. Lower weed density will also improve effectiveness of weed control tactics used for an individual crop. The rotation includes 3-year intervals of no-till, which will improve both weed population management and soil health. Even though this rotation has not been field tested, it provides an example of designing rotations to disrupt population dynamics of weeds. Also, producers may gain additional benefits of higher crop yield and increased nitrogen supply with this rotation design.

Keywords

ecological processesorganic systemssystems designweed population dynamics
Type
New Concepts and Case Studies
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , September 2010 , pp. 189 - 195
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Gianessi, L.P. and Reigner, N.P. 2007. The value of herbicides in U.S. crop production. Weed Technology 21:559–566.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Bond, W. and Grundy, A.C. 2001. Non-chemical weed management in organic farming systems. Weed Research 41:383–405.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Evans, C.J. and Bellinder, R.R. 2009. The potential use of vinegar and a clove oil herbicide for weed control in sweet corn, potato, and onion. Weed Technology 23:120–128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Barberi, P. 2002. Weed management in organic agriculture: are we addressing the right issues? Weed Research 42:177–193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Bastiaans, L., Kropff, M.J., Goudriaan, J., and van Laar, H.J. 2000. Design of weed management systems with a reduced reliance on herbicides poses new challenges and prerequisites for modeling crop-weed interactions. Field Crops Research 67:161–167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Anderson, R.L. 2008. Diversity and no-till: keys for pest management in the U.S. Great Plains. Weed Science 56:141–145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Hill, S.B. and McRae, R.J. 1995. Conceptual framework for the transition from conventional to sustainable agriculture. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 7:81–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Anderson, R.L. 2005. A multi-tactic approach to manage weed population dynamics in crop rotations. Agronomy Journal 97:1579–1583.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Anderson, R.L. 2004. Sequencing crops to minimize selection pressure for weeds in the Central Great Plains. Weed Technology 18:157–164.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Froud-Williams, R.J. 1988. Changes in weed flora with different tillage and agronomic management systems. In Altieri, M.A. and Liebman, M. (eds). Weed Management in Agroecosystems: Ecological Approaches. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. p. 213–236.Google Scholar
11.Harvey, R.G. and McNevin, G.R. 1990. Combining cultural practices and herbicides to control wild-proso millet (Panicum miliaceum). Weed Technology 4:433–439.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Entz, M.H., Bullied, W.J., and Kapeta-Mupondwa, P. 1995. Rotational benefits of forage crops in Canadian Prairie cropping systems. Journal of Production Agriculture 8:521–529.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Ominski, P.D., Entz, M.H., and Kenkel, N. 1999. Weed suppression by Medicago sativa in subsequent cereal crops: a comparative survey. Weed Science 47:282–290.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14.Cummings, D.C., Berberet, R.C., Stritzke, J.F., and Caddel, J.L. 2004. Sod-seeding and grazing effects on alfalfa weevils, weeds, and forage yields in established alfalfa. Agronomy Journal 96:1216–1221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15.Mesbah, A.O. and Miller, S.D. 2005. Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) control in established alfalfa grown for seed production. Weed Technology 19:1025–1029.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16.Shaw, D.R. 1996. Development of stale seedbed weed control program in southern row crops. Weed Science 44:413–416.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17.Boyd, N.S., Brennan, E.B., and Fennimore, S.A. 2006. Stale seedbed techniques for organic vegetable production. Weed Technology 20:1052–1057.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18.Donald, W.W. 2006. Mowing for weed management. In Singh, H.P., Batish, D.R., and Kohli, R.K. (eds). Handbook of Sustainable Weed Management. Food Products Press, New York. p. 329–372.Google Scholar
19.Anderson, R.L. 2008. Weed seedling emergence and survival as affected by crop canopy. Weed Technology 22:736–740.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20.Anderson, R.L. 2008. Growth and yield of winter wheat as affected by preceding crop and crop management. Agronomy Journal 100:977–980.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21.Anderson, R.L. 2009. A two-year small grain interval reduces the need for herbicides in soybean. Weed Technology 23:398–403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22.Ashford, D.L. and Reeves, D.W. 2003. Use of a mechanical roller–crimper as an alternative kill method for cover crops. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 18:37–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
23.Shirtliffe, S.J. and Entz, M.H. 2005. Chaff collection reduces seed dispersal of wild oat (Avena fatua) by a combine harvester. Weed Science 53:465–470.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24.Zasada, I.A., Linker, H.M., and Coble, H.D. 1997. Initial weed densities affect no-till weed management with a rye (Secale cereale) cover crop. Weed Technology 11:473–477.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
25.Hoffman, M.L. and Regnier, E.E. 2006. Contributions to weed suppression from cover crops. In Singh, H.P., Batish, D.R., and Kohli, R.K. (eds). Handbook of Sustainable Weed Management. Food Products Press, New York. p. 51–75.Google Scholar
26.Kelner, D.J., Vessey, J.K., and Entz, M.H. 1997. The nitrogen dynamics of 1-, 2- and 3-year stands of alfalfa in a cropping system. Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment 64:1–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
27.Peterson, T.A. and Russelle, M.P. 1991. Alfalfa and the nitrogen cycle in the Corn Belt. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 44:240–243.Google Scholar
28.Hoyt, P.B. 1990. Residual effects of alfalfa and bromegrass cropping on yields of wheat grown for 15 subsequent years. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 70:109–113.Google Scholar
29.Dinnes, D.L., Karlen, D.L., Jaynes, D.B., Kaspar, T.C., Hatfield, J.L., Colvin, T.S., and Cambardella, C.A. 2002. Nitrogen management strategies to reduce nitrate leaching in tile-drained Midwestern soils. Agronomy Journal 94:153–171.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
30.Anderson, R.L. 2009. Rotation design: a key factor for sustainable crop production in a semiarid climate. In Lichthouse, E. (ed.). Sustainable Agriculture Reviews, Volume 1. Springer Publishing, Secaucus, NJ. p. 107–121.Google Scholar
31.Anderson, R.L. 2009. Corn yield is affected by its frequency in a rotation. In 2009 Western Society of Weed Science Research Reports. Western Society of Weed Science, Lac Cruces, NM. p. 100–101.Google Scholar
32.Stanger, T.F. and Lauer, J.G. 2008. Corn grain yield response to crop rotation and nitrogen over 35 years. Agronomy Journal 100:643–650.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
33.Lal, R. 2008. Soils and sustainable agriculture. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 28:57–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
34.Sooby, J., Landeck, J., and Lipson, M. 2007. National Organic Research Agenda. Organic Farming Research Foundation, Santa Cruz, CA. Available from Web site: ofrf.org (accessed April 2, 2009).Google Scholar
35.Karlen, D.L., Hurley, E.G., Andrews, S.S., Cambardella, C.A., Meek, D.W., Duffy, M.D., and Mallarino, A.P. 2006. Crop rotation effects on soil quality at three northern corn/soybean belt locations. Agronomy Journal 98:484–495.CrossRefGoogle Scholar