The effect of weed interference on corn yield and the critical period for
weed control (CPWC) were determined in Germany and Benin. Treatments with
weed control starting at different crop growth stages and continuously kept
weed-free until harvest represented the “weed-infested interval.” Treatments
that were kept weed-free from sowing until different crop growth stages
represented the “weed-free interval.” Michaelis–Menten, Gompertz, logistic
and log–logistic models were employed to model the weed interference on
yield. Cross-validation revealed that the log–logistic model fitted the
weed-infested interval data equally well as the logistic and slightly better
than the Gompertz model fitted the weed-free interval. For Benin, economic
calculations considered yield revenue and cost increase due to mechanical
weeding operations. Weeding once at the ten-leaf stage of corn resulted
already profitable in three out of four cases. One additional weeding
operation may optimize and assure profit. Economic calculations for Germany
determined a CPWC starting earlier than the four-leaf stage, challenging the
decade-long propagated CPWC for corn. Differences between Germany and Benin
are probably due to the higher yields and high costs in Germany. This study
provides a straightforward method to implement economic data in the
determination of the CPWC for chemical and nonchemical weed control
strategies.