Weed management in continuous corn
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EmailEditor’s note: This article is from the archives of the MSU Crop Advisory Team Alerts. Check the label of any pesticide referenced to ensure your use is included.
Although
many people have rotated corn to soybeans or other crops this year, if
you are planting corn following corn there are several weed management
issues to consider. Herbicide inputs are a greater concern in a
continuous corn system when compared to growing corn in rotation with
another crop. This is due primarily to increased crop residue levels as
well as weed escapes from the previous year. Increased residue levels
can decrease the efficacy of many soil-applied herbicides and provide
certain weed species, such as small seeded broadleaf and grass weeds,
the opportunity to germinate and compete with corn. In a continuous corn
system, it is a good idea to plan to use herbicide programs that
account for deficiencies in the previous year’s weed control operations.
Fields where weed escapes occurred the prior year can leave hundreds or
thousands of weed seeds in the soil seed bank. Using the same herbicide
program two years in a row can potentially compound the problem
creating greater weed populations and weed control issues in the future.
Additionally, many weeds have a relatively long emergence period, which
generally makes two-pass weed control programs more successful.
Due to greater residue in a continuous corn system, full rates of
soil-applied herbicides are recommended to manage weeds. Total
postemergence herbicide applications can be used effectively; however,
ensure that weeds are not taller than 4 inches before making
applications. Delaying preemergence herbicide applications after corn
emergence can extend the residual window of activity and reduce
late-season weed emergence. Be sure to follow the precautions given in
last week’s Field CAT Alert when delaying preemergence applications. Several residual preemergence
herbicides can also be applied with herbicides that provide foliar
activity to control emerged weeds. In general, a planned two-pass
herbicide program of preemergence and postemergence weed control
strategies will provide the most effective weed control.
Although glyphosate-resistant weeds have not been observed in Michigan
row crops, continue to reduce the risk of glyphosate-resistant weeds by
varying herbicide modes of action, especially on weeds that can be
problematic to control with glyphosate alone. Where glyphosate-resistant
corn was grown last year, consider using herbicides with different
modes of action on the most problematic weeds to reduce selection
pressure for glyphosate-resistant weeds. Herbicide Sites of Action are
listed on pages 16-17 in the 2008 Weed Control Guide for Field Crops.
