College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Christy Sprague, Ph.D.

sprague1@msu.edu

Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center

Professor and Extension Specialist

Telephone: 517-353-0224
Fax: 517-353- 5174

Plant and Soil Sciences Building
1066 Bogue St, Room 466
East Lansing, MI 48824

Area of Expertise:

Weed Extension Specialist - Understanding weed crop interactions and determining ways to manipulate these interactions to improve overall weed management systems.

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Degree:

B.S. in Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University
M.S. in Agronomy, University of Illinois
Ph.D. in Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University

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Research Interests:

Dr. Sprague's research and extension program focuses on integrated weed management, biology, ecology, and management of emerging problematic weeds, and understanding the interactions with weeds and other pests and pest/crop management practices. Her program emphasizes weed management in soybeans, sugar beets, dry beans, and potatoes.

Publications:

1. Taylor, E. C., K. A. Renner, and C. L. Sprague. 2012. Organic Weed Management in Field Crops with a Propane Flamer and Rotary Hoe. Weed Technol. 26:793-799.
2. Everman, W. J., C. L. Sprague, S. A. Gower, and R. J. Richardson. 2009. An IPM Pocket Guide for Weed Identification in Field Crops. Michigan State University. Ext. Bulletin E-3081. Pp. 173.
3. Jordan, T., G. Nice, R. Smeda, C. Sprague, M. Loux, and B. Johnson. 2009. Biology and management of common ragweed. Purdue University. Extension Publication GCW-14.
4. Taylor, E., K. Renner, and C. Sprague. 2008. Integrated Weed Management: Fine Tuning the System. Michigan State University Extension bulletin E-3065, 132pp.
5. Bollman, S. L., C. L. Sprague, and D. Penner. 2008. Physiological basis for tolerance of sugar beet varieties to s-metolachlor and dimethenamid-p. Weed Sci. 56:18-25.
6. Bollman, S. L. and C. L. Sprague. 2007. Optimizing s-metolachlor dimethenamid-p in sugar beet micro-rate treatments. Weed Technol. 21:1054-1063.
7. Harder, D. B., C. L. Sprague, and K. A. Renner. 2007. Effect of soybean row width and population on weeds, crop yield, and economic return. Weed Technol. 21:744-752.
8. Ott, E. J., C. K. Gerber, D. B. Harder, C. L. Sprague, and W. G. Johnson. 2007. Prevalence and influence of stalk-boring insectson glyphosate activity on Indiana and Michigan giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida). Weed Technol. 21:526-531.
9. Harder, D. B., C. L. Sprague, C. D. DiFonzo, K. A. Renner, E. J. Ott, and W. G. Johnson. 2007. Influence of stem boring insects on common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) control in soybean with glyphosate. Weed Technol. 21:241-248.
10. Steckle, L. E., C. S. Sprague, E. W. Stoller, L. M. Wax, F. W. Simmons. 2007. Tillage, cropping systems, and soil depth effects on common waterhemp (Amaranthus rudis) seed-bank persistence. Weed Sci. 55:235-239.
11. Hock, S. M., S. Z. Knezevic, W. G. Johnson. C. Sprague, and A. R. Martin. 2007. Weedsoft: Effects of corn-row spacing for predicting herbicide efficacy on selected weed species. Weed Technol. 21:219-224.
12. Zuver, K. A., M. L. Bernards, J. J. Kells, C. L. Sprague, C. R. Medlin, and M. M. Loux. 2006. Evaluation of postemergence weed control strategies in herbicide strategies in herbicide-resistant isolines of corn (Zea mays). Weed Technol. 20:172-178.
13. Bierman, R. E., D. E. Riechers, C. L. Sprague, G. Bollero, and W. L. Pedersen. 2005. Fungicide-herbicide interaction in soybean (Glycine max). Crop Protect. 25:134-139.
14. Bunting, J. A., C. L. Sprague, and D. E. Riechers. 2005. Incorporating foramsulfuron into annual weed control systems for corn. Weed Technol. 19:160-167.
15. Davis, A. S., J. Cardina, F. Forcella, G. A. Johnson, G. Kegode, J. L. Lindquist, E. C. Luschei, K. A. Renner, C. L. Sprague, and M. M. Williams II. 2005. Environmental factors affecting seed persistence of annual weeds across the U.S. corn belt. Weed Sci. 53:860-868.
16. Schmidt, A. A., W. G. Johnson, D. A. Mortensen, A. R. Martin, J. A. Dille, D. E. Peterson, C. Guza, J. J. Kells, R. D. Lins, C. M. Boerboom, C. L. Sprague, S. Z. Knezevic, F. W. Roeth, C. R. Medlin, and T. T. Bauman. 2005. Evaluation of corn (Zea mays L.) yield loss estimations by WeedSOFTÆ in the North Central Region. Weed Technol. 19:1056-1064.
17. Williams II, M. M., J. K. Pataky, J. N. Nordby, D. E. Riechers, C. L. Sprague, and J. B. Masiunas. 2005. Cross-sensitivity in sweet corn to nicosulfuron and mesotrione applied postemergence. HortSci. 40(6):1801-1805.
18. Bunting, J. A., C. L. Sprague, and D. E. Riechers. 2004. Corn tolerance as affected by the timing of foramsulfuron applications. Weed Technol. 18:757-762.
19. Bunting, J. A., C. L. Sprague, and D. E. Riechers. 2004. Physiological basis for tolerance of corn hybrids to foramsulfuron. Weed Sci. 52:711-717.
20. Bunting, J. A., C. L. Sprague, and D. E. Riechers. 2004. Proper adjuvant selection for foramsulfuron activity. Crop Protect. 23:361-366.
21. Bunting, J. A., C. L. Sprague, and D. E. Riechers. 2004. Absorption and activity of foramsulfuron in giant foxtail (Setaria faberi) and woolly cupgrass (Eriochloa villosa) with various adjuvants. Weed Sci. 52:513-517.
22. Hasty, R. F., C. L. Sprague, and A. G. Hager. 2004. Weed control with fall and early preplant herbicide applications in no-till soybean (Glycine max). Weed Technol. 18:887-892.
23. Maertens, K. D., C. L. Sprague, P. J. Tranel, and R. A. Hines. 2004. Amaranthus hybridus populations resistant to ALS-inhibiting and triazine herbicides. Weed Res. 44:21-26.
24. Steckel, L. E., C. L. Sprague, E. W. Stoller, and L. M. Wax. 2004. Temperature effects on germination of nine Amaranthus species. Weed Sci. 52:217-221.
25. Steckel L. E. and C. L. Sprague. 2004. Common waterhemp interference in corn. Weed Sci. 52:359-364.
26. Steckel, L. E., and C. L. Sprague. 2004. Late-season common waterhemp interference in wide- and narrow-row soybean. Weed Technol. 18:947-952.
27. Gower, S. A., M. M. Loux, J. Cardina, S. K. Harrison, P. L. Sprankle, N. J. Probst, T. T. Bauman, W. Bugg, W. S. Curran, R. S. Currie, R. G. Harvey, W. G. Johnson, J. J. Kells, M. D. K. Owen, D. L. Regehr, C. H. Slack, M. Spaur, C. L. Sprague, M. VanGessel, and B. G. Young. 2003. Effect of postemergence glyphosate application timing on weed control and grain yield in glyphosate-resistant corn: Results of a two-year multi-state study. Weed Technol. 17:821-828.
28. Steckel, L. E., C. L. Sprague, A. G. Hager, F. W. Simmons, and G. Bollero. 2003. Effects of shading on common waterhemp growth and development. Weed Sci. 51:898-903.
29. Steckel, L. E., F. W. Simmons, and C. L. Sprague. 2003. Soil factor effects on the tolerance of two corn hybrids to isoxaflutole plus flufenacet. Weed Technol. 17:599-604.
30. Hager, A. G. and C. L. Sprague. 2002. A contemporary, color-enhanced herbicide site of action bulletin. Journal of Extension 40:2. The Journal of Extension is the official refereed journal of the United States Cooperative Extension System. Available at: http://www.joe.org/joe/2002april/tt4.html.
31. Steckel, L. E., C. L. Sprague, and A. G. Hager. 2002. Common waterhemp (Amaranthus rudis) control in Corn (Zea mays) with single preemergence and sequential applications of residual herbicides. Weed Technol. 16:755-761.