Experiments conducted over three years compared weed cover and grain y
ields in com which received cultivation alone, herbicide alone, and tr
eatments combining mechanical and chemical weed control. Weed cover av
eraged 30% with cultivation alone compared to 9% for the other treatme
nts. Grain yields were 7% lower in one year. In the cultivation-alone
treatments the rolling cultivator was less effective in controlling we
eds than the shovel/sweep cultivator. In-row weed cover was greater th
an between-row weed cover with cultivation alone. With banded herbicid
e plus cultivation, in and between-row weed cover was the same. Weed c
over and grain yields following banded herbicide plus cultivation were
equivalent to broadcast herbicide with or without cultivation.