Weed suppression for weed management in corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) production systems

Reduced herbicide inputs can diminish pesticide movement into water supplie s, enhancing environmental quality. A 3-yr study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and economic viability of reducing herbicide inputs by using u ltra-low rates (ULRs), consisting of one-eighth the normal use rates of nic osulfuron plus thifensulfuron, delayed planting (DP), or both in corn and s oybean. We compared the ULR treatment at the assigned cost of $12.35/ha wit h three other traditional types of weed management systems in both chisel p low and no-till production schemes. The ULR weed management system suppress ed weeds enough to allow economical soybean production all 3 yr of the stud y, but this system proved viable only during the wettest year for corn. DP was economically competitive with the best systems in both crops under chis el-plowed tillage only in the driest year of the study.