Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T14:12:20.578Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Quackgrass (Elytrigia repens) Interference and Control in Seed Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

James R. Moyer
Affiliation:
Agric. Canada Res. Stn., Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1J 4B1
G. Bruce Schaalje
Affiliation:
Agric. Canada Res. Stn., Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1J 4B1

Abstract

Alfalfa seed yield and quackgrass density were measured in seven irrigated fields in southern Alberta to assess the effect of quackgrass on seed yield. Six herbicides were tested to determine their effect on quackgrass growth and accompanying alfalfa seed yield. The effect of quackgrass on seed yield was adequately described by a hyperbolic model. Quackgrass densities of 50 and 100 heads per m2 reduced seed yields by 56 and 74%, respectively. The economic threshold density was 3 quackgrass heads per m2. The most effective herbicide treatments, quizalofop and propaquizafop, resulted in good initial quackgrass suppression and yield increases similar to those predicted by the hyperbolic model.

Type
Research
Copyright
Copyright © 1993 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. Alberta Agriculture. 1992. Guide to crop protection in Alberta. Part 1. Chemical. Agdex 606-1. Alberta Agriculture, Edmonton, AB. p. 228.Google Scholar
2. Cousens, R., Brain, P., O'Donovan, J. T., and O'Sullivan, P. A. 1987. The use of biologically realistic equations to describe the effects of density and relative time of emergence on crop yield. Weed Sci. 35: 720725.Google Scholar
3. Gallant, A. R. 1987. Nonlinear Statistical Models. John Wiley and Sons Inc., New York. p. 5556.Google Scholar
4. Goplen, G. P. 1969. Wide row spacing for alfalfa seed production is important. Can. Dep. Agric. Forage Notes 16(1):1819.Google Scholar
5. Hanna, M. R., Bergen, P., Charnetski, W. A., Richards, K. W., and Moyer, J. R. 1987. Management of alfalfa for seed production in southern Alberta. Alberta Alfalfa Seed Committee, Lethbridge, AB. p. 8.Google Scholar
6. Ivany, J. A., Leroux, G., and Sanderson, J. B. 1990. Survey of quackgrass importance and research priority, March 1989. p. 115 in Proc. Quackgrass Symp. Quackgrass Action Committee. C. J. Swanton, Chairman, Guelph, ON.Google Scholar
7. Linscott, D. L. and Vaughan, R. 1989. Quackgrass (Agropyron repens) control in birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) seed production. Weed Technol. 3:102104.Google Scholar
8. Malik, N. and Leach, D. 1989. Repeated fall vs spring applications of residual herbicides in established alfalfa, Shellbrook, SK. p. 34 in Res. Rep., Vol. 3, Expert Committee on Weeds, Regina, SK.Google Scholar
9. Malik, N. and Moskal, N. 1990. Control of perennial grass weeds in established alfalfa at Arborfield Sask. p. 11 in Res. Rep., Vol. 3, Expert Committee on Weeds, Regina, SK.Google Scholar
10. Moyer, J. R. 1990. Control of weeds in forage crops. Legumes. p. 287300 in Report of the Research Appraisal and Planning Committee, Expert Committee on Weeds, Western Section, Regina, SK.Google Scholar
11. Moyer, J. R., Richards, K. W., and Schaalje, G. B. 1991. Effect of plant density and herbicide application on alfalfa seed and weed yields. Can. J. Plant Sci. 71:481491.Google Scholar
12. Moyer, J. R., Schaalje, G. B., and Bergen, P. 1991. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) seed yield loss due to Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense). Weed Technol. 5:723728.Google Scholar
13. O'Donovan, J. T. 1991. Quackgrass (Elytrigia repens) interference in Canola (Brassica campestris). Weed Sci. 39:397401.Google Scholar
14. O'Sullivan, P. A., Kossatz, V. C., Weiss, G. M., and Dew, D. A. 1982. An approach to estimating yield loss of barley due to Canada thistle. Can. J. Plant Sci. 62:725731.Google Scholar
15. Peschken, D. P., Thomas, A. G., and Wise, R. F. 1983. Loss in yield of rapeseed (Brassica napus, B. campestris) caused by perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis) in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Weed Sci. 31:740744.Google Scholar
16. Peters, E. J. and Linscott, D. L. 1988. Weeds and weed control. p. 705735 in Alfalfa and Alfalfa Improvement. Hanson, A. A., Barnes, D. K., and Hill, R. R., eds. Agronomy no. 29. Am. Soc. Agron., Inc., Madison, WI.Google Scholar
17. Rawlings, J. O. and Cure, W. W. 1985. The Weibull function as a dose-response model to describe ozone effects on crop yield. Crop. Sci. 25: 807814.Google Scholar
18. Rincker, C. M., Rincker, V.L., Brown, D. E., and Johansen, C. A. 1988. Seed production practices. p. 9851022 in Alfalfa and Alfalfa Improvement. Hanson, A. A., Barnes, D. K., and Hill, R. R., eds. Agronomy no. 29. Am. Soc. Agron., Inc., Madison, WI.Google Scholar
19. Rioux, R. 1982. Measuring quackgrass interference in barley. Can. J. Plant Sci. 62:183188.Google Scholar
20. SAS Institute. 1988. p. 675712 in SAS/STAT™ User's Guide. Release 6.03 ed. SAS Inst., Inc., Cary, NC.Google Scholar
21. Steel, R.G.D. and Torrie, J. H. 1980. Principles and Procedures of Statistics, 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Toronto. 481 p.Google Scholar