Changes in the weed seedbank due to crop production practices are an important determinant of subsequent weed problems. Research was conducted to evaluate effects of primary tillage (moldboard plowing and chisel plowing), secondary tillage (row cultivation), and herbicides on weed species changes in the soil seedbank in three irrigated row crop rotational sequences over a 3-yr period. The cropping sequences consisted of continuous corn for 3 yr, continuous pinto beans for 3 yr, or sugarbeets for 2 yr followed by corn in the third year. Cropping sequence was the most dominant factor influencing species composition in the seedbank. This was partly due to herbicide use in each cropping sequence producing a shift in the weed seedbank in favor of species less susceptible to applied herbicides. A comparison between moldboard and chisel plowing indicated that weed seed of predominant species were more prevalent near the soil surface after chisel plowing. The number of predominant annual weed seed over the 3-yr period increased more rapidly in the seedbank after chisel plowing compared to moldboard plowing unless effective weed control could be maintained to produce a decline in seedbank number. In this case, seedbank decline was generally more rapid after moldboard plowing. Row cultivation generally reduced seedbanks of most species compared to uncultivated plots in the pinto bean and sugarbeet sequences. A simple model was developed to validate the observation that rate of change in the weed seedbank is influenced by type of tillage and weed control effectiveness.

Research was conducted to evaluate the effects of primary tillage (moldboard plowing and chisel plowing), secondary tillage (row cultivation), and herbicides on weed species changes in the soil seed bank in three irrigated row cropping sequences over a 3-yr period. The cropping sequences consisted of continuous corn for 3 yr (CN), continuous pinto beans for 3 yr (PB), and sugarbeets for 2 yr followed by corn in the third year (SB). A comparison between moldboard and chisel plowing indicated that weed seed were more prevalent near the soil surface after chisel plowing. The density of certain annual weed seed over the 3-yr period increased more rapidly in the seed bank after chisel plowing compared to moldboard plowing. Species exhibiting the most pronounced increase included hairy nightshade and stinkgrass in the PB cropping sequence and redroot pigweed and common lambsquarters in the SB sequence. Conversely, kochia seed density in the SB sequence decreased more rapidly in chisel-plowed plots. Row cultivation generally reduced seed bank densities of most species compared to uncultivated plots. Herbicide use in each cropping sequence produced a shift in the weed seed bank in favor of species less susceptible to applied herbicides. In particular, seed of hairy nightshade became prevalent in the PB cropping sequence, and seed of kochia, redroot pigweed, and common lambsquarters became prevalent in the SB sequence.

Effects and interactions of two soil temperatures, 19 ± 1 and 27 ± 3 C, and seven soil-applied herbicide treatments on the morphological development and concentrations of eight essential nutrients in leaves, stems, and roots of pinto beans were determined. Soil temperature did not affect overall plant morphology but did affect some nutrient concentrations in the roots, stems, and leaves. Combinations of alachlor plus trifluralin at 2.2 plus 0.28 kg ai/ha and EPTC plus trifluralin at 2.2 plus 0.28 kg ai/ha caused greater negative effects than when the herbicides were applied separately. Oryzalin at 0.56 kg ai/ha and EPTC at 3.4 kg ai/ha induced the least number of morphological effects, while alachlor at 3.4 kg ai/ha, chloramben at 2.2 kg ai/ha, and trifluralin applied at 0.56 kg ai/ha produced an intermediate number. Alachlor, trifluralin, and combinations of alachlor plus trifluralin and EPTC plus trifluralin inhibited nodule growth. Each herbicide affected different nutrients. Alachlor plus trifluralin affected the level of each nutrient in at least one plant tissue. Many herbicide-soil temperature interactions occurred.