Weed Control During Establishment and Yield Response of Timothy (Phleum pratense)

Abstract

The effects of 14 herbicide treatments, tested in the establishment phase, were investigated on timothy productivity in two field experiments conducted at Melfort, Saskatchewan. Satisfactory weed control achieved with chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron, thifensulfuron, bentazon, diclofop plus bromoxynil, and MCPA/mecoprop/dicamba during the establishment year ensured good forage establishment which in turn caused a ‘residual effect’ for 1 to 3 yr increasing individual cut as well as cumulative forage dry matter yields significantly. In the stand established in 1985, when field pennycress (97 m-2) was the dominant weed in the seedling stage, these treatments increased yields 29 to 52% over a 3-yr period. In the stand established in 1986, when common lambsquarters (27 m-2) was the dominant weed, these treatments increased cumulative yields 24 to 44%. Sethoxydim and fenoxaprop, tested alone, caused significant crop injury in both experiments.