A Case Study of Herbicide Use

Abstract

The adoption of herbicide use within Illinois has passed through four stages characterized by methods of application. These stages include an initial stage of POST applications, the PRE stage, the PPI stage, and the most recent stage marked by diversification of application methods. Data from 19 pesticide use surveys conducted in Illinois since 1957 were used to determine trends in pesticide use. Herbicide use has increased from 33% of the corn and 1% of the soybean hectarage treated in 1957 to applications on approximately 97% of all the corn and soybeans in 1990. Total herbicide use in Illinois peaked at 3.0 × 107 kg ai annually in 1982 and declined to 2.1 × 107 kg in 1990. Total herbicide use in Illinois between 1950 and 1990 is estimated at 5.0 × 108 kg ai.