Effect of tillage and interference on common cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) and sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia) population, seed production, and seedbank

Abstract

Common cocklebur and sicklepod are troublesome weeds in soybean in the southern United States. A field experiment was conducted from 1991 through 1995 to determine (1) the influence of tillage (no-till and tilled after initial seed deposition) and intraspecific and interspecific interference on seed production potential, emergence pattern, and soil seedbank of common cocklebur and sicklepod, and (2) the dominant species after introduction into a weed-free field. Under intraspecific interference, 1,430 and 1,392 common cocklebur achenes m−2and 1,827 and 5,435 sicklepod seed m−2were deposited to the seedbank after 1 and 2 yr of seed production, respectively. For both species, approximately 11% of the initial seedbank emerged under tilled conditions the first year after deposition. Under no-till conditions, only 0.7% of common cocklebur and 1.6% of sicklepod emerged. The second year after deposition, common cocklebur emergence in no-till decreased to 0.25% of the initial seedbank, while sicklepod increased to 8% of the initial seedbank and remained higher than in tilled plots. Under tilled conditions, common cocklebur became the dominant species, and sicklepod became dominant under no-till conditions. Seedbank depletion was greater for both species under tillage. Three years after initial seed deposition, sicklepod seed was 100% viable but common cocklebur achenes were not viable. Under no-till conditions, common cocklebur was depleted in the seedbank but sicklepod was not. Thus, sicklepod poses a greater long-term weed problem than common cocklebur, especially under no-till conditions.