Crop Residue Reduces Jointed Goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica) Seedling Growth

Abstract

Producers need alternative methods to manage jointed goatgrass because there are no herbicides that selectively control jointed goatgrass in winter wheat. The effect of crop residue incorporated in soil on reducing seedling growth of jointed goatgrass was examined in the greenhouse. Residues of corn, proso millet, safflower, grain sorghum, and winter wheat reduced fresh weight of jointed goatgrass by 70 to 85%. Applying N fertilizer at 33 or 66 kg ha−1diminished this effect, indicating that residue stimulated microbial immobilization of N. Ethiozin applied preemergence at 0.2μg g−1soil reduced jointed goatgrass seedling growth by 50%, but combining crop residue with ethiozin did not synergistically improve control of jointed goatgrass. These results suggest that producers may favor winter wheat growth over jointed goatgrass by incorporating crop residue in soil with tillage before planting and by banding N with winter wheat seed at planting.