An Economic Analysis of Incorporation Methods for Preplant Herbicides on Clay Loam Soil

Abstract

In order to find the most effective and economical method of incorporation, six preplant herbicides for cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL.) were incorporated with a tandem disk or field cultivator, or sprayed on unbedded soil prior to bedding with a disk bedder. These treatments were compared to incorporating sprayed beds with a rolling cultivator and no incorporation. A mixed population of pigweed (Amaranthus hybridusL. # AMACH andAmaranthus retroflexusL. # AMARE) was present each year. There was no significant difference in pigweed control among incorporation with a disk, field cultivator, or rolling cultivator. Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris# TRBTE) and barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crus-galli(L.) Beauv. # ECHCG] were controlled best following rolling cultivator incorporation. Cotton lint yields were not affected by incorporation methods or herbicides. Economic analysis and weed control indicate that the field cultivator was the best way of incorporation.