Jointed Goatgrass Biomass and Spikelet Production Increases in No‐till Winter Wheat. Issue 1 (29th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lyon, Drew J.; Swanson, Mark E.; Young, Frank L.; Coffey, Todd
• Is Part Of: Crop, forage & turfgrass management. Volume 4:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 6
• Publication Date: 2018-11-29
• Subjects: Crop science -- Periodicals; Agronomy -- Periodicals; Forage -- Periodicals; Turf management -- Periodicals; Agronomy; Crop science; Forage; Turf management; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 633
• DOI: 10.2134/cftm2018.04.0031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2374-3832

Abstract

Abstract : Core Ideas: Initial spikelet density affects jointed goatgrass populations in subsequent years. Jointed goatgrass density can quickly increase in consecutive no‐till winter wheat crops. Maintaining low spikelet densities is critical for jointed goatgrass management. Jointed goatgrass ( Aegilops cylindrica Host) remains a troublesome winter annual grass weed in winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) production systems in the western US. A study involving two field experiments (1992–1994 and 1993–1995) was conducted near Pullman, WA to quantify the effect of initial jointed goatgrass spikelet density on jointed goatgrass biomass and spikelet production in the first and second year of consecutive no‐till winter wheat crops. Initial jointed goatgrass densities were established by placing jointed goatgrass spikelets on the soil surface in 10.8 sq ft (1 sq m) quadrats at target densities of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 spikelets/10.8 sq ft. Precipitation varied greatly between the three winter wheat growing seasons and influenced the increase of jointed goatgrass biomass and spikelet production between the first and second year of both field experiments. Despite seasonal precipitation differences, the increase in jointed goatgrass biomass and spikelet production from Year 1 to Year 2 was directly related to initial spikelet density in both experiments. Although keeping jointed goatgrass densities low may slow the rate of increase in jointed goatgrass density from year‐to‐year compared to greater jointed goatgrass densities, even at low densities, jointed goatgrass has the potential to quickly increase population density in consecutive no‐till winter wheat crops.