U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Northeast Area University Park, Pennsylvania Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            CURRAN, WILLIAM - Pennsylvania State Universityitem
                                            RYAN, MATTHEW - Pennsylvania State Universityitem
                                            Myers, Matthewitem
                                            Adler, Paul
  Submitted to: Weed Technology
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 11/3/2011
                                    Publication  Date: 7/2/2012
                                    Citation: Curran, W.S., Ryan, M.R., Myers, M.W., Adler, P.R. 2012. Effects of seeding date and weed control on switchgrass establishment. Weed Technology. 26:248-255. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1614/WT-D-11-00078.1.Interpretive Summary: The optimal planting date for successful establishment of switchgrass has evolved over time, and the results have been shown to vary with weed management strategy. Switchgrass was established at 3 different times in the spring from early-May to mid-June, with 3 different weed control strategies, use of mowing and broadleaf and broad spectrum herbicides. We found that although later planting reduced weed competition, switchgrass yield increased with earlier planting when weeds were effectively controlled; effective weed control during the establishment year reduced costs in subsequent years. This research provides farmers with alternative weed management strategies, allowing them to increase switchgrass yield and reduce establishment costs.
                                Technical Abstract: An experiment evaluated the effects of seeding date and weed control during switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) establishment. Switchgrass was no-till seeded in early-May, late-May, and mid-June and three postemergence weed management treatments were evaluated including mow only, broadleaf herbicide only (2,4-D + dicamba), and broad spectrum herbicide (2,4-D + dicamba + atrazine + quinclorac). Switchgrass density increased with later planting, except in 2008 when the middle planting date was the lowest. Switchgrass biomass in the establishment year was lowest in the mow only treatment; however, there was a planting date × control method interaction resulting from differences at the early, but not later planting dates. Weed biomass tended to be greater at the early dates, which partially explains the interaction with switchgrass biomass. Weed biomass tended to be lowest in the broad spectrum control treatment. Total yield during the establishment year was lowest at the later planting dates and in the mow only control treatment. Control treatments during establishment influenced yield the next year with the lowest yield in treatments that received the mow only treatment. The year after establishment, plots were split to test the effects of supplemental weed control, comprised of metsulfuron + 2,4-D applied in May on total yield. Supplemental control affected yield in one of two years, where yield was lowest in the mow only treatment that did not receive supplemental control.  Although later planting was better for switchgrass density and weed suppression, yields were greater at early planting dates, especially when weeds were effectively managed.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov