He also suggested that biological control and intercropping might be additional components of the management strategy. Ensuring early crop emergence does much to increase the competitiveness of the crop. Research has shown that it's not how may weed plants that are present but rather, whether or not the weeds get ahead of the crop. Increasing the seeding rate ensures a healthy crop stand. Crop competitiveness can be enhanced when fertilizer rate and placement are manipulated.
Green foxtail decreases as N increases, especially under Direct Seeding.
Foxtail barley numbers tend to be reduced when fertilizer is banded rather than broadcast. Many of the suggestions put forward by Derksen and O'Donovan at the Conference are common sense. It seems, however, that over the years as we have grown to rely on herbicides to take care of our weeds, we have forgotten about these strategies. Good thing Doug and John were there to show us how to get back to the basics.