Herbicide-Crop Rotation for Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) Control

• Published in: Weed science 1979-09, Vol.27 (5), p.479-485
• Main Authors: Dale, J. E., Chandler, J. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Corn; Cotton; Crop rotation; Cropping sequence; Herbicides; Plants; Seeds; Tillage; Weed control; Weeds
• ISSN: 0043-1745; 1550-2759
• DOI: 10.1017/S0043174500044441

The feasibility of herbicide and crop rotation for the control of johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.] in corn (Zea mays L.) was studied in field experiments. Light infestations of johnsongrass were initially present, but it became the predominant weed after 4 yr of continuous corn treated with atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamine)-s-triazine], cyanazine {2-[[4-chloro-6-(ethylamino)-s-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2-methylpropionitrile}, and linuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methoxy-1-methylurea], alone and in combinations at rates of 2.24, 2.24, and 0.84 kg/ha, respectively. The infestation of johnsongrass was effectively controlled by growing corn in rotation with cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in a cropping sequence of corn-cotton-cotton-corn, in which trifluralin (α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine), fluometuron [1,1-dimethyl-3-(α,α,α-trifluoro-m-tolyl)urea] and MSMA (monosodium methanearsonate) at 0.56, 2.24, and 2.24 kg/ha respectively, were used for weed control in cotton. In the corn-cotton-cotton-corn cropping sequence, the herbicide treatments also prevented increases in the populations of other indigeneous weeds including prickly sida (Sida spinosa L.), prostrate spurge (Euphorbia supina Raf.), spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata L.), common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), tall morningglory [Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth], common cocklebur (Xanthium pensylvanicum Wallr.), spurred anoda [Anoda cristata (L.) Schlecht.], hemp sesbania [Sesbania exaltata (Raf.) Cory], redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), goosegrass [Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.], junglerice [Echinochloa colonum (L.) Link], large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.], and purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.).