1. Understand the effects an integrated systems approach to manage pigweed within a Liberty-Link soybean to facilitate sustainability for soybean growers.

2. Make confident recommendations about the use of narrow soybean row width and cover crops to decrease pigweed emergence and growth.

3. Communicate how the interaction and effect of pigweed control, cover crop, and row width can have implications for profile water management in a potentially moisture-limited environment.

4. Generate applicable extension presentations to communicate the findings of this experiment to soybean producers and agronomy professionals to facilitate pigweed control and thereby increase soybean yield and Kansas grower profitability.

Update:

View uploaded report

View uploaded report 2

The importance of narrow row spacing, cover crop, and a complete herbicide program were made obvious in the findings of this research. In the absence of both a herbicide and cover crop, substantial pigweed pressure was observed. Pigweed biomass suppression was observed in both the 15 inch and 7.5 inch rows, whereas maximum pigweed biomass was observed in 30 inch rows. In the absence of herbicide but with row-crop cultivation and a winter wheat cover crop, approximately 65 to 80% pigweed control was observed. This is one example of how integrated weed management strategies were exemplified in this research. Additionally, the addition of a cover crop demonstrated that pigweed biomass and density can be reduced by approximately 50%.