Impact of Automated Guidance for Mechanical Control of Herbicide Resistant Weeds in Corn

Posted: 27 Jun 2017

See all articles by Terry Griffin

Terry Griffin

Kansas State University - Department of Agricultural Economics

Jess Lowenberg-DeBoer

Purdue University - Department of Agricultural Economics

Date Written: June 26, 2017

Abstract

The use of herbicide weed control has been an integral part of farm management for several decades due to being an efficient and cost-effective alternative to mechanical weed control management. However, repeated use of broad spectrum herbicides has resulted in herbicide resistance in several weed species (Norsworthy et al., 2012). Although the indiscriminate use of herbicides has been linked to the quick and widespread adoption of herbicide resistant crop species (Fernandez-Cornejo et al., 2014), research indicates that herbicide resistance predated the introduction of bio-tech crops by several decades (WSSA, 2016). By the time that USDA began tracking the adoption of biotech soybean production in 2000, over half of US acreage were planted to herbicide-tolerant varieties and reached over 90% within 7 years (USDA NASS) (Figure 1). By 2013, 90% of corn and soybean acreage were planted to bio-tech cultivars including herbicide-tolerate only and stacked genes (Figure 1). Currently, 470 unique cases of herbicide resistance have been documented (Heap, 2016). Multiple herbicide-resistant weed species causes additional concern due to reduced herbicide options and increased weed control costs. Multiple herbicide resistance has been confirmed in economically important weeds including Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) (Nandula et al. 2012), waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus Sauer) (Bell et al., 2013), horseweed (Conyza canadensis L. Cronq.) (Davis et al. 2009), rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaudim) (Owen et al. 2014), and kochia (Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.) (Foes et al. 1999) (see Heap, 2016, for more details on herbicide resistance weeds).

Keywords: herbicide resistance, automated guidance, mechanical weed control

Suggested Citation

Griffin, Terry and Lowenberg-DeBoer, Jess, Impact of Automated Guidance for Mechanical Control of Herbicide Resistant Weeds in Corn (June 26, 2017). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2992647 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2992647

Terry Griffin (Contact Author)

Kansas State University - Department of Agricultural Economics ( email )

Manhatten, KS 66506-4001
United States

Jess Lowenberg-DeBoer

Purdue University - Department of Agricultural Economics ( email )

West Lafayette, IN 47907-1145
United States
765-494-4230 (Phone)
765-494-9176 (Fax)

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