Findings from a newly published Weed Science Society of
America research article demonstrates an efficient, mechanical way
to control herbicide-resistant weeds
WESTMINSTER, Colo., Jan. 21,
2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently published research in
the journal Weed Science shows promise for controlling
herbicide-resistant weeds in soybean fields by using a seed impact
mill at harvest. When installed on a combine, this harvest
weed-seed control system (HWSC) mechanically damages weed seeds as
they move through the mill to render them non-viable.
Iowa State University Researchers
Alexis Meadows and Ram (Ramawatar) Yadav conducted seed impact mill
field experiments during 2021 and 2022 on a commercial farm near
Gilbert, Iowa. "Altogether, impact
mill treatment reduced the number of germinable seeds by 87%
compared with the no–impact mill treatment," says Yadav, a Ph.D.
Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) member, and a specialty crop
weed science assistant professor at The Ohio
State University. "These results indicate that seed impact
mills can be a useful tool in soybean production to help manage
multiple herbicide–resistant waterhemp populations."
The HWSC technology used for the study was a Redekop™ Seed
Control Unit, mounted on the rear of the combine. "Although the
impact mill did not severely damage all of the waterhemp seeds,
moderate damage to seeds was effective in reducing seed germination
and viability in controlled conditions," notes Yadav. "Furthermore,
seeds with moderate damage are less likely to persist in the soil
seedbank due to increased seed mortality."
Ongoing research shows that multiple herbicide–resistant weed
populations continue to grow in scope in Midwestern U.S. production
fields. Thus, keeping their seedbank density low is critical for
future herbicide-resistance management.
By adding seed impact mill technology to current weed-control
practices, researchers estimate future herbicide-resistant
populations could be delayed by five to eight years. "Mainstream
weed management programs for U.S. soybean production typically do
not include a late-season weed-control strategy," points out Yadav.
"As a result, weed escapes/survivors are the primary source of
seedbank replenishment. Implementation of seed impact mills in the
current system would diversify the weed-control strategies in use
and might delay the development of herbicide-resistant
populations."
However, Yadav cautions that this technology is not the sole
answer to herbicide-resistant waterhemp management. "Implementation
of HWSC methods in Iowa cropping
systems is not a replacement of existing weed control tactics but
rather an expansion of the weed management toolbox," he says. "All
weed control tactics have limitations, and overreliance on a single
tactic may increase weed control failures. It is likely that
overreliance on HWSC methods will lead to the selection of early
seed-shattering weed biotypes."
The good news is that other non-chemical weed control tactics
can also work in tandem with herbicide treatments, in addition to
seed impact mills, to effectively manage herbicide-resistant
waterhemp, says Yadav. Other effective non-chemical weed control
tactics include implementing a cereal rye cover crop and narrow-row
soybean production systems, he adds.
"These practices have shown to be effective in managing
herbicide-resistant waterhemp in soybean and therefore should be
used in conjunction with HWSC methods to spread the risk of weed
control failures," he says. "Future research should focus on the
long-term impact of integrating HWSC methods on waterhemp
life-history traits, including its seedbank persistence."
This project was led by Alexis
Meadows, a former M.S. student in the Department of Agronomy
at Iowa State University. To learn
more, contact Yadav at yadav.206@osu.edu, 330-263-8063.
More information is also available in the article, "Using a seed
impact mill to limit waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus)
seed inputs in Iowa soybean." The
research is featured in Volume 72, Issue 6 of Weed Science,
a Weed Science Society of America journal, published
online by Cambridge University
Press.
About Weed Science
Weed Science is a journal of the Weed Science
Society of America, a nonprofit scientific society focused on weeds
and their impact on the environment. The publication presents
peer-reviewed original research related to all aspects of weed
science, including the biology, ecology, physiology, management and
control of weeds. To learn more, visit www.wssa.net.
Media Contact:
Jo Skelton
Cambridge University Press
Senior Brand and Partner Communications Manager
cupacademic@cambridge.org
01223326165
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SOURCE Weed Science Society of America
