Some effects of cultivation frequency and herbicides on annual weed competition with corn, cotton and soybeans

Competition can be defined as an active demand by two or more organisms at the same time for an environmental resource in excess of the supply of that resource. Competition for nutrients, water, and light vary with the crop, week species and weed population. The conventionally accepted method of weed control is that of mechanical cultivation and hand hoeing. With the advent of preemergence herbicides, producers have a tool that reduces mechanical soil movement for annual weed control.

The amount of cultivation necessary in the absence of weeds varies with individual situations. The destruction of surface crusts would allow more water infiltration and gaseous exchange between the soil and atmosphere. On the other hand mechanical injury of crop roots could affect yields. Heavy machinery could cause compaction, and cultivation would expose moist soil.

This study was conducted at four locations in 1963 said 1964 to determine the effects of cultivation on weed competition with three crops and to determine the effects of the number of cultivations on crop yields under Tennessee conditions when weeds were controlled by preemergence herbicides.