Archive for the ‘Summer Annuals’ Category

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NEW Extension Bulletin: Keys to distinguishing Palmer amaranth from other species

Wednesday, March 27th, 2013

-E. Taylor

Today we just posted an extension bulletin to MSUweeds.com to help distinguish among the pigweed species currently found in Michigan. Species we currently have include:

  • Powell amaranth
  • Redroot pigweed
  • Smooth pigweed
  • Palmer amaranth
  • Waterhemp

Some of these species in Michigan have been confirmed to be resistant to different herbicides (e.g. glyphosate and ALS inhibitors), so confirming the identity of your weed may be critical to the strategies needed for control.

Check out “Keys to distinguishing Palmer amaranth from other species” at MSUweeds.com.

Posted in Extension, Herbicide Resistance, Summer Annuals | No Comments »

2012 NCWSS presentations posted

Wednesday, January 30th, 2013

-E. Taylor

Better late than never! The 2012  North Central Weed Science Society annual meeting (St. Louis, MO) posters and oral presentation abstract have been added to the “Presented Research” section of MSUweeds.com. 2013 materials from the upcoming Weed Science Society of America meeting in Baltimore, MD will be posted shortly too.

Posted in Herbicide Resistance, Meetings, Soybean, Sugar beet, Summer Annuals, Weeds | No Comments »

Bag & tag…looking at seed development

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012

-E. Taylor

Bag&TagDATST2012

Mature jimsonweed sprayed with glyphosate

The second year of looking at how termination method and timing affect summer annual seed development is coming to a close. There were 3 termination methods: cutting at the base of the plant, chopping to simulate mowing, and spraying with glyphosate. There were 3 timings: flowering, immature seed, mature seed. And, there were 5 species: Canada thistle, common lambsquarters, giant foxtail, jimsonweed, and velvetleaf. Once weeds are terminated they are stored in mesh bags to retain seed while allowing the weed to dry down. Bags will be brought in late in the fall to access for seed production and viability.

The results of this research will be useful to conventional and organic producers alike to assure that weeds controlled later in the season are not contributing to the seed bank. Findings will be reported at this year’s North Central Weed Science Society meeting in St. Louis, MO December 10-13 and will also be prepared as a journal article over the coming year.

Posted in Summer Annuals | No Comments »

It’s hot out, just the way Palmer amaranth likes it

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012

-E. Taylor

Indigenous to the Southern U.S., Palmer amaranth thrives in the hot weather. It is able to grow one or more inches in a single day. These photos were taken in soybean in Southwest Michigan, where glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth has been found only in the last couple of years. Graduate student David Powell is working alongside Christy Sprague to determine effective control measures for Palmer amaranth in Michigan to help prevent the spread of this highly competitive weed.

Links about Palmer amaranth

Posted in Herbicide Resistance, Soybean, Summer Annuals | No Comments »

Cover crops + weed seeds = ??

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012

-E. Taylor

MSU is participating in a study with several other states in the North East region of the US to look at how cover crop residues impact weed seed decay over time. To study this we use mesh bags filled with a known number of seeds and sand and add known amounts of cover crop materials. Cover crops being studied in MI include rye, medium red clover, and no cover. The seed bags will be retrieved over the coming 2 years to see how many viable seeds remain. Why would cover crop residues impact seed degradation you ask? Perhaps the increased microbial activity associated with breaking down cover crop residues will also impact seed degradation.

NE1047Rye Bags April 27 2012 (46)

Rye incorporation prior to bag burial

Mesh bag conaining sand, weed seeds, and rye residue

Mesh bag containing sand, weed seeds, and rye residue

Posted in Cover Crops, Summer Annuals | No Comments »

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