Cover Crop

Control, weed suppression, management Mike Plumer Conservation Agriculture Oregon Ryegrass Commission

Be able to spray when needed!!

Be ready to spray no matter what conditions Target cover crop growth stage to meet your needs
Nitrogen Root growth Weed control

Consider multiple herbicide applications

Not always need, but be prepared

Consider non glyphosate control options

GPS Foam marker

Walking axles

Use good equipment, controller, monitor, mapping, records

Cover Crop Spring Burndown Management

Plan on date/growth stage to kill
Smaller easier to kill, less mulch Later, concerns over wet soils, dry soils, getting a crop stand

Match herbicides to cover crop Plan on 2 herbicide applications Know your planters limitations

Plant growth stage

Vegetative is easiest to kill First joint starts grass reproductive development Second joint starts head development
Herbicides have reduced translocation Plant will try to head Crowns may not be controlled/ latent buds

Developing lignin in stem

Nutrient tieup and slow decomposition

Plant growth stage

Boot stage
Very poor time to spray, plant will head Head may have viable seed

Flowering stage
After pollen drop, easier to kill plant May still make viable seed Milk stage of seed, can mechanically control cereal rye (95%+) Mowing crimping greatly decrease plant development

Herbicide translocation Issues in Spring

only works when plant is actively growing
Need sunny days Above 50 degree temperature Cold weather means spraying morning to early afternoon (night temps < 40) NO triazines in mix

Use additives
AMS or other like products 10 gallons water/ acre for glyphosate

Cover Crop Mixes

Remember you have to control them in the spring May complicate control due to different growth stages Mix according to what soil needs Remember plants compete for light, space and water which is limited

Annual Ryegrass

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Sept. 30th seeding 20#/a 2 different varieties Different maturity, up to 30 days different

Ryegrass spilled 9-16 as of Nov. 18

Not all herbicides work well to kill cover crops in cool weather
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Spring Management
Annual ryegrass is easiest to kill pre-joint
Jointing occurs at 7-10 in height Warm weather greatly increases control Date varies with location and season

Early control;
maximizes nitrogen release and decomposition rate makes easier planting, conserves moisture

Ryegrass control
Utilize Roundup Ready crops for easy control of escapes Different varieties will respond differently to herbicides Annual ryegrass is easy to kill at flowering
But may set viable seed Residue will decompose very slowly

Time of day glyphosate

99 98 97 96 95 94 93 92 91 90 9am 4pm

WeatherMax

Wm +citric acid+ ammonium sulfate

Temperatures 60 day and 40 night 3 replications

Plumer, U of Il

Varieties
There are over 48 different varieties Seed size will vary between varieties There is a large variation in emergence and establishment between varieties Blends of varieties is very common

Variety Blends
Blends may not be identified % of varieties in blend may change Blends may emerge at different times Blend can be used to get some stand when variety needed is not known Blends are frequently cheaper Blends can be harder to control

Annual Ryegrass Herbicide trial

Control at 36 das

treatment gly51 22oz gly 51 32oz +2,4-D 16oz 9.7 10

gly 51 32oz + calisto 7oz gly51 32oz + Prowl H2O 3 pt gly51 32oz + resolve 2 oz. gly51 32 oz + Basis 1 oz gly51 32oz + Balance Pro 4oz gly 51 32 oz

6.3 10 10 10 10 10

LSD 0.05 Sprayed at 1st to 2nd joint stage, mid April, 6 reps

0.6

Plumer, U of Il.

Ryegrass Herbicide Control

Gramoxone Inteon Gramoxone Int / Aatrex /Princep Round-up W.MAX Round-up W.MAX / Degree Xtra Steadfast ClearOut 41 plus ClearOut 41 plus ClearOut 41 plus /Basis

3 pt 3 pt/2 qt/1 qt 22 oz 22 oz/3 qt .75 oz 1 qt. 1.5 qt 1.5 qt/.33 oz

R.Hines, M.Plumer

78% 85% 98% 86% 47% 93% 98% 98%

% control Sprayed April 16, all varieties jointed, rating 30 days after spraying

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 SelectMax Clearout WeatherMax 41+

Clearout and Weather Max at 1.22#ai/a

Variety
Jackson Bounty Tam 90 Angus 1

Select Max at 12 0z/a

Taylor 21 das
rating: 1 failure- 10 complete kill/(1st-2nd node)

Select 6 oz (recommend 12+oz now) Glyphosate 32 oz Assure 8oz Glyphosate 32 oz (ams) Glyphosate 32oz/atrazine 32oz
Poast Plus 24 oz + COC Glyphosate 32 oz/princep 32oz
Application April 17,,, cold conditions

6 8* 2 9* 7
4 9*

Herbicide trial-vegetative growth

Clear Out 41+ 3 pt./a Weather Max 32oz./a W.Max+ Degree Xtra 22 oz 3 qt./a Gramoxone Inteon 3pts/a Clear Out 41+ 3pts Basis 2.5 Gramone Inteon 3pts/a Atrazine+simazine 2qt+ 1qt 98 98 86 78 98

89

What we learned in 2011

Cold weather is a problem Wet conditions can stress plant to reduce control Dont spray translocated products at boot stage
Plan on 2 applications with all herbicides Can use contact herbicides + follow up systemic spray

Difference in maturity of 2 annual ryegrass varieties Adjust herbicide rate and selection to compensate

Annual ryegrass at heading

at boot stage cereal rye headed

Control and stage of growth

Boot stage of growth is the most difficult to control
must use full rates Use AMS with all glyphosate, to avoid water pH issues Use full rates of fertilizer with all post grass products

Fully headed is easier to control but may produce viable seed

Split applications work best with ryegrass at boot stage

Intense ryegrass pressure will injure corn

Gramoxone Inteon + Bicep

Cornfield after treatment with Accent

Problem with escaped ryegrass in wheat

Hairy Vetch
Planting date
July 16th? to Oct 1

Spring Control
2,4-D very effective dies easily after flowering (variety determines date)
VF-1 April 15 TNT May 10th Groff May 15

Date determines nitrogen produced Roundup not very effective early

Hairy vetch seeded July 23rd, as of Oct 28

Vetch was bud stage in late December, 100% winter killed by March Produced 209#/a nitrogen

Stage of growth to kill by rolling/crimping

37

Red Clover
(consider alsike clover)
Soil moisture management getting growth before planting corn voles and more voles Getting it killed
Gramoxone, atrazine mix, dicamba, 2,4-D Glyphosate, dicamba, 2,4-D + atrazine mix 1 week later

38

Crimson Clover is easier to control

39

Annual ryegrass and crimson clover

Annual ryegrass with vetch and crimson clover 5 days after herbicide application 3pts glyphosate (1.22#ai/a) plus 1 qt 2,4-D

Oilseed/forage Radish

Oil seed radish Daikon radish Tillage Radish

Mutch, MSU

42

Radish, annual ryegrass and hairy vetch What needs spring control?

Hairy vetch and radish planted September 15th Notice winter damage on radish

Radish residue, no control needed

Cereal rye
Many varieties being developed for weed control Suppresses winter annual weeds Stops glyphosate resistant mares tail
Must seed at 60-80#/a for excellent control

Only affects corn in wet, cold conditions

Can be managed with nitrogen in furrow, starter or 50#/a broadcast at planting

Cereal rye control

Fairly easy
Glyphosate (.75#/a) 1 qt. 41% Gramoxone + atrazine mix Crimping/mowing at pollination

Notice weed control in rye on left no winter annuals

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Serious mares tail population Rye seeded at <35#/a

Need a stand of rye This seeded at 35#/a in December

60#/a Rymin rye with red clover

Cereal rye at 60#/a plus 15#/a crimson clover Note-no mares tail

60#/a cereal rye, mowed at pollination -----2 weeks later no mares tail

Rye at pollination, only time to get good control by crimping ave. 95+%

Drilling and crimped Or crimped and drilled?

Waited too long to apply nitrogen Cereal rye too mature, nitrogen tieup

Late corn Planting into Mature cover crops

Tmt Bare soil Cereal rye- full headed Annual ryegrass headed Annual ryegrass boot stage lsd 0.05 Yield in bushels/acre 88.8 101.7 104.7 110.2 13.6

Late planted June 3rd Nitrogen limited to 98#/a No-till corn no starter Corn on corn Low nitrogen rate to show cover crop effect

Plumer , 2011

Plan ahead, manage your cover crops

Mike Plumer Conservation Agriculture Oregon Ryegrass Commission