Combining Reduced Herbicide Rates and Cultivation for Effective Weed Control in Corn

Abstract

Demonstrations of banded herbicides and cultivation were conducted at one location in New York. Despite extensive on-station research showing that banded herbicides and cultivation can result in yields equivalent to broadcast herbicides, even growers who already cultivate rarely use banding of herbicides to reduce chemical application rates and costs. Since reduced rates of herbicides are now legal in New York, our demonstration was modified this year to include 1/3 rate of herbicide plus cultivation. We believe that one reason that growers have not used banded herbicides is that equipment changes or purchases are necessary, whereas reducing rates of a broadcast spray requires no new equipment or arrangement of current equipment.