Fall-Planted Cover Crops for Weed Suppression in Western Kansas

The widespread evolution of herbicide-resistant (HR) kochia and Palmer amaranth warrants the use alternative ecological-based strategies for weed management in no-tillage (NT) dryland cropping systems western Kansas. A field study was established fall 2020 at Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center near Hays, KS, to determine impact fall-planted cover crop (CC) mixture on 1) suppression (density biomass reduction), 2) emergence dynamics subsequent grain sorghum. CC winter triticale, pea, radish, rapeseed planted wheat stubble 2020. terminated triticale heading stage May 26, 2021 by using Roundup PowerMax (glyphosate) 32 fl oz/a, oz/a + Degree Xtra (premix acetochlor atrazine) 2.2 quart/a. chemical fallow treatment (without CC) included comparison. site with sorghum hybrid ‘DKS 38-16’ June 10, 2021. produced an average 1360 lb/a aboveground time termination. had 98 95% less total density 0 30 days after termination (DAT), respectively, compared fallow. No difference observed later evaluations. At harvest, reduced 61% 73%, taken reach 50, 90% cumulative delayed 9, 15, 21 days, 11, 39, 128 when Grain yield did not differ between treatments. These results suggest that a can play important role NT production