Date Available
5-24-2012
Year of Publication
2012
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Document Type
Master's Thesis
College
Agriculture
Department/School/Program
Plant and Soil Science
First Advisor
Dr. William W. Witt
Abstract
Field studies examined the strategies of mowing, herbicide, fertility, and all combinations on tall ironweed populations, weed biomass, pasture yield, grazing, economics, and forage quality at three Kentucky locations. Mowing was performed in July 2008 and 2009, herbicide applied in August 2008, and fertilizer applied in September 2008 and 2009 at all locations. Weed populations were measured in 2008, 2009, and 2010, and forage and weed biomass collected in May or June of 2009 and 2010. Herbicide treatments reduced weed biomass at all locations, and reduced tall ironweed stems by 64% or greater in 2009 at all locations. Weed biomass did not differ when comparing all treatments with and without mowing or treatments with or without fertilizer. Forage grass biomass produced was greatest with herbicide plus fertilizer and with the combination of mowing plus herbicide plus fertilizer at all locations in both years. Two years of grazing did not reduce weed populations. Grazing did reduce forage grass and clover biomass at one location, and weed biomass at two locations. Two locations had positive economic returns based on herbicide treatment for weed control and forge yield. Herbicide treatments reduced crude protein at one location and in-vitro true digestibility at two locations.
Recommended Citation
Tolson, Joshua Allen, "THE EFFECT OF INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ON WEED POPULATIONS AND BIOMASS, PASTURE PRODUCTIVITY, ECONOMIC RETURNS, AND FORAGE QUALITY WITH AND WITHOUT GRAZING" (2012). Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences. 4.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/pss_etds/4
