Three Reasons to Control Winter Annual Weeds

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Sonya Begemann | 9/17/2019 | Ag Web

You’ll likely be seeing summer annual weeds from the combine, with a few small winter annuals sneaking in here and there. Take good notes about where the mature summer annual weeds are as the weed seed bank will be something you battle next summer.

However, don’t discount the impact of winter annual weeds, either.

“The impact of winter annual weeds in cropping systems is sometimes overlooked because these weeds typically complete most of their lifecycle prior to or shortly after corn and soybean planting,” says Lowell Sandell, weed science Extension educator at University of Nebraska.

Winter Annual Henbit

Winter annual weeds will impact future plantings though. They act as alternate hosts for pests, impact soil temperature and can sequester moisture and nutrients from future crops. Here are the specifics:

  1. Winter annual weeds give insects and parasites a leg-up. Henbit, for example, acts as an alternate host for soybean cyst nematode, who’s populations are already challenging soybean growers in many parts of the country. In addition, black cutworm can use several weed species to boost populations prior to corn and soybean emergence, populations that could decimate crop stands.
  2. Residue build up keeps soils cooler, longer. According to research by the University of Missouri, fields with winter annual residue removed increased soils by up to 5 degrees in corn and as much as 8 degrees in soybeans. In tight planting windows this could be the difference between timely and late planting.
  3. Weeds steal moisture and nutrients from crops. Winter annuals can reduce soil moisture by up to 13% in corn and 6% in soybeans, according to Missouri research. The same weeds, or their residue, tie-up or use valuable nutrients that could help progress corn and soybean crops along.

Even though they don’t impact this year’s yield, it’s important to take control of winter annuals. Consider tillage, fall burndown or cover crops to destroy weeds and reduce next season’s weed seed bank.