Abstract: Weeded check plots are an integral part of most weed control experiments. They provide a measure of the maximum crop yield without weed competition in a given site-year environment. The traditional way to create weeded check plots is to hoe and pull weeds by hand in the row and hoe weeds between rows. But erratic heavy rainfall can prevent timely hoeing. The objective of this experiment was to compare faster, less-laborious mechanized ways to control weeds between crop rows as alternatives to hoeing in corn and soybean. Hoeing, the traditional method for controlling weeds between crop rows, was compared with either repeated mowing using a cord-mower or a string-trimmer or shallow tilling with a rototiller between rows. Weeds growing in rows were controlled by hand-pulling and hoeing because the focus of the experiment was on speeding weed control between rows. All four methods for controlling weeds between crop rows were equally effective when measured as either corn or soybean yield, visual rating of weed control, or weed ground cover in two years under contrasting rainfall patterns. Cord-mowing or string-trimming between rows was possible when soil was dry enough to walk upon but too wet to hoe or rototill.

Nomenclature: Corn, Zea mays L. ‘Pioneer 3379’; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Pioneer 9381’.

Additional index words: Mowing, rototilling, sustainable agriculture, tillage, SETFA.

Abbreviations: BR, between row; IR, in row.