Abstract: Producers in the semiarid Great Plains are seeking management strategies to delay development of herbicide resistance. The objective of this study was to determine if cultural systems could control weeds in proso millet (Panicum miliaceum), thus eliminating the need for herbicides and removing selection pressure. Initially, we evaluated individual cultural practices for improving competitiveness of proso millet. Increasing seeding rate, banding N fertilizer with the seeds, growing a taller cultivar, and eliminating tillage favored proso millet over redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus). Combining several cultural practices with delayed planting in a cultural system reduced biomass and seed production of two pigweed species 85% or more in both tilled and no-till systems, subsequently eliminating proso millet yield loss. Density of the two pigweed species was sevenfold greater in the tilled system, yet the cultural system approach was still effective. Cultural system impact on seed production suggests that pigweed densities will not increase over time. With cultural systems, producers can minimize selection pressure, thus delaying development of herbicide resistance.
Nomenclature: Redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L. #3 AMARE; proso millet, Panicum miliaceum L. ‘Cope’, ‘Sunup’.
Additional index words: Delayed planting, increased seeding rate, nitrogen placement, tillage, AMARE.
