ARS | Publication request: CROP HYBRID SELECTION OF A TOOL TO MANAGE ANNUAL GRASSES IN SWEET CORN

Submitted to: Illinois Fruit and Vegetable Research Report
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: December 5, 2004
Publication Date: January 15, 2005
Citation: Williams, M., Boydston, R.A. Crop hybrid selection of a tool to manage annual grasses in sweet corn. Illinois Fruit and Vegetable Research Report.

Technical Abstract: Commercially-available sweet corn hybrids vary in their crop tolerance and weed suppressive ability. Even at low weed densities, large differences were observed in the hybrids¿ ability to endure weed competition. Those hybrids that had a higher crop tolerance also had a higher weed suppressive ability, sometimes by an order of magnitude. Practical applications of this work include 1) weed-tolerant sweet corn hybrids will improve yield stability in weedy fields and 2) weed-suppressive hybrids (perhaps the same hybrids that are weed-tolerant) will contribute to reducing weed growth and seed production. The impact of this research is that it provides a useful foundation for developing new approaches to managing annual grasses in sweet corn.