Cultivation and Herbicides for Weed Control in Corn

Corn ( Zea mays L.) plots receiving broadcast spray applications of triazine herbicides without cultivation yielded as much as plots receiving the standard two cultivations for weed control. One cultivation resulted in an average 6% increase in corn grain yield on herbicide treated plots. This yield increase probably was due to improved weed control. Weed growth reduced grain yields an average of 1.23 bu/A for each 100 lb/A of dry weeds. In some experiments, increases in corn yield due to improved weed control by cultivation on plots treated with herbicides were less than increases expected based on weed growth reductions. This disparity may have been due to injury to the corn by cultivation.