February 11, 2016
Extension publication offers guidance on ryegrass termination
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Annual ryegrass, often used as a cover crop, can grow out of control and be difficult to manage, according to Purdue expert Travis Legleiter. Legleiter is one of the authors of a new publication now available through Purdue's The Education Store that explains how to use herbicide to effectively terminate ryegrass. (Purdue University Weed Science photo/Travis Legleiter) |
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A new Purdue Extension publication offers producers practical, in-depth information on how to use herbicides to terminate annual ryegrass, an effective but potentially troublesome fall-seeded cover crop.
Cover crops are used to maintain soil health in grain fields between growing seasons, primarily by controlling erosion and holding nutrients in the soil. But some cover crops, including annual ryegrass, can quickly grow out of control, said Travis Legleiter, an Extension weed specialist and one of the authors of Successful Annual Ryegrass Termination with Herbicides.
"The aggressive growth habit and adaptability of annual ryegrass that make it a good cover crop also make it a potential weed if producers do not manage it properly and allow the plant to escape or produce seed," he said. "While annual ryegrass has shown to be a good cover crop, it is also the most difficult grass cover crop to terminate."
The publication provides information on selecting the right ryegrass seed, herbicide application timing, herbicide rates and combinations, and the use of adjuvants. It includes charts showing the effects of 11 different herbicide treatments at 14 and 21 days post-treatment.
For a free download of the publication, visit Purdue's The Education Store at https://www.edustore.purdue.edu/item.asp?item_number=WS-52-W. The Education Store also offers a related publication, Successful Cover Crop Termination with Herbicides, available for free download at https://www.edustore.purdue.edu/item.asp?item_number=WS-50-W.
Writer: Emma Hopkins, 765-494-2384, hopkine@purdue.edu
Source: Travis Legleiter, 765-496-2121, tlegleit@purdue.edu
Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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