Aerial Application Methods for Control of Weed Species in Fallow Farmlands in Texas
Prolific growth of weeds, especially when followed by abundant rainfall, is common in Texas farmlands during early winter and progresses into spring when farmers begin chiseling and disking operations for spring-seeded cropping. This research sought to develop aerial application technologies designe...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-11-01
|
| Series: | Agronomy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/11/1764 |
| _version_ | 1797548131199483904 |
|---|---|
| author | Daniel E. Martin Mohamed A. Latheef Juan D. Lopez Sara E. Duke |
| author_facet | Daniel E. Martin Mohamed A. Latheef Juan D. Lopez Sara E. Duke |
| author_sort | Daniel E. Martin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Prolific growth of weeds, especially when followed by abundant rainfall, is common in Texas farmlands during early winter and progresses into spring when farmers begin chiseling and disking operations for spring-seeded cropping. This research sought to develop aerial application technologies designed to control unwanted vegetation in croplands left fallow until spring. The aerial nozzles used in the study were conventional hydraulic (CP), rotary atomizer, and electrostatically (ES) charged nozzles. Glyphosate at 0.4145 kg ae·ha<sup>−1</sup> was applied on weeds using a fixed-wing aircraft equipped with various aerial nozzles used as treatments. The spray application rate for the conventional and rotary atomizer nozzles was 28.1 L·ha<sup>−1</sup>, while that for the ES charged nozzle was 9.4 L·ha<sup>−1</sup>. Aerial and ground-based remote sensing and visual estimates quantified weed vigor and canopy health. Both the CP and rotary atomizer nozzles were efficacious in suppressing weeds. ES charged on nozzles at one-third of the spray application rate of the CP and the rotary atomizer nozzles were equally effective in reducing weed vigor. More aerially applied replicated field research trials conducted over time and space are needed to unravel the differences between aerial spray nozzle technologies for controlling weed populations in Texas farmlands. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:55:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9e96f93211544802bc45febcfd8b1fbc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:55:08Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-9e96f93211544802bc45febcfd8b1fbc2023-11-20T20:42:35ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-11-011011176410.3390/agronomy10111764Aerial Application Methods for Control of Weed Species in Fallow Farmlands in TexasDaniel E. Martin0Mohamed A. Latheef1Juan D. Lopez2Sara E. Duke3Aerial Application Research, Agricultural Research Service, Unit United States Department of Agriculture, College Station, TX 77845, USAAerial Application Research, Agricultural Research Service, Unit United States Department of Agriculture, College Station, TX 77845, USAAerial Application Research, Agricultural Research Service, Unit United States Department of Agriculture, College Station, TX 77845, USAAgricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, College Station, Southern Plains Area, TX 77845, USAProlific growth of weeds, especially when followed by abundant rainfall, is common in Texas farmlands during early winter and progresses into spring when farmers begin chiseling and disking operations for spring-seeded cropping. This research sought to develop aerial application technologies designed to control unwanted vegetation in croplands left fallow until spring. The aerial nozzles used in the study were conventional hydraulic (CP), rotary atomizer, and electrostatically (ES) charged nozzles. Glyphosate at 0.4145 kg ae·ha<sup>−1</sup> was applied on weeds using a fixed-wing aircraft equipped with various aerial nozzles used as treatments. The spray application rate for the conventional and rotary atomizer nozzles was 28.1 L·ha<sup>−1</sup>, while that for the ES charged nozzle was 9.4 L·ha<sup>−1</sup>. Aerial and ground-based remote sensing and visual estimates quantified weed vigor and canopy health. Both the CP and rotary atomizer nozzles were efficacious in suppressing weeds. ES charged on nozzles at one-third of the spray application rate of the CP and the rotary atomizer nozzles were equally effective in reducing weed vigor. More aerially applied replicated field research trials conducted over time and space are needed to unravel the differences between aerial spray nozzle technologies for controlling weed populations in Texas farmlands.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/11/1764application technologyaerial nozzlesspray depositionglyphosate efficacyremote sensingweed control |
| spellingShingle | Daniel E. Martin Mohamed A. Latheef Juan D. Lopez Sara E. Duke Aerial Application Methods for Control of Weed Species in Fallow Farmlands in Texas Agronomy application technology aerial nozzles spray deposition glyphosate efficacy remote sensing weed control |
| title | Aerial Application Methods for Control of Weed Species in Fallow Farmlands in Texas |
| title_full | Aerial Application Methods for Control of Weed Species in Fallow Farmlands in Texas |
| title_fullStr | Aerial Application Methods for Control of Weed Species in Fallow Farmlands in Texas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aerial Application Methods for Control of Weed Species in Fallow Farmlands in Texas |
| title_short | Aerial Application Methods for Control of Weed Species in Fallow Farmlands in Texas |
| title_sort | aerial application methods for control of weed species in fallow farmlands in texas |
| topic | application technology aerial nozzles spray deposition glyphosate efficacy remote sensing weed control |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/11/1764 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielemartin aerialapplicationmethodsforcontrolofweedspeciesinfallowfarmlandsintexas AT mohamedalatheef aerialapplicationmethodsforcontrolofweedspeciesinfallowfarmlandsintexas AT juandlopez aerialapplicationmethodsforcontrolofweedspeciesinfallowfarmlandsintexas AT saraeduke aerialapplicationmethodsforcontrolofweedspeciesinfallowfarmlandsintexas |