{"id":3609,"date":"2017-01-19T14:19:03","date_gmt":"2017-01-19T19:19:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.localhost:10003\/?p=3609"},"modified":"2017-01-19T14:19:03","modified_gmt":"2017-01-19T19:19:03","slug":"3609-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/montysplantfood.com\/fr\/3609-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Weed Control and Soil Health Go Hand in Hand"},"content":{"rendered":"

October 7, 2016\u00a0| Posted in\u00a0Crop Protection<\/a>,\u00a0Residue Management<\/a>,\u00a0Soil Health<\/a><\/p>\n

Source:\u00a0South Dakota State University Extension<\/a><\/p>\n

\"soil-health\"<\/p>\n

Although many landowners may not give much thought to weed control as a soil health measure,\u00a0Gared Shaffer, SDSU Extension Weeds Field Specialist said the two go hand-in-hand.<\/p>\n

“The same management practices which increase soil health, like planting cover crops or a diverse cash crop rotation, also can be deterrent to weeds,” Shaffer explained. With the rise of herbicide resistant weeds not just on the horizon but in your fields, farmers want answers. Most have turned to a new herbicide in the past.<\/p>\n

He referenced a quote from Dr. Dwayne Beck, manager of the Dakota Lakes Research Farm. Beck presented during a recent soil health workshop hosted by South Dakota Soil Health Coalition.<\/p>\n

“Anytime producers do the same thing year after year the Earth’s ecosystem finds a way around it to make it more diverse” said Beck during the September meeting attended by farmers, ranchers and area agronomy professionals.<\/p>\n

Without this diversity, Beck further explained that monoculture farming will give way to a possible proliferation of curtain weed species.<\/p>\n

“This means a potential increase in weed species anytime monoculture crops are planted,” Shaffer explained.<\/p>\n

Shaffer said many options are still within the hands of producers to control weeds with herbicides however, he explained that 100% herbicide dependence is not sustainable in the long term. Particularly with the products available in the market today.<\/p>\n

“Herbicides were meant to be just a tool for weed control not the answer to weed control,” he said.<\/p>\n

More Weed Control Options<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some of the weed control options discussed during the soil health school which did not include spraying herbicides or tillage included; crop rotation, cover crops and livestock integration.<\/p>\n

“These options help build soil health by increasing organic matter, soil biology and water infiltration,” Shaffer said.<\/p>\n

He outlined the principals of soil health:<\/p>\n