Influence of Yellow Foxtail on Corn Growth and Yield

Abstract

Yellow foxtail [Setaria pumila syn. Setaria glauca (L.) Beauv.] competitive influence on corn (Zea mays L.) growth and yield was investigated at Brookings, South Dakota, and Morris, Minnesota, in 1995 and 1996. Yellow foxtail was seeded at different densities, and at Morris, two levels of nitrogen (N) were applied. Corn biomass measured at V‐6 or V‐8, silking, and harvest and grain yield were correlated negatively to foxtail biomass and density, but the loss differed between years and sites. Nitrogen increased corn growth and decreased yield loss. Defining a single foxtail density or biomass that resulted in a maximum yield loss of 10% was not possible. The most conservative estimate was 3 yellow foxtail plants m⁻² or 24 g m⁻² of yellow foxtail biomass, but ranged up to 55 plants m⁻² and 256 g m⁻² when weather conditions and N were optimal.

Keywords:

• Competition
• interference
• yield loss

Acknowledgments

This is South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station publication no. 3313.