Managing Weeds in Early-Planted No-Till Soybeans
Evaluate the effectiveness of PRE and POST herbicide programs, with and without cereal rye, for weed control in early planted no-till soybeans to help farmers maintain yield and manage resistance under tight application windows.
Why This Research Is Important
- Early planted soybeans have strong yield potential but are highly vulnerable to weed pressure.
- Prior ISA-funded research showed that a full-rate PRE herbicide followed by POST is the most reliable weed control strategy in early planted soybean.
- Greater weed pressure occurs under early planting conditions, increasing stress on PRE and POST herbicides.
- No-till soybean adoption in Illinois (~37% in 2018) requires understanding weed management without tillage to protect yield and herbicide longevity.
- Cereal rye as a cover crop may provide non-chemical weed suppression, reduce herbicide dependence and improve integrated weed management.
- The project will identify the best herbicide timing and strategy for no-till, narrow-row soybean production.
How This Research Benefits the Farmer
- Guides herbicide timing decisions for early planted no-till soybeans, including scenarios where PRE applications are delayed.
- Evaluates integrated weed management, combining PRE/burndown herbicides with cereal rye to improve weed suppression.
- Helps farmers preserve yield potential by providing data-driven recommendations for controlling waterhemp and winter annual weeds.
- Supports herbicide resistance management by validating the value of metribuzin and strategic POST timing to sustain herbicide efficacy.
- Provides practical recommendations for:
- Optimal herbicide timing by planting date
- Effective PRE and POST combinations
- Management adjustments if PRE application is missed due to planting priorities or weather
Research Team
- Dr. Aaron Hager, Professor, University of Illinois
- Logan Miller, Research Specialist, University of Illinois
Trial Locations
- University of Illinois Crop Sciences Research and Education Center, Urbana, IL
About the Lead Researchers
Dr. Aaron Hager
Professor & Extension Weed Science Specialist
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
217-333-9646
hager@illinois.edu
ARE YOU A FARMER OR ADVISOR?
If you’re a farmer or advisor, we invite you to take our Soybean Production Concerns Survey linked below to help guide future ISA research efforts. We also encourage you to contact us below with specific production challenge research ideas.
ARE YOU A RESEARCHER?
If you’re a researcher interested in working with ISA on a project, we encourage you to contact us with your ideas. The RFP will open in early March. Contact us below to be added to the mailing list for more information.
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