Project Number: 5348-22000-011-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Feb 25, 2003
End Date: Aug 31, 2005

Objective:
Develop effective, efficient, and environmentally safe integrated cropping systems to increase sustainability, reduce competitiveness of problem weeds, decrease wind and water erosion and pesticide use. Increase knowledge of biology and ecology of invasive weeds, specifically jointed goatgrass, Russian thistle, and downy brome to develop better weed management strategies in the Pacific Northwest agri-ecosystems. Develop biological weed control strategies using soil microorganisms.

Approach:
Continue a large-scale, long-term, multi-disciplinary field study to compare six conservation spring-cropping systems with winter wheat/fallow for weed and disease management and for environmental and economic sustainability. Production practices and crop yields will be recorded for economic analyses. Investigate weed management strategies and weed/crop interactions in no-till systems. Develop integrated cropping systems which provide effective jointed goatgrass management while preventing herbicide-resistant jointed goatgrass from developing. Soil microorganisms and microbial communities will be field evaluated for effective weed management systems. Characterize traits in microbial communities that may provide suppression of major weed species. Formerly 5348-22000-009-00D (2/03).

Project Team

Young, Francis - Frank Kennedy, Ann McCool, Donald - Don

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003