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Funded Project

Funding Program: Regional IPM Grants (S-RIPM)

Project Title: Improved Scouting and Decision Making Tools for Weed Management in Field Crops

Project Director (PD): Gail Wilkerson [1]

Lead State: NC Lead Organization: North Carolina State University

Research Funding: $110,884

Start Date: Jul-15-2003 End Date: Jul-14-2005

Summary: None provided Objectives: None provided

Final Report:

Results PROGRESS: 2003/07 TO 2006/07 The weed scouting study performed in this project demonstrated that more in-depth scouting efforts may be more time-consuming, but will most likely pay for themselves due to higher net returns, improved weed control, and reduction in risk. The four scouting methods which were compared were: windshield (estimate made from the edge of the field), whole-field (estimate based on walk through the field), range (weed densities rated on 1-5 scale at six locations in the field), and counts (weeds estimated by counting at six locations in the field). HADSS (Herbicide Application Decision Support System) was used to determine theoretical net return over herbicide investment and yield loss ($ and %) for each treatment in each field. Results indicate that there is more risk involved when making herbicide decisions based upon less time-intensive scouting methods (windshield, whole-field, and range) than when using the more intensive scouting method (count). The effectiveness of utilizing different scouting procedures may vary between fields, and the value of more intensive scouting methods depends upon the weed spectrum present. In this study, it was shown that even when minimal scouting efforts were made using the windshield method, herbicide recommendations were almost always within 10% of the optimal recommendation. However, theoretical losses as high as $528 per hectare were observed in situations where the optimal herbicide treatment was not selected. We have successfully converted the HADSS decision support system over to the Microsoft .Net environment. Through the use of Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005, extensible component model development is now available for Microsoft Windows-based computers across multiple programming languages. HADSS uses this extensible component technology to access herbicide efficacy, weed and crop data in XML, Microsoft Access and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 databases. In this architecture, the user interface is separate from decision components which are separate from data access components. The technology allows the HADSS decision engine to run on three different computer platforms without any changes to the source code. HADSS runs on Windows desktop computers using Access, XML or SQL Server databases, Pocket PC computers using XML or SQL Server 2005 Mobile Edition based data and web servers using Access or SQL Server databases. The use of component architecture allows different user interfaces on different computing platforms. We are continuing to work on a new version of WebHADSS which will have all the functionality of the desktop program and will allow greater flexibility in data entry and display of information contained in the database. Information about herbicide components and modes of action will be presented so that users can more easily manage herbicide resistance issues. IMPACT: 2003/07 TO 2006/07 Information from this study can be used by growers, consultants, and extension agents to evaluate the risks and benefits of different scouting methods. It should help them determine the best scouting method to use, given attitude toward risk and time available for scouting. Continuing improvement in decision support systems like HADSS increases the utility of threshold-based weed management strategies. Developing effective and time-efficient scouting techniques for use with decision support systems like HADSS should increase profitability of peanut production systems. Additionally, programs such as HADSS allow users to examine herbicides within another class or family of herbicides, which is important in light of recent concerns about resistance issues. PUBLICATIONS (not previously reported): 2003/07 TO 2006/07 1. Robinson, B. L., Moffitt, J. M., Wilkerson, G. G., and Jordan, D. L. 2006. Economics and effectiveness of alternative weed scouting methods in peanut (Arachis hypogaea). Weed Technol. (In press). 2. Givens, W.A., Shaw, D.R., Farno, L.A. and Wilkerson, G.G. 2006. Framework for a site-specific herbicide application decision support system. Abst. Weed Sci. Soc. Am. 46:223. 3. Sturgill, M. C., Wilkerson, G. G., and Buol, G. S. 2006. User extensible agronomic models utilizing Microsoft Visual Studio 2005. Annual Meetings Abstracts 2006 CD ROM. ASA, Madison, WI (In press).

Outcomes N/A

Impacts From report submitted by the PI to USDA CRIS report system Information from this study can be used by growers, consultants, and extension agents to evaluate the risks and benefits of different scouting methods. It should help them determine the best scouting method to use, given attitude toward risk and time available for scouting. Continuing improvement in decision support systems like HADSS increases the utility of threshold-based weed management strategies. Developing effective and time-efficient scouting techniques for use with decision support systems like HADSS should increase profitability of peanut production systems. Additionally, programs such as HADSS allow users to examine herbicides within another class or family of herbicides, which is important in light of recent concerns about resistance issues.

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