Effect of atrazine herbicide applied to forage maize on the survival of undersown italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) cover crops

摘要

In the UK, Italian ryegrass is being either broadcast or drilled as an inter-row cover crop just prior to canopy closure of the maize. After the maize harvest, the ryegrass acts as a cover crop, minimising over-wintered losses of nitrogen by leaching. The majority of UK maize crops are treated with the herbicide atrazine which controls many graminaceous species including Italian ryegrass. Nevertheless, farmers have successfully established ryegrass cover crops in maize treated with atrazine herbicide (1). An experiment was undertaken o investigate the effects of atrazine timing and dose on the performance of the undersown ryegrass cover crop.