Journal of NACAA

Timing Mechanical Weed Control in Pastures

ISSN 2158-9429

Volume 10, Issue 2 - December 2017

Editor: Bindu Poudel-Ward

Abstract

Weed control is an essential part of all forage production systems. Unwanted weeds compete for nutrients, water and sunlight needed for optimum forage growth. Mechanically mowing pastures is one method producers use if they do not want to spray herbicides. The purpose of this study, conducted at the Eastern Agriculture Research Station, Belle Valley, OH, is to determine if weed populations in pastured forages are affected by varying the timing of mowing to a height of four inches during the late spring and summer growing period without the use of herbicides. Treatments in this study consisted of a control (no mowing); June mowing; July mowing; August mowing; September mowing; June plus August mowing; July plus September mowing; and a monthly mowing June through September. Determining if mowing timing will affect weed pressure, forage composition and forage quality is important. Results from two years indicate a single mowing in June was not effective in controlling weeds. Mowing in July plus September controlled weeds over four of the five rating periods in the study. Mowing in June plus August, and mowing in August controlled weeds over three of the five rating periods.