Economic and Ecological Impact of Integrated Weed Management Strategies on Palmer Amaranth in Cotton

Due to the reduction of effective herbicides for Palmer amaranth control in Mid-South cotton acres, non-chemical methods of weed control are being considered and implemented by cotton producers. In order to develop best management strategies that utilize integrated weed management practices, a long-term study was initiated in the fall of 2018 that investigated the impact that cover crops, deep tillage, differing herbicide programs, and the implementation of a zero-tolerance threshold for Palmer amaranth would have on the emergence and soil seedbank of Palmer amaranth over time. Costs of production practices were also considered when calculating the economic viability of these practices to generate best management practices for cotton.