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From: LWEW93A@prodigy.com (Judy Johnson)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Re: Plow at night to reduce weeds?
Date: 3 Jan 1996 18:55:05 GMT

Marc Salverson <msalvers@colsa.com> wrote: >
>Paul Harvey reports a study has shown that if farmers plow their
>fields at night, they can reduce the number of weeds by up to 80%.
>
>He says because the weed "seeds need light to sprout".
>
>Huh? Let me check my driver's license...
>
>No, I wasn't born yesterday.
>
>Is this another Paul Harvey UL?
>
> - Marc "out standing in my field" Salverson

From "Agricultural Research" vol 43 (12), (published by USDA-Agricultural Research Service) December, 1995:

Tilling farm fields in the dark may be a nightmare-not for farmers, but for weeds. US Department of Agriculture research in Rosemount, Minnesota, shows nighttime tillage can cut some weed problems in half.

"We're talking about working in absolute darkness," says weed scientist Douglas D. Buhler of USDA's Agricultural Research Service. "Certain weed species have light requirements to break dormancy. Just a brief exposure to a little light from tractors or possibly a full moon may trigger weed seeds to sprout like they do in daylight."

However, he says, "Some initial research reports coming from Europe have shown remarkable reductions in weed populations when tillage was done at night. If nighttime tillage also works here, it has potential to reduce reliance on chemicals in weed management."

[The article goes on to explain that Buhler and ARS technician Keith A. Kohler used night goggles to till experimental fields on moonless nights, and documented the effect on many types of weeds. Their initial results were encouraging enough to warrant additional studies. Again, quoting from the text:]

'We have seen reductions in weed emergence as great as 80 percent," say Buhler, "but generally reductions are 50 to 60 percent."

"Usually, farmers till before planting to stimulate weed growth. They later knock out those weeds that come up by tilling or with herbicide or both." he adds.

Night tillage postpones or prevents some weed emergence, causing seeds left buried to become less viable and more prone to attack by soil microbes. If fewer weeds appear, that means fewer tractor trips and reduced herbicide use.

While results have been encouraging, large-seeded weeds like velvet-leaf and cocklebur still sprout after night tilling. In addition, annual grass species were not affected.

[The article ends with:]

Additional research is needed, says Buhler, to determine the light sensitivity of various weed species-as well as the effects of tillage depth, tillage implements, and other factors like crop planting date on the effectiveness of night tillage.

"We also need to understand how different tillage implements redistribute weed seeds, so as to minimize the number of seeds that are brought to the soil surface," says Buhler. "Seeds moved to the surface at night would be exposed to light the following morning, reducing the effectiveness of the night tillage."

[end article]

I wonder where Paul Harvey picked this up, and if he correctly attributes the work to ARS scientists.

Judy "just another buggy scientist" Johnson

Hmmm... I just hope nobody confuses us poor lil' ag people with the IRS around the corner.