Importance of Fall Weed Control
After harvest, weeds compete for soil moisture and nutrients. Timely post-harvest weed control—via herbicide or tillage—preserves these resources. Maintaining soil health supports next season’s crop success, reduces risk, and improves ROI, proving the farming year continues beyond harvest.
As crops reach full maturity and are harvested, their demand for soil moisture and nutrients ends. However, these resources remain in high demand from volunteer weeds and weed seeds in the seed bank that are ready to germinate. Once crops are removed, sunlight—previously blocked—is now fully available to weed plants. Combined with warm temperatures, this promotes vigorous weed growth throughout the fall season and leads to the continued consumption of valuable soil resources.
Preserving soil moisture and nutrients is critically important for the success of the following year’s crop. Therefore, stopping weed growth as soon as possible after harvest is a key step in resource conservation. A post-harvest herbicide application is an effective method of weed control that also preserves soil moisture by avoiding soil disturbance and keeping standing stubble intact. In cases where herbicide-resistant weeds are present and residue management is needed, a tillage operation can address both tasks simultaneously. An effective post-harvest tillage operation provides mechanical weed control and residue management at an optimal depth while preserving moisture below the surface.
The farming year does not end with harvest. When growers prepare fields for success in the following season, they reduce risk and improve return on investment.
Väderstad tillage equipment creates the perfect start for the coming crop
To support effective residue management and set the stage for a successful next season, Vaderstad offers a range of tillage solutions tailored to diverse field conditions. Click here to learn more about Carrier, a high-speed equipment for versatile tillage from ultra-shallow to deeper incorporation, reducing passes and cost per acre. For heavier residue and deeper soil work, learn more about the Wil-Rich 483 Chisel Pro that excels at loosening soil, burying debris, and sizing clods for ideal seedbed preparation. Meanwhile, you can also read more about the Wil-Rich 2500 Chisel Plow, a powerful fall tillage tool, designed to break shallow compaction and maintain depth even in tough soils. These tools help ensure residue is managed efficiently, soil health is preserved, and crops get the best possible start.
