Name: Dr. Ted Webster
Title: Research Agronomist, Weed Science
Research:
Integrating weed control technology and knowledge of weed biology to improve the efficiency of weed management systems.
Support Staff: Eddie Sklany and James Davis
Address:
Crop Protection and Management Research Unit
USDA-ARS, Crop and Soil Science
P.O. Box 748
Tifton, GA 31793-0748
Phone: 229-386-3363
FAX: 229-386-3437
E-Mail: TWebster@tifton.usda.gov
Education:
B.S., Ohio State University, Agriculture
M.S., Ohio State University, Agronomy
Ph.D., North Carolina State University, Crop Science
CRIS Project Title: Integrated Management and Ecology of Weed Populations in the Southeastern Coastal Plain
Research Goals:
1) Reduce cropping system susceptibility to invasion by weeds (prevent weeds from becoming established) by maximizing resource capture by the crop and minimizing dispersal of weed propagules to suitable safe sites.
2) Reduce cropping system vulnerability to weeds (improve the ability of a cropping system to tolerate weeds once they are already established).
3) Reduce weed population survival and persistence.
Current Research Projects:
1) Assess the effect of cultural practices on weed-crop interactions in cotton, peanut, and cucurbits.
2) Evaluate nutsedge management systems (alternatives to methyl bromide) in cucurbits (Squash and cucumbers).
3) Explore the relationship between growing degree days and weed phenology in an effort to optimize weed management.
4) Validate a weed control decision support system (HADSS) for cotton in Georgia.
5) Evaluate the relative susceptibility of commercially available and experimental sterile triploid hybrid bermudagrass cultivars to common herbicides. This research will lay the foundation for the potential development of a herbicide-tolerant turf-bermudagrass cultivar.
Major Accomplishments:
I have been involved in weed science research for ten years. Research areas have included weed-crop interference, spatial and temporal emergence and expansion patterns of weed patches, and the evaluation of the accuracy and precision of a global positioning system (GPS) used to monitor changes in weed populations over time. I have worked in several different agronomic crops (corn, soybean, wheat, cotton, peanut) with a concentrated effort on many different weed species (Florida beggerweed [Desmodium tortuosum], giant ragweed [Ambrosia trifida], purple nutsedge [Cyperus rotundus], sicklepod [Senna obtusifolia], and hemp dogbane [Apocynum cannabinum]). Results from the aforementioned weed-crop interference studies have been used in the creation of computer weed management decision aids in soybean in Ohio (giant ragweed) and corn and cotton in North Carolina and Georgia (purple nutsedge). Results from hemp dogbane studies have found that patches of this perennial weed reduce soybean yield approximately 30% and that these patches double in size in one year. Hemp dogbane emerges later in the season than most annul weeds, therefore many post-emergence herbicide treatments are not timed to adequately control this species.