Syllabus for: PLSS 468 Weeds & Their Control

PLSS/PSGA 468
WEEDS & THEIR CONTROL

Instructor: Bryan Young
108 Public Policy Institute
453-7679
bgyoung@siu.edu

Course Objectives:
This course is designed to expose students to the general discipline of weed science. Specific goals are to educate on basic topics such as the nature of weeds, methods of control, and herbicide benefits and uses. It is hoped this course will provide young professionals with an appreciation of weed science principles to obtain career goals and create a more knowledgeable society.

Required Textbook: Weeds of the North Central States (for weed ID)

Optional Textbooks: Applied Weed Science, Ross & Lembi
Weed Science Principles, Anderson
Weeds of Nebraska and the Great Plains
(Optional textbooks are available for viewing in my office.)

Grading: Course Points
Undergrad Grad Students
Hour Exams (2) 200 200
6 Quizzes (lowest score dropped) 50 50
Final Exam 150 150
Lab Reports* 50 50
Weed ID Test 50 50
Weed collection* 150 150
Literature review** --- 50
650 700

Grading scale: 585-650 A
520-584 B
455-519 C
390-454 D
<390 E

*All assignments must be turned in by 5:00 p.m. on the announced due date.

**Graduate students are required to submit a literature review on a topic selected by the student and instructor. The literature review is due at the date of the final exam.

LECTURE SCHEDULE
Approximate
Lecture No. Lecture Topic
1 Introduction
2 Definition of a weed/ Weed characteristics/ Economic importance
3 Weed ecology/biology
4 Weed ecology biology (con't)
5 Weed-Crop interference
6 Principles of weed control
7 Cultural, biological, mechanical weed control
8 Cultural, biological, mechanical weed control (con't)
9 Herbicide safety and regulation
10 Introduction to chemical weed control
11 HOUR EXAM
12 Herbicide selectivity
13 Herbicide behavior in soils
14 Herbicide behavior in foliar applications
15 Herbicide mode of action
16 Herbicide mode of action (con't)
17 Herbicide mode of action (con't)
18 Herbicide formulations and adjuvants
19 Herbicide resistant crops
20 Herbicide resistant weeds
21 HOUR EXAM
22 Weed control: Corn, Milo
23 Weed control: Soybean
24 Weed control: Small Grains; Forages
25 Weed control: Horticultural crops
26 Weed control: Turf
27 Weed control: Forestry
28 Weed control: Aquatics
29
30 Review for final

LAB SCHEDULE

Lab No. Lab Topic Lab Report Due
1 Introduction to Weed Identification
2 Grass Weed Identification
3 Broadleaf Weed Identification
4 Weed Walk/Collection
5 Weed ID Test
6 Weed Collections Due / Leaching of herbicides Yes
7 Preemergence herbicide activity Yes
8 Postemergence herbicide activity Yes
9 Herbicide Injury Symptoms
10 Herbicide Calculations
11 Weed Control Equipment/Calibration
12 Weed Control Equipment/Calibration (Demo) Yes
13 Internet research Yes
14 Herbicide Problem Solving
15 Open

Lab Details: Selected labs (five total) require a lab report which must be typed and include:
(a) Cover sheet: Name, PLSS 468, Section No., Lab. Name and No.
(b) Introduction: Purpose the lab is intended to serve
(c) Materials and Methods: The materials you used and how the lab was performed.
(d) Results and Discussion: Paragraph or tabular form wherever possible. Discuss the results you obtained, especially in relation to the purpose the lab was to serve.

Major credit will be given to validity of observations and interpretation of them. However, format, neatness, spelling, etc. will be graded. Also, 3 points (out of 10 points/lab) will be deducted for each day, or any portion of a day, the lab is handed in late. Due dates will be announced when assigned. Each student must write their own report; if two or more reports are identical or very similar, all will get a zero.