Allyl Isothiocyanate and Metham Sodium as Methyl Bromide Alternatives for Weed Control in Plasticulture Tomato

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pratap Devkota ◽  
Jason K. Norsworthy

Isothiocyanates (ITCs) were evaluated as an alternative to methyl bromide (MeBr) for control of Palmer amaranth, large crabgrass, and yellow nutsedge; reduction of tuber density; and increase in marketable tomato yield in low density polyethylene (LDPE)-mulched tomato production. Allyl ITC was applied at 450, 600, and 750 kg ai ha−1; metham sodium (methyl ITC generator) was applied at 180, 270, and 360 kg ai ha−1; and MeBr plus chloropicrin (mixture of MeBr and chloropicrin at 67 : 33%, respectively) was applied at 390 kg ai ha−1. A nontreated weedy check was included for comparison. There was no injury to tomato plants following allyl ITC, metham sodium, or MeBr application. Allyl ITC at 750 kg ha−1or metham sodium at 360 kg ha−1controlled Palmer amaranth ≥ 79%, large crabgrass ≥ 76%, and yellow nutsedge ≥ 80% and was comparable to the weed control with MeBr. Highest rates of allyl ITC and metham sodium reduced yellow nutsedge tuber density (≤ 76 tubers m−2) comparable to the MeBr application. Total marketable tomato yield was ≥ 31.6 t ha−1in plots treated with allyl ITC at 750 kg ha−1or metham sodium at 360 kg ha−1. Marketable tomato yield from the highest rate of allyl ITC or metham sodium were similar to the yield (38.2 t ha−1) with MeBr treatment. Therefore, allyl ITC at 750 kg ha−1and metham sodium at 360 kg ha−1are effective alternatives to MeBr for Palmer amaranth, large crabgrass, and yellow nutsedge control in LDPE-mulched tomato.

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 468-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pratap Devkota ◽  
Jason K. Norsworthy ◽  
Ronald Rainey

Methyl bromide (MeBr), classified as a Class I ozone-depleting substance, has been banned for ordinary agricultural uses. Weed control in commercial bell pepper production is complicated by the ban on MeBr and the lack of other available and effective soil fumigants. A field study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of allyl isothiocyanate (ITC) and metam sodium (methyl ITC generator) as MeBr alternatives for control of Palmer amaranth, large crabgrass, and yellow nutsedge; and for increasing marketable yields in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) –mulched bell pepper. Allyl ITC was applied at 450, 600, and 750 kg ha−1; metam sodium was applied at 180, 270, and 360 kg ha−1; and MeBr plus chloropicrin (67% and 33%, respectively) was applied at 390 kg ha−1. Allyl ITC and metam sodium did not injure bell pepper. Allyl ITC at 750 kg ha−1or metam sodium at 360 kg ha−1controlled Palmer amaranth (≥ 83%), large crabgrass (≥ 78%), and yellow nutsedge (≥ 80%) comparably to MeBr. Yellow nutsedge tuber density was ≤ 84 tubers m−2in plots treated with the highest rate of allyl ITC and metam sodium and was comparable to the tuber density in MeBr-treated plots. Although allyl ITC at 750 kg ha−1controlled weeds comparable to MeBr, total marketable bell pepper yield with allyl ITC was lower than the yield with MeBr. Conversely, total marketable bell pepper yield with the highest rate of metam sodium (53.5 ton ha−1) was equivalent to the yield (62.5 ton ha−1) in plots treated with MeBr. In conclusion, metam sodium at 360 kg ha−1is an effective MeBr alternative for weed control in LDPE–mulched bell pepper.


2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 763-768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjeev K. Bangarwa ◽  
Jason K. Norsworthy ◽  
Edward E. Gbur

Methyl bromide is a common fumigant for effective weed control in polyethylene-mulched vegetable crops. However, the ban on methyl bromide in the United States has created a need to find a suitable alternative. This study investigated the herbicidal efficacy of phenyl isothiocyanate (ITC) as a methyl bromide alternative for weed control in polyethylene-mulched bell pepper during 2006 and 2007. Six rates of phenyl ITC (0, 15, 75, 150, 750, 1,500 kg ha−1) under low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or virtually impermeable film (VIF) mulch were tested against yellow nutsedge, Palmer amaranth, and large crabgrass. Additionally, a standard treatment of methyl bromide/chloropicrin (67 : 33%) at 390 kg ha−1under LDPE mulch was included for comparison. VIF mulch provided no advantage over LDPE mulch in either improving weed control or marketable yield in bell pepper. Unacceptable pepper injury (≥ 60%) occurred at the highest phenyl ITC rate of 1,500 kg ha−1at 2 WATP in both years, regardless of mulch type. Higher bell pepper injury was observed in 2006 (≥ 36%) than in 2007 (≤ 11%) at 750 kg ha−1of phenyl ITC. The lower injury in 2007 could be attributed to aeration of beds 48 h prior to transplanting. Regardless of mulch type, phenyl ITC at 2,071 (± 197) and 1,655 (± 309) kg ha−1was required to control yellow nutsedge, Palmer amaranth, and large crabgrass equivalent to methyl bromide in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Bell pepper marketable yield at all rates of phenyl ITC was lower than methyl bromide in 2006. In contrast, marketable yield in phenyl ITC at 750–kg ha−1was equivalent to methyl bromide in 2007. It is concluded that phenyl ITC should be applied at least 4.2 times higher rate than methyl bromide for effective weed control, and bed aeration is required to minimize crop injury and yield loss. Additional research is needed to test phenyl ITC in combination with other weed control strategies to obtain effective weed control with acceptable crop safety.


2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjeev K. Bangarwa ◽  
Jason K. Norsworthy ◽  
Edward E. Gbur

Methyl bromide has been widely used for weed control in polyethylene-mulched tomato production. With the phaseout of methyl bromide in the United States, an effective alternative is needed. Field experiments were conducted in 2007 and 2009 to determine if allyl isothiocyanate (ITC) would provide substantive weed control in tomato along with crop tolerance under low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and virtually impermeable film (VIF) mulch. Treatment factors included two mulch types (LDPE and VIF) and six rates of allyl ITC (0, 15, 75, 150, 750, 1,500 kg ha−1). A standard treatment of methyl bromide : chloropicrin (67 : 33%) at 390 kg ha−1under LDPE mulch was also established. Allyl ITC was broadcast applied and incorporated in soil before forming raised beds and laying plastic mulch. Tomatoes were transplanted 3 wk after applying allyl ITC or methyl bromide treatments. Tomato injury was ≤ 8% in all treatments at 2 wk after transplanting (WATP). Allyl ITC at 913 (± 191) kg ha−1was required to control yellow nutsedge, Palmer amaranth, and large crabgrass equivalent to methyl bromide at 6 WATP and maintain marketable tomato yield equivalent to methyl bromide treatment. VIF mulch was not effective in increasing weed control or improving the marketable yield of tomato over LDPE mulch. This research demonstrates that allyl ITC under an LDPE mulch can have a practical application for weed control in polyethylene-mulched tomato in the absence of methyl bromide.


2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 280-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjeev K. Bangarwa ◽  
Jason K. Norsworthy ◽  
Edward E. Gbur

Weeds are a major constraint in tomato production, especially in the absence of methyl bromide. Field trials were conducted in 2006 and 2007 to evaluate the integrated use of a mustard ‘Caliente’ (a blend of brown and white mustard) cover crop with one-half and full rate PRE/POST herbicides for weed control and crop response in polyethylene-mulched tomato. Caliente was flail mowed and incorporated into the soil prior to forming beds. PRE herbicides were applied under polyethylene mulch, and POST herbicides were sprayed over the top of tomato. Full rates for S-metolachlor, halosulfuron, and trifloxysulfuron were 1,600, 27, and 7.9 g ai/ha, respectively. Caliente had no effect on weed control or tomato injury and yield. Except for large crabgrass control and tomato injury and yield, only the main effect of herbicide selection and application rate affected these parameters. Tomato injury was minimal (< 6%) from PRE- and POST-applied herbicides. S-metolachlor applied PRE provided 66% purple nutsedge, 67% yellow nutsedge, and 77% Palmer amaranth control at 4 wk after transplanting (WATP). S-metolachlor–treated plots at the full rate produced the highest marketable fruit yield among herbicide treatments, with jumbo fruit yield equivalent to the hand-weeded treatment. Trifloxysulfuron was the best POST-applied herbicide based on marketable yield and weed control. POST-applied trifloxysulfuron provided 41% purple nutsedge, 58% yellow nutsedge, and 55% Palmer amaranth control at 8 to 9 WATP. Halosulfuron applied PRE controlled purple and yellow nutsedge 70 and 78%, respectively, at 4 WATP, and POST-applied halosulfuron controlled purple nutsedge 74% and yellow nutsedge 78% at 8 to 9 WATP. Halosulfuron applied either PRE or POST failed to control Palmer amaranth and large crabgrass. Greater weed control and marketable tomato yield were achieved with full rates of herbicides. This research demonstrates no additional advantage of Caliente mustard when used with herbicides in tomato. None of the PRE or POST herbicides applied alone were sufficient to maintain season-long, broad-spectrum weed control and optimum marketable yield in tomato. Therefore, integration of PRE and POST herbicides at full rates is suggested.


2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel M. Dayton ◽  
Sushila Chaudhari ◽  
Katherine M. Jennings ◽  
David W. Monks ◽  
Greg W. Hoyt

Field studies were conducted to determine the effect of metam sodium andS-metolachlor applied through drip irrigation on yellow nutsedge, common purslane, bell pepper, and tomato (injury and yield) in plasticulture. Treatments consisted of weed-free, weedy,S-metolachlor alone at 0.85 kg ha-1, methyl bromide, metam sodium (43, 86, 176, and 358 kg ai ha–1) alone, and metam sodium (43, 86, 176, and 358 kg ai ha–1) followed byS-metolachlor at 0.85 kg ha–1. Metam sodium andS-metolachlor was applied preplant 2 wk before and 2 wk after transplanting (WAT) through drip irrigation, respectively. No injury was observed to bell pepper and tomato from metam sodium alone, or metam sodium fbS-metolachlor treatments. With the exception of yellow nutsedge density 15 WAT in bell pepper, herbicide program did not influence yellow nutsedge and common purslane density at 4 and 6 WAT and bell pepper and tomato yield. At 15 WAT, yellow nutsedge density was lower in treatments that received metam sodium fbS-metolachlor compared to those treatments that only received metam sodium. Drip-applied metam sodium at 176 and 358 kg ha–1in both bell pepper and tomato provided similar control of common purslane, and yellow nutsedge, produced comparable yields, and failed to elicit any negative crop growth responses when compared to MeBr. In conclusion, metam sodium at 176 and 358 kg ha–1fbS-metolachlor 0.85 kg ha–1is an effective MeBr alternative for season long weed control in plasticulture bell pepper and tomato.


2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 405-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjeev K. Bangarwa ◽  
Jason K. Norsworthy ◽  
Edward E. Gbur

Field trials were conducted in 2006 and 2007 to evaluate the performance of ‘Caliente’ mustard cover crop and herbicide combinations for weed control in polyethylene-mulched bell pepper (Capsicum annuum). ‘Caliente’ mustard is a blend of brown mustard (Brassica juncea) and white mustard (Sinapis alba). Herbicide treatments included 1/2× and 1× rates of two pre-emergence (PRE) and two postdirected (PD) herbicides. PRE herbicides were applied 1 week before transplanting, whereas PD herbicides were applied at 4 to 5 weeks after transplanting. ‘Caliente’ mustard did not supplement weed control or improve bell pepper yield in herbicide-treated plots. There was a significant herbicide selection by application rate interaction for large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) control and bell pepper yield, but only the main effect of herbicide selection and application rate affected the control of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus), yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus), and palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri). Bell pepper injury was not more than 9% from all herbicides and application rates. Except for large crabgrass, control of all weed species improved by increasing the application rate from 1/2× to 1×. S-metolachlor PRE provided more broad-spectrum weed control than other herbicides. Halosulfuron applied PRE or PD was selective to purple nutsedge and yellow nutsedge, whereas trifloxysulfuron performed better than halosulfuron on palmer amaranth and large crabgrass. Plots treated with the 1× rate of S-metolachlor or trifloxysulfuron produced the highest marketable bell pepper yield among the herbicide treatments, but no herbicide treatment allowed for marketable yield equivalent to the weed-free treatment.


2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjeev K. Bangarwa ◽  
Jason K. Norsworthy ◽  
Edward E. Gbur ◽  
Jingying Zhang ◽  
Tsehaye Habtom

Methyl bromide has been a key fumigant for broad-spectrum weed control in polyethylene-mulched bell pepper. However, the ozone-depleting nature of methyl bromide has led to its scheduled phaseout from U.S. agriculture. Thus, an effective alternative to methyl bromide is needed. Field trials were conducted in 2007 and 2009 to evaluate the crop response and weed control efficacy of allyl isothiocyanate (ITC) in polyethylene-mulched bell pepper. The experiment included various combinations of two mulch types (low density polyethylene [LDPE] and virtually impermeable film [VIF] mulch) and six rates of allyl isothiocyanate (0, 15, 75, 150, 750, 1,500 kg ha−1). Additionally, a standard treatment of methyl bromide/chloropicrin (67 : 33%) at 390 kg ha−1 under LDPE mulch was included for comparison. Bell pepper injury was < 3% in all treatments, except 11% injury at 1,500 kg ha−1 allyl isothiocyanate under VIF mulch at 2 wk after transplanting (WATP). VIF mulch did not provide additional weed control and marketable pepper yield over LDPE mulch. Allyl isothiocyanate at 932 (± 127) kg ha−1 controlled yellow nutsedge (90%), Palmer amaranth (97%), and large crabgrass (92%) through 6 WATP and maintained the marketable yield equivalent to methyl bromide treatment. This research demonstrates that allyl ITC under an LDPE mulch can serve as a potential alternative to methyl bromide for weed control in polyethylene-mulched bell pepper.


2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 699-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jared A. Hoyle ◽  
J. Scott McElroy ◽  
J. Jack Rose

Weed control by heat or flaming typically uses flames to burn small weeds, directed away from desired crops. This research studied an enclosed flaming system for weed control before turfgrass establishment. Field research trials were conducted to explore the efficacy of a PL-8750 flame sanitizer at two application timings. Treatments included various application methods of PL-8750 flame sanitizer and common thermal and chemical weed control methods. Data were weed control relative to the control treatment. Species evaluated included carpetweed, Virginia buttonweed, spotted spurge, large crabgrass, goosegrass, old world diamond-flower, cocks-comb kyllinga, and yellow nutsedge. Turfgrass establishment was not successful in summer but was successful in fall. Fall-application timing trials resulted in > 60% tall fescue establishment at 6 wk after seeding (WAS) for all treatments. Summer-application timing trials resulted in unacceptable turfgrass establishment (≤ 18%) for all evaluated turfgrass species at 6 WAS. Broadleaf and grassy weeds were better controlled compared with sedge weeds. Overall, solarization; covered, emerged-weed flaming; and double applications of covered, emerged-weed flaming were the most successful treatments. Solarization controlled carpetweed, Virginia buttonweed, spotted spurge, large crabgrass, and goosegrass > 80% at 6 WAS. Weed control across thermal treatments were equal to or greater than the comparison chemical treatment (dazomet at 389 kg ha−1). Results indicate thermal weed control has potential for reducing weed populations before turfgrass establishment.


2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L. Jordan ◽  
Sarah H. Lancaster ◽  
James E. Lanier ◽  
Bridget R. Lassiter ◽  
P. Dewayne Johnson

Research was conducted in North Carolina to compare weed control by various rates of imazapic POST alone or following diclosulam PRE. In a second experiment, weed control by imazapic applied POST alone or with acifluoren, diclosulam, or 2,4-DB was compared. In a final experiment, yellow nutsedge control by imazapic alone and with the fungicides azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil, pyraclostrobin, and tebuconazole was compared. Large crabgrass was controlled more effectively by imazapic POST than diclosulam PRE. Common lambsquarters, common ragweed, and eclipta were controlled more effectively by diclosulam PRE than imazapic POST. Nodding spurge was controlled similarly by both herbicides. Few differences in control were noted when comparing imazapic rates after diclosulam PRE. Applying either diclosulam PRE or imazapic POST alone or in combination increased peanut yield over nontreated peanut in five of six experiments. Few differences in pod yield were noted when comparing imazapic rates. Acifluorfen, diclosulam, and 2,4-DB did not affect entireleaf morningglory, large crabgrass, nodding spurge, pitted morningglory, and yellow nutsedge control by imazapic. Eclipta control by coapplication of imazapic and diclosulam exceeded control by imazapic alone. The fungicides azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil, pyraclostrobin, and tebuconazole did not affect yellow nutsedge control by imazapic.


2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 764-771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjeev K. Bangarwa ◽  
Jason K. Norsworthy ◽  
Ronald L. Rainey ◽  
Edward E. Gbur

The phase-out of methyl bromide required an effective and economically viable alternative for weed management in polyethylene-mulched tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). A field experiment was conducted to compare economics of tomato production associated with crucifer (Brassicaceae) cover crops under low-density polyethylene mulch (LDPE) and virtually impermeable film (VIF) mulch with a standard treatment of methyl bromide:chloropicrin (67:33) at 350 lb/acre. Three crucifer cover crops, ‘Seventop’ turnip (Brassica rapa), ‘Pacific Gold’ oriental mustard (Brassica juncea), and Caliente [a blend of brown mustard (B. juncea) and white mustard (Sinapis alba)], were evaluated in combination with hand-weeding. Because of marginal weed control from crucifer cover crops, hand-weeding cost in all cover crop plots, regardless of mulch type, increased from $380.54/acre to $489.10/acre over that in methyl bromide plots. However, total weed management costs in the untreated control and cover crops with LDPE treatments were $17.82/acre to $111.33/acre lower than methyl bromide. Because of mulch expenses, VIF mulch increased the total weed management cost by $328.16/acre over LDPE mulch in the untreated control and cover crop treatments. Because of equivalent marketable yield, gross returns ($21,040.43/acre) were identical in all treatments. Preplant fumigation with methyl bromide provided $6260.90/acre of net returns in tomato production. The untreated control, ‘Seventop’ turnip, ‘Pacific Gold’ oriental mustard, and Caliente mustard under LDPE treatment were $54/acre, $54/acre, $98/acre, and $147/acre more profitable, respectively, than methyl bromide. However, in all other treatments under VIF, net returns relative to methyl bromide were reduced from $181/acre to $274/acre. Therefore, regardless of soil amendment with crucifer cover crops, hand-weeding can serve as an economically viable alternative to methyl bromide for weed control in LDPE-mulched tomato production, depending on the nature and level of pest infestation, labor availability, and wages.


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