scholarly journals Sustainable alternatives to chemicals for weed control in the orchard – a Review 

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Jebu Mia ◽  
Francesca Massetani ◽  
Giorgio Murri ◽  
Davide Neri

This review is designed to address various alternative weed-control practices and their possibilities in the fruit orchard in terms of sustainability. Correct weed management and maintenance of adequate orchard biodiversity are crucial for sustainable orchard soil management. The key is to practice an alternative weed-management approach (single or integrated) rather than to use possibly harmful chemicals only. Integration of modern equipment with a shallow tillage system can provide effective weed control in tree rows, including optimised tree performance and soil biodiversity. Living mulch suppresses weeds and enhances orchard biodiversity, while selection of less competitive and less pest-attracting species is crucial. Plastic covers offer long-term weed control, but additional nutrient amendments are required to maintain the balanced fertility of the soil. Wood chip mulch is suggested where the materials are available on or near the farm, and where there is lower incidence of perennial weeds. High pressure water and robotic systems are still in their infancy for fruit orchards, and required more research to confirm their efficiency.

Weed management is a new term for the age-old practice of employing all available means, in a planned way, to keep weed populations under control. It seeks to distinguish the systematic approach to weed control, based on scientific knowledge and rational strategies, from the pragmatic destruction of weeds. The remarkable efficiency of herbicides has in recent years emphasized the latter and allowed revolutionary methods of crop production to be practised. These have, however, led to serious new weed problems which in turn require more intensive herbicide use. The need for a weed management approach is increasingly recognized. New opportunities for this are provided by the availability of numerous herbicides and plant growth regulators and a growing understanding of the biology, ecology and population dynamics of weeds in relation to crop production systems. Examples discussed include: systematic control of grass weeds in intensive cereals in Britain, weed control in rice and in soybeans, the control of aquatic weeds by biological and chemical methods and an experimental zero-tillage cropping system for the humid tropics based on herbicides, growth regulators and ground-cover leguminous crops. In such management systems, interference of weed behaviour by exogenous growth regulators is likely to be of increasing significance. Constraints on the adoption of weed management practices include lack of support for weed science as a discipline, limited appeal to the agrochemical industry and inadequate extension services in many countries.


2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Byrne ◽  
J. Spink ◽  
R. Freckleton ◽  
P. Neve ◽  
S. Barth

AbstractGrass weeds affect arable crops throughout the world, inflicting yield penalties, reducing crop quality and taking available nutrients away from the growing crop. Recently in Ireland, the presence of herbicide resistance in grass weeds has been noted. In order to preserve the sustainability of crop production in Ireland, an integrated pest management approach must be implemented. How this applies to control grass weeds was the focus of this review. Here we examined the state of current research into grass weed biology and the nature of herbicide resistance, identifying gaps in research in the Irish context. We identified a number of cultural grass weed control techniques, as being relevant to the Irish mode of crop production. Crop rotation, cultivation techniques, manipulation of sowing dates and increased crop competition were recognised as useful strategies. Combining these strategies to provide effective grass weed control may be key to reduce dependence on herbicides.


2015 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 19-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhagirath Singh Chauhan ◽  
Sharif Ahmed ◽  
Tahir Hussain Awan ◽  
Khawar Jabran ◽  
Sudheesh Manalil

HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 458a-458
Author(s):  
Charlotte Herman ◽  
Emily Hoover

The objective of our study was to establish first year strawberry plantings without using herbicides. `Honeyoye' transplants were set into plots measuring 6.1m × 7.32m on 21 May, 1993. Four treatments were established: winter wheat, a dwarf Brassica sp., napropamide (2.24kg/h), and no weed management. After the strawberry plants, cover crops (and some weeds) were fairly well established, (18 June) 6 week-old African “weeder” geese were put into half of each plot to graze. Weekly data was taken on the percentage of soil area covered with plant material, height and stage of development of plants, and weeds present. A weed transect was done in 6 July. Plant material was collected from each plot on 26 July and 16 Sept. in a 0.2m2 area, and dried. The most promising cover crop treatment was the dwarf Brassica for early season weed control. However, the herbicide treatment with no geese produced the best strawberry plant growth.


2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Drew J. Lyon ◽  
Frank L. Young

Spring barley can be used to diversify and intensify winter wheat-based production systems in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The objective of this study was to describe the effects of tillage system and weed management level (WML) on weed control and spring barley grain yield when grown in a winter wheat-spring barley-spring dry pea rotation. A long-term integrated pest management field study examined the effects of three WMLs (minimum, moderate, and maximum) and two tillage systems (conservation and conventional) on weed control and barley grain yield. Total weed biomass at harvest was 8.0 and 59.7 g m−2for the maximum and minimum WMLs, respectively, in the conservation tillage system, but was similar and averaged 12.2 g m−2for all three WMLs in the conventional tillage system. Despite greater weed biomass with minimum weed management in the conservation tillage system, barley grain yields averaged 5,060 and 4,780 kg ha−1for the conservation tillage and conventional tillage systems, respectively. The benefits of conservation tillage require adequate herbicide inputs.


2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 320-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gladis M. Zinati ◽  
Rita Seidel ◽  
Alison Grantham ◽  
Jeff Moyer ◽  
Victoria J. Ackroyd ◽  
...  

A cereal rye cover crop mulch can suppress summer annual weeds early in the soybean growing season. However, a multi-tactic weed management approach is required when annual weed seedbanks are large or perennial weeds are present. In such situations, the weed suppression from a cereal rye mulch can be supplemented with the use of high-residue cultivators which can prolong the weed-free period during soybean growth. Research trials were conducted to determine the optimum timing of high-residue cultivation for weed control in rolled-crimped cereal rye mulches. Treatments included three cultivation timings with a high-residue cultivator: early (3-4 wk after soybean planting (WAP)), intermediate (5-6 WAP), and late (7-8 WAP), a weed-free and no-cultivation control. Crop and weed measurement included cereal rye biomass, weed biomass, soybean population and biomass, and yield. Cereal rye biomass was 50% lower and weed biomass was three times greater in 2011 than in 2010 and 2012 due to 2011 being a dry year. There was no significant effect of cultivation timing on soybean population when compared to no-cultivation or hand-weeded treatments. While cultivation reduced weed biomass by 67% compared to no-cultivation, soybean yield was only improved by 12% in early and late cultivation treatments and 22% in intermediate cultivation treatment when compared to no-cultivation. Effective strategies for improving weed management by integrating the use of a high-residue cultivator in no-till organic systems could help existing organic field crop producers to reduce tillage while also encourage adoption of organic crop production by conventional growers who prefer reduced-tillage systems. Unlike traditional organic cultivation equipment, therefore, optimal timing of cultivation should be delayed several weeks in organic cover crop-based no-till planted soybean production as compared to the typical tillage-based approach to ensure both weed control and optimal yield.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 329-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis KANATAS ◽  
Ilias TRAVLOS ◽  
Panayiota PAPASTYLIANOU ◽  
Ioannis GAZOULIS ◽  
Ioanna KAKABOUKI ◽  
...  

In the field of Agricultural University of Athens, the effects of false seedbed technique, stale seedbed, chemical and ecologically based control on weed growth and soybean yield were evaluated (2019). The experimental treatments were: normal seedbed, normal seedbed along with pre-emergence chemical control, false seedbed, stale seedbed with glyphosate and stale seedbed with pelargonic acid. In the plots of normal seedbed along with pre-emergence chemical control, pendimethalin was applied at rate of 1560 g a.i. ha-1. In the plots of stale seedbed with glyphosate, glyphosate was applied at a rate of 2160 g a.e. ha-1 and in the plots of stale seedbed with pelargonic acid, pelargonic acid was applied at a rate of 31020 g a.i. ha-1. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The results revealed that stale seedbed combined either with glyphosate or pelargonic acid application reduced annual weeds’ density by 94 and 95% as compared to normal seedbed. Stale seedbed along with pelargonic acid reduced the density of perennial weeds by 36, 38 and 41% as compared to the combination of normal seedbed and pre-emergence chemical control, normal seedbed and false seedbed, respectively. The application of glyphosate in stale seedbed plots was also effective against perennial weeds. It was also observed that stale seedbed along with glyphosate increased soybean seed yield by 17, 19 and 35% as compared to the combination of normal seedbed and pendimethalin application, false seedbed and normal seedbed, respectively. Beneficial were also the effects of the combination of stale seedbed and pelargonic acid not only on soybean seed yield but also on soybean protein content. Further research is needed in order to investigate the role of false and stale seedbeds as integrated weed management practices in various crops and under different soil and climatic conditions. Research is also needed to evaluate pelargonic acid for weed control in stale seedbeds since it is an eco-friendly herbicide with no restrictions for organic farming.


EDIS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Ferrell ◽  
Gregory MacDonald ◽  
Pratap Devkota

Successful weed control in small grains involves using good management practices in all phases of production. In Florida, winter weeds compete with small grains for moisture, nutrients, and light, with the greatest amount of competition occurring during the first six to eight weeks after planting. Weeds also cause harvest problems the following spring when the small grain is mature. This 4-page publication discusses crop competition, knowing your weeds, and chemical control. Written by J. A. Ferrell, G. E. MacDonald, and P. Devkota, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised May 2020.


EDIS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pratap Devkota

Successful weed control in peanuts involves use of good management practices in all phases of peanut production. This 11-page document lists herbicide products registered for use in Florida peanut production, their mode of actions group, application rate per acre and per season, and reentry interval. It also discusses the performance of these herbicides on several weeds under Florida conditions. Written by J. A. Ferrell, G. E. MacDonald, and P. Devkota, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised May 2020.


2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-210
Author(s):  
Rajib Kundu ◽  
Mousumi Mondal ◽  
Sourav Garai ◽  
Ramyajit Mondal ◽  
Ratneswar Poddar

Field experiments were conducted at research farm of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal, India (22°97' N latitude and 88°44' E longitude, 9.75 m above mean sea level) under natural weed infestations in boro season rice (nursery bed as well as main field) during 2017-18 and 2018-19 to evaluate the herbicidal effects on weed floras, yield, non-target soil organisms to optimize the herbicide use for sustainable rice-production. Seven weed control treatments including three doses of bispyribac-sodium 10% SC (150,200, and 250 ml ha-1), two doses of fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 9.3% EC (500 and 625 ml ha-1), one weed free and weedy check were laid out in a randomized complete block design, replicated thrice. Among the tested herbicides, bispyribac-sodium with its highest dose (250 ml ha-1) resulted in maximum weed control efficiency, treatment efficiency index and crop resistance index irrespective of weed species and dates of observation in both nursery as well as main field. Similar treatment also revealed maximum grain yield (5.20 t ha-1), which was 38.38% higher than control, closely followed by Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl (625 ml ha-1) had high efficacy against grasses, sedge and broadleaf weed flora. Maximum net return (Rs. 48765 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (1.72) were obtained from the treatment which received bispyribac-sodium @ 250 ml ha-1. Based on overall performance, the bispyribac-sodium (250 ml ha-1) may be considered as the best herbicide treatment for weed management in transplanted rice as well as nursery bed.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document