WEED MANAGEMENT IN ORGANIC ONION PRODUCTION: OPTIMIZING CULTIVATION TECHNIQUE AND MECHANICAL WEED CONTROL TO REDUCE HAND LABOUR

Abstract Successful establishment of hardwood plantations requires effective weed management. Mechanical weed control is inefficient, and few herbicides are available for use in hardwood plantations. In an effort to identify new chemical control options, the potential of imazapyr (Chopper herbicide) for site preparation prior to planting three common southern hardwood species was assessed. Twelve site preparation treatments were tested using Chopper applied at four rates and three timings prior to planting. Each site preparation rate and time pairing was repeated under two postplant herbicide regimes—directed glyphosate (Accord herbicide) sprays designed to maintain weed-free conditions and a single broadcast sulfometuron methyl (Oust herbicide) treatment designed to test a potential operational sequencing of Chopper site preparation followed by herbaceous weed control. Although results must be evaluated in the context of a single site and set of environmental conditions, they demonstrate the utility of Chopper herbicide for site preparation prior to planting hardwoods. For sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.)and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.),site preparation before the end of July with Chopper rates up to 64 oz/ac improved survival and growth over postplant treatments alone. For later season applications, sycamore and sweetgum were more sensitive to the Chopper site preparation rate. For Oct. site preparation, Chopper rates above 16 oz/ac adversely affected planted sycamore seedlings and rates greater than 32 oz/ac adversely effected planted sweetgum seedlings. Cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda Raf.)performed best using the highest Chopper rate of 64 oz/ac regardless of timing. South. J. Appl. For. 28(3):163–170.

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The effects in a long-term trial of minimum and reduced cultivation on wheat yields

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea9770802 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 17 (88) ◽

pp. 802 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

DL Rowell ◽

GJ Osborne ◽

PG Matthews ◽

WC Stonebridge ◽

AA McNeil

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Linear Increase ◽

The Other ◽

Wagga Wagga ◽

South Wales ◽

Cultivation Technique ◽

Term Trial ◽

The Difference ◽

Mechanical Weed Control

A trial was established at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales in 1967 to examine the value of the bipyridilium herbicides as substitutes for mechanical weed control in an extended cropping phase of a cereal/clover ley rotation. The experiment was continued for seven years and the results indicate that herbicides can successfully substitute for mechanical weed control. Direct drilling with a tined combine/seeder into a sprayed but undisturbed seed bed yielded an average of 1.97 tonnes of grain per hectare over seven years compared with 2.02 tonnes per hectare in the mechanically prepared or cultivated seed bed. The difference in yield was not significant. Direct seeding with a triple disc seeder following spraying of an undisturbed seed bed gave significantly lower yields than the other minimum tillage treatments. This minimum cultivation treatment was not successful because of poor plant establishment, possibly emphasized by restricted root growth. A reduced cultivation technique-cultivate-spray-drill-which was included in the trial over the last five years, gave comparable yields, 2.1 7 compared with 1.90 tonnes per hectare, to those obtained by conventional cultivation methods. There were no significant increases in yield with added nitrogen in a dry season, but in four out of the other six years there was significant linear increase in yield with increasing nitrogen rate. There was no significant interaction between cultivation method and applied nitrogen, indicating that neither minimum nor reduced cultivation increased the requirement for nitrogen fertilizer. The results are discussed in terms of mechanical aspects that will allow greater disturbance of the soil beneath the seed with a view to obtaining optimum root development.

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Effects of Preplant and Postplant Rotary Hoe Use on Weed Control, Soybean Pod Position, and Soybean Yield

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-08-132.1 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 57 (3) ◽

pp. 290-295 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

George T. Place ◽

S. Chris Reberg-Horton ◽

Michael G. Burton

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Weed Control ◽

Weed Management ◽

Southeastern United States ◽

Soybean Plant ◽

Plant Populations ◽

Soybean Yield ◽

Soybean Production ◽

Soybean Canopy ◽

Mechanical Weed Control

Demand for organic food products has consistently increased for more than 20 yr. The largest obstacle to organic soybean production in the southeastern United States is weed management. Current organic soybean production relies on mechanical weed control, including multiple postplant rotary hoe uses. Although postplant rotary hoe use is effective at the weed germination stage, its efficacy is severely compromised by delays due to weather. Preplant rotary hoeing is also a practice that has been utilized for weed control but the effectiveness of this practice to reduce the need for multiple postplant rotary hoeing for organic soybean production in the southeastern United States has not been investigated. Preplant rotary hoe treatments included a weekly rotary hoeing 4 wk before planting, 2 wk before planting, and none. Postplant rotary hoe treatments consisted of zero, one, two, three, and four postplant rotary hoe uses. Weed control was increased with preplant rotary hoeing at Plymouth in 2006 and 2007 but this effect disappeared with the first postplant rotary hoeing. Multiple postplant rotary hoe uses decreased soybean plant populations, decreased soybean canopy height, lowered soybean pod position, and decreased soybean yield. Plant mapping revealed that the percentage of total nodes and pods below 30 cm was increased by increased frequency of postplant rotary hoe use.

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A Review of Weed Management Challenges in Organic Peanut Production

Peanut Science ◽

10.3146/ps18-12.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 56-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

W. Carroll Johnson

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Weed Management ◽

Cropping System ◽

Organic Production ◽

Integrated System ◽

Integrated Weed Management ◽

Annual Grasses ◽

Peanut Production ◽

Certified Organic ◽

Mechanical Weed Control

ABSTRACT Organic peanut production is a high-risk cropping system, largely due to difficulties in managing weeds using methods acceptable for certified-organic production. In contrast with conventional peanut production that relies heavily on synthetic herbicides, organic peanut production must use an integrated system to manage weeds. The foundation for an integrated weed management system is cultural weed control which is a system of production practices that promote uniform peanut growth to suppress weeds. Cultural weed control includes practices that promote vigorous early-season peanut growth and lessen chances for weed escapes. Mechanical weed control is based on repeated cultivation using a tine weeder and sweep cultivator to control weeds before they emerge. However, weed control consistency from cultivation is affected by rainfall that can delay scheduled cultivations and hinder implement function. Handweeding is also a form of mechanical weed control that is used to supplement other weed control efforts by controlling escapes. Herbicides derived from natural products and thermal weed control using propane flaming have limited value in organic peanut production due to limited weed control spectra, specifically poor control of annual grasses and perennial weeds. Successful weed management in certified organic peanut production will depend on an integrated system, not a single form of weed control.

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Cultural Practices and Mechanical Weed Control for the Management of a Low-Diversity Weed Community in Spinach

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d13120616 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 616

Author(s):

Ioannis Gazoulis ◽

Panagiotis Kanatas ◽

Nikolaos Antonopoulos

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Weed Management ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Spinacia Oleracea ◽

Row Spacing ◽

Weed Biomass ◽

Weed Communities ◽

Spinacia Oleracea L ◽

Low Diversity ◽

Mechanical Weed Control

Low-diversity weed communities are dominated by few species that are highly competitive to crops. The management of such weed communities should rely upon sustainable cultural and non-chemical practices, especially in crops such as spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), where very few herbicides are available. A two-year field trial (2020 and 2021) was conducted to evaluate different fertilization practices (broadcast and banded), intra-row spacings (15 cm, 11 cm, 7 cm), and mechanical weed control treatments (untreated, one treatment, two treatments) for the management of a low-diversity weed community in spinach. Weed competition severely affected spinach commercial biomass (R2 = 0.845). Compared to broadcast fertilization, banded fertilization reduced weed biomass and improved spinach yield and nitrogen use efficiency. Narrow intra-row spacing (7-cm) reduced weed biomass by 28 and 45% compared to intra-row spacings of 11-cm and 15-cm, respectively. Two mechanical weed control treatments resulted in 49% lower weed biomass compared to a single treatment. Commercial biomass increased with decreasing intra-row spacing (R2 = 0.881) and increasing the number of mechanical treatments (R2 = 0.911). More cultural and non-chemical practices should be evaluated for weed management in spinach, especially at sites infested with low-diversity weed communities.

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Influence of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) and common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) density variation on weed management outcomes

Weed Science ◽

10.1017/s004317450009069x ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 81-89 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

J. Anita Dieleman ◽

David A. Mortensen ◽

Alex R. Martin

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Weed Management ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Absolute Number ◽

Density Variation ◽

Seedling Density ◽

Research Findings ◽

Weed Infestation ◽

Density Patch ◽

Mechanical Weed Control

Interactions between initial weed seedling density and postemergence herbicide and mechanical weed control were studied in two field experiments conducted between 1994 and 1996. Increasing seedbank densities of velvetleaf (0 to 500 seed m–2) in soybean or common sunflower (250 to 2,500 seed 1.3 m–2) in corn or soybean were established at Lincoln and Mead, NE, respectively. Emerged seedlings were treated with increasing intensities of weed control from none to bentazon alone or with interrow cultivation. A positive linear relationship between initial seedling density and density of surviving seedlings was consistently observed. As initial seedling density increased, more survivors were present after treatment. As intensity of weed control increased, the number of seedling survivors decreased. Resulting reproductive fitness decreased with increasing management intensity but remained positive when regressed against surviving seedling densities. Weed management outcomes were dependent on initial seedling density, such that the absolute number of survivors increased, while proportion of survivors appeared constant within the density ranges studied. These research findings emphasize the need to account for weed infestation level when assessing efficacy of weed management systems and provide evidence that patchy weed distributions may persist in part because of the need for considerably higher management intensities in high density patch centers.

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Economic evaluation of different strategy for weed management in garlic production

Zbornik Veleučilišta u Rijeci ◽

10.31784/zvr.8.1.5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 445-454

Author(s):

Edita Štefanić ◽

Đorđe Maletić ◽

Dinko Zima ◽

Ivan Štefanić

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Weed Management ◽

Block Design ◽

Ambrosia Artemisiifolia ◽

Management Options ◽

Chemical Application ◽

Weed Biomass ◽

Weed Density ◽

Density And Biomass ◽

Mechanical Weed Control

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate various weed management options on garlic (Alium sativum L.) production in Northeastern Croatia. This study focus on how different strategies of weed control affects weed community composition and economic benefit of weed management. An experiment was arranged as a complete block design with three different weed management strategies: chemical control (PRE EM and POST EM), mechanical control (three times during the season), and combination of chemical and mechanical treatments, together with weeded checks. Data on weed density, fresh above weed biomass and garlic yield per m2 were collected at the end of the growing season, and were subjected to statistical and economic analysis. The mayor weeds found in the experimental plots were: Sorghum halepense, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Cirsium arvense and Chenopodium album. The various weed growth (density and biomass) and yield varied with application of weed management practices. Significantly lower values of weed density and fresh above weed biomass were recorded on plots with mechanical and combination of chemical and mechanical treatments compared to weeded check. Chemical application gave in this study insufficient weed control and resulted in lower yields compared to the mechanical treatments and combination of mechanical and mechanical weed control. The best cost: benefit ratio was observed on treatment with combination of chemical and mechanical weed control and can be successfully applied to boost up the bulb yield in garlic and to harvest the maximum profit for farmers.

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Effect of Date of Preplant Tillage and Planting on Weed Populations and Mechanical Weed Control in Soybean (Glycine max)

Weed Science ◽

10.1017/s0043174500094029 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 373-379 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Douglas D. Buhler ◽

Jeffery L. Gunsolus

Keyword(s):

Glycine Max ◽

Weed Control ◽

Weed Management ◽

Field Research ◽

Planting Date ◽

Management Systems ◽

Yield Losses ◽

Additional Information ◽

Herbicide Treatment ◽

Mechanical Weed Control

Additional information on mechanical weed management systems is needed so producers can develop systems that meet their production and weed control goals without sacrificing profitability. Field research was conducted at Rosemount, MN, in 1989, 1990, and 1991 to determine the effect of preplant tillage and soybean planting date on weed populations and effectiveness of mechanical weed control operations. Delaying soybean planting from mid-May to early-June reduced weed densities and yield losses from weeds. Weed control with a herbicide treatment was not affected by planting date, but control with rotary hoeing and cultivation was often increased by delaying soybean planting. Early-planted soybean usually yielded better following herbicide treatment than mechanical weed control. However, when preplant tillage and planting were delayed, weed densities were reduced and mechanical weed control operations usually resulted in soybean yield similar to the herbicide treatment. While delaying soybean planting reduced weed densities and improved mechanical weed control, there is potential for reduced soybean yields with delayed planting.

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Efficacy and Cost of Cultivators, Steam, or an Organic Herbicide for Weed Control in Organic Vineyards in the San Joaquin Valley of California

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.23.1.99 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 99-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Anil Shrestha ◽

S. Kaan Kurtural ◽

Matthew W. Fidelibus ◽

Geoffrey Dervishian ◽

Srinivasa Konduru

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Weed Management ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Wine Grape ◽

Control Methods ◽

Stem Water Potential ◽

Main Plot ◽

Petiole Nitrate Concentration ◽

Time Required ◽

Mechanical Weed Control

Weed management is an important problem faced by organic grape (Vitis vinifera) growers as there are few effective and economic options available. However, new organically acceptable weed control products have become available in recent years. Several studies were conducted to compare the efficacy of two mechanical weed control methods (French plow and Bezzerides tree and vine cultivator) with steam, and an organic herbicide (d-limonene) in organic raisin and wine grape vineyards. The experiments were designed as split plots with the aforementioned treatments as main plots with additional weed control treatments (handhoeing and no handhoeing in the raisin grape vineyards; hoeing, no hoeing, steam, and d-limonene in the wine grape vineyard) one month after the main plot treatment as subplots. The plow provided the greatest level of weed control among the treatments followed by the cultivator. The time required to hoe mechanically cultivated plots was also generally lower than the other treatments. Steam and herbicide only suppressed weeds for 2–3 weeks, and the time needed to hoe plots in these treatments was generally similar to the untreated control at all sampling dates. The mechanical treatments also were two to four times more cost-effective than steam or herbicide. Therefore, mechanical treatments were the most effective and economical weed control methods, though none of the treatments affected vine growth, midday stem water potential, petiole nitrate concentration at bloom, grape yield, or quality.

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