(219) Organic Watermelon Production Systems: Varieties and Weed Control

The increasing perception by consumers that organic food tastes better and is healthier continues to expand the demand for organically produced crops. The objective of these experiments was to investigate the impact of different weed control systems on yields of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus) varieties grown organically. Six watermelon varieties were transplanted at two locations (Lane and Center Point, Okla.). The six varieties included three seeded varieties (`Early Moonbeam', `Sugar Baby', and `Allsweet') and three seedless varieties (`Triple Crown', `Triple Prize', and `Triple Star'). The weed control system at Lane utilized black plastic mulch on the crop row, while the area between rows was cultivated to control weeds. The no-till organic system at Center Point used a mowed rye and vetch cover crop, hand weeding, and vinegar (5% acetic acid) for weed control. When averaged across watermelon varieties, Lane produced significantly more fruit per plant (4.2 vs. 2.3 fruit/plant), greater marketable yields (16.0 vs. 8.4 kg/plants), and higher average marketable weight per fruit (6.1 vs. 4.0 kg) than at Center Point. When comparing locations, four of six varieties had significantly greater number of fruit per plant and higher marketable yields at Lane than at Center Point. Except for `Early Moonbeam', all other varieties produced significantly heavier fruit at Lane than at Center Point. In contrast, the Center Point location produced a greater percentage of marketable fruit for all varieties except `Allsweet'. Fruit quality (lycopene and °Brix) was as good or greater when harvested from the weedier Center Point location.

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Cultural Conditions Contributing to Vine Decline Syndrome in Watermelon

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.40.3.597 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

pp. 597-601 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Srinivas N. Makam ◽

Wendy Ann Peer ◽

Joshua J. Blakeslee ◽

Angus S. Murphy

Keyword(s):

Cultural Practices ◽

Citrullus Lanatus ◽

Defense Responses ◽

In Planta ◽

Fresh Weight ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Cultural Conditions ◽

Vine Decline ◽

Black Plastic ◽

The Impact

Since the mid-1980s, a syndrome known as mature watermelon vine decline (MWVD) has had a serious effect on watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.) crops in Southern Indiana. As efforts to identify a pathogen responsible for MWVD have been unsuccessful, we have examined cultural conditions that might contribute to the syndrome. Field conditions were simulated in greenhouse pot trials to assess the impact of one or more factors on watermelon growth. Alone, low organic matter, soil acidity, black plastic mulch, and liming did not significantly affect root fresh weight; however, when these conditions were combined, root fresh weight was significantly reduced. Alanap-treated watermelons in combination with simulated cultural conditions resulted in further reduction of root fresh weight and had symptoms similar to MWVD. Watermelon plants grown in Alanap-treated, aged soil (from the previous year's experiments) under combined deficient cultural conditions demonstrated increased symptoms of MWVD and susceptibility to the pathogens Rhizoctonia and Pythium spp. Alanap, N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA), is a preemergent herbicide that functions as an inhibitor of auxin efflux and is widely used by watermelon farmers to impede obnoxious weeds. Metabolism of Alanap in planta involves aryl amidases (aminopeptidases) that also function in defense responses. We hypothesize that negative cultural practices are likely to inhibit defense responses and watermelon resistance to residual Alanap, leading to MWVD. We suggest that MWVD incidence is increased by certain common cultural conditions and that the incidence of MWVD can be reduced by altering these cultural practices.

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Efficacy of Herbicides for Weed Control in Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.)

International Journal of Plant & Soil Science ◽

10.9734/ijpss/2021/v33i2030646 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 199-204

Author(s):

K. Choube ◽

D. K. Raidas ◽

M. L. Jadav ◽

N. S. Kirar

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Weed Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Block Design ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Net Return ◽

Randomized Block Design ◽

Black Plastic ◽

Hand Weeding

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi, 2018-19 at Horticulture farm, RAK College of Agriculture, Sehore (M.P.) to study the effect of different weed management practices on growth and yield of cauliflower. The treatments namely - T1- Weedy check (control), T2- Weed free (through hand weeding) at 30 & 60 DAT, T3 -Pendimethalin 30% EC (PE) + one hand weeding at 30 DAT, T4 Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC (PE) + one hand weeding at 30 DAT, T5 - Propaquizafop 10% EC (POE) + one hand weeding at 60 DAT, T6 -Wheat straw mulch 5kg/plot, T7- Black plastic mulch (150 mm) were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications. Results indicated that the there was no weed under T7 -black plastic mulch (150 mm) at all the stages. The maximum weed control efficiency (98%) was found with the treatment T7 - black plastic mulch (150 mm) at all the stages i.e. at 30, 60 and 90 DAT. The minimum weed index (0.00, 0.00 and 0.00%) was found with the treatment T7 (Black plastic mulch (150 mm) at all the stages. The maximum curd length, curd width, total curd weight (g) and curd yield (q ha-1) was recorded T7- black plastic mulch (150 mm) with the maximum net return (Rs. 75772.58 per ha).While the lowest net return was found under T1 (Weedy check) (Rs. 21405.34 per ha) treatment. The maximum B: C ratio (1:4.0) was recorded in case of treatment T3 [Pendimethalin 30% EC (PE) + 1HW at 30 DAT].

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Can hemp hurd or paper mulch and biochar application improve weed management in matted-row strawberry production systems?

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170521000533 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Greta G. Gramig ◽

Samantha K. Hogstad ◽

Patrick M. Carr

Keyword(s):

Weed Management ◽

Production Systems ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Yield Data ◽

Weed Biomass ◽

Soil Temperatures ◽

The Impact ◽

Hemp Hurd ◽

Amended Soil

Abstract During 2015 and 2016, studies were conducted at Absaraka and Dickinson, North Dakota to evaluate the impacts of hemp (applied at 1156 m3 ha−1) and commercial paper mulch, as well as soil-applied biochar (applied at 11.25 m3 ha−1), on weed suppression and strawberry growth during the establishment year, and on weed suppression and strawberry yield during the production year, in a matted row production (MRP) system. During 2015, biochar influenced dry weed biomass only within the hemp mulch, with slightly more weed biomass associated with biochar application compared to zero biochar (3.1 vs 0.4 g m−2), suggesting that biochar may have increased weed germination and/or emergence from beneath hemp mulch. Biochar application also slightly increased soil pH, from 6.9 in non-amended soil to 7.0 in amended soil. Strawberry runner number during 2015 was greater in association with hemp or paper mulch compared to zero mulch (4.5 and 4.9 vs 2.4 runners plant −1, respectively). This result mirrored a similar differential in per berry mass across sites (7.6 and 7.4 vs 6.2 g berry −1 for hemp mulch, paper mulch and zero mulch, respectively). These results may be related to hemp and paper mulch reducing maximum soil temperatures during summer 2015. During the establishment year, both hemp and paper mulch suppressed weeds well compared to zero mulch, although at Absaraka hemp mulch provided slightly better weed suppression than paper mulch. During the production year, both mulches continued to suppress weeds compared to zero mulch at Dickinson. However, at Absaraka, only hemp mulch provided weed suppression compared to zero mulch, possibly because of faster paper degradation caused by greater numbers of large precipitation events and greater relative humidity at Absaraka compared to Dickinson. Weeds were removed from plots during 2015 to allow separation of weed suppression from other possible mulch impacts; therefore, yield data do not reveal striking differences among mulch treatments. Because previous research has demonstrated the impact of weed management during the establishment of strawberries in a matted row system, we concluded that hemp mulch may provide more durable weed suppression compared to paper mulch, which would increase strawberry yield protection in an MRP system. Material cost may be an issue for implementing hemp mulch, as hemp hurd cost was 25 times paper mulch at the application rates used in this study. However, hemp mulch could still be a beneficial option, especially for organic strawberry growers desiring a renewable and environmentally sound replacement for plastic mulch who are able to find affordable local sources of this material.

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Occurrence and Dispersal of Indicator Bacteria on Cucumbers Grown Horizontally or Vertically on Various Mulch Types

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-16-106 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 79 (10) ◽

pp. 1663-1672 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

SHIRLEY A. MICALLEF ◽

MARY THERESA CALLAHAN ◽

SIVARANJANI PAGADALA

Keyword(s):

Production System ◽

Production Systems ◽

Field Trials ◽

Dairy Manure ◽

Bare Ground ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Dispersal Patterns ◽

E Coli ◽

Thermotolerant Coliforms ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACT No data exist on the impact of cultivation practices on food safety risks associated with cucumber. Cucumbers are typically grown horizontally over a mulch cover, with fruit touching the ground, but this vining plant grows well in vertical systems. To assess whether production system affects bacterial dispersal onto plants, field trials were conducted over 2 years. Cucumber cultivar ‘Marketmore 76’ was grown horizontally on plastic, straw, or bare ground or vertically on trellises installed on bare ground in soil previously amended with raw dairy manure. Fruit, flower, leaf, and soil samples were collected to quantify Escherichia coli, thermotolerant coliforms, and enterococci by direct plating. E. coli isolates were characterized by BOX-PCR to evaluate relatedness among strains. Although thermotolerant coliforms and enterococci were significantly less abundant on fruit in year 1 (P < 0.05), this result was not seen in year 2 when more rain was recorded. Instead, fruit from straw-mulched beds had higher levels of enterococci compared with fruit grown on bare ground (P < 0.05). Leaves on bare ground occasionally had more bacteria than did leaves on plastic mulch beds (P < 0.05). Production system did not impact flower-associated bacterial levels. E. coli isolates (n =127) were genotyped, generating 21 distinct fingerprints. Vertical production did not appear to be a barrier for E. coli dispersal to the crop, as suggested by numerous related isolates from soil and flowers on bare ground, straw-mulched, and trellised beds (subcluster B1). None of the isolates from soil and flowers in this subcluster were related to isolates recovered from fruit, showing that flower colonization does not necessarily lead to fruit colonization. One cluster of isolates contained those from flowers and fruits but not soil, indicating a source other than manure-amended soil. Straw may be a source of E. coli; a number of closely related E. coli isolates were retrieved from soil and fruits from straw-mulched beds. Our approach revealed E. coli dispersal patterns and could be used to assess bacterial transmission in other production systems.

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Weed Management in Cranberries: A Historical Perspective and a Look to the Future

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture8090138 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (9) ◽

pp. 138 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hilary Sandler

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Precision Agriculture ◽

Weed Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Integrated Weed Management ◽

Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽

Early 19Th Century ◽

Research Areas ◽

Hand Weeding ◽

The Impact

Integrated weed management (IWM) has been part of cranberry cultivation since its inception in the early 19th century. Proper site and cultivar selection, good drainage, rapid vine establishment, and hand weeding are as important now for successful weed management as when the industry first started. In 1940, Extension publications listed eight herbicides (e.g., petroleum-based products, inorganic salts and sulfates) for weed control. Currently, 18 herbicides representing 11 different modes of action are registered for use on cranberries. Nonchemical methods, such as hand weeding, sanding, flooding, and proper fertilization, remain integral for managing weed populations; new tactics such as flame cultivation have been added to the toolbox. Priority ratings have been developed to aid in weed management planning. Despite many efforts, biological control of weeds remains elusive on the commercial scale. Evaluation of new herbicides, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), image analysis, and precision agriculture technology; investigation of other management practices for weeds and their natural enemies; utilization of computational decision making and Big Data; and determination of the impact of climate change are research areas whose results will translate into new use recommendations for the weed control of cranberry.

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Weed Management Practices for Organic Production of Trailing Blackberry, II. Accumulation and Loss of Biomass and Nutrients

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.49.1.35 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 35-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Renee H. Harkins ◽

Bernadine C. Strik ◽

David R. Bryla

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Weed Management ◽

Management Strategy ◽

Organic Production ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

First Year ◽

The Third ◽

Leaf Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Hand Weeding ◽

The Impact

A study was conducted in western Oregon to assess the impact of cultivar and weed management strategy on accumulation and loss of plant biomass and nutrients during the first 3 years of establishment when using organic fertilizer. The study was conducted in trailing blackberry (Rubus L. subgenus Rubus Watson) planted in May 2010 and certified organic in May 2012. Treatments included two cultivars, Marion and Black Diamond, each with either no weed control after the first year after planting or with weeds managed by hand-weeding or the use of weed mat. Each treatment was amended with organically approved fertilizers at pre-plant and was drip-fertigated with fish emulsion each spring. Most primocane leaf nutrient concentrations were within the range recommended for blackberry. However, leaf nitrogen (N) was low in ‘Black Diamond’, especially when grown without weed control, whereas leaf boron (B) was low in all treatments. In many cases, leaf nutrient concentrations were affected by cultivar and weed management in both the primocanes and the floricanes. The concentration of several nutrients in the fruit differed between cultivars, including calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), B, and zinc (Zn), but only fruit Ca was affected by weed management and only in ‘Marion’. In this case, fruit Ca was higher when the cultivar was grown with weed mat than with hand-weeding or no weeding. Total biomass production of primocanes increased from an average of 0.3 t·ha−1 dry weight (DW) during the first year after planting to 2.0 t·ha−1 DW the next year. Plants were first cropped the third year after planting and gained an additional 3.3 t·ha−1 DW in total aboveground biomass (primocanes, floricanes, and fruit) by the end of the third season. Fruit DW averaged 1.4 t·ha−1 in non-weeded plots, 1.9 t·ha−1 in hand-weeded plots, and 2.3 t·ha−1 in weed mat plots. Biomass of senesced floricanes (removed after harvest) averaged 3.2 t·ha−1 DW and was similar between cultivars and among the weed management treatments. ‘Marion’ primocanes accumulated a higher content of N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), Mg, S, iron (Fe), B, copper (Cu), and aluminum (Al) than in ‘Black Diamond’. Weeds, however, reduced nutrient accumulation in the primocanes in both cultivars, and accumulation of nutrients was greater in the floricanes than in the previous year’s primocanes. Total nutrient content declined from June to August in the floricanes, primarily through fruit removal at harvest and senescence of the floricanes after harvest. Depending on the cultivar and weed management strategy, nutrient loss from the fruit and floricanes averaged 34 to 79 kg·ha−1 of N, 5 to 12 kg·ha−1 of P, 36 to 84 kg·ha−1 of K, 23 to 61 kg·ha−1 of Ca, 5 to 15 kg·ha−1 of Mg, 2 to 5 kg·ha−1 of S, 380 to 810 g·ha−1 of Fe, 70 to 300 g·ha−1 of B, 15 to 36 g·ha−1 of Cu, 610 to 1350 g·ha−1 of manganese (Mn), 10 to 260 g·ha−1 of Zn, and 410 to 950 g·ha−1 of Al. Overall, plants generally accumulated (and lost) the most biomass and nutrients with weed mat and the least with no weed control.

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Natural Mulches Are Not Very Effective for Weed Control in Onions

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.16.3.0523 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 523-526 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

George E. Boyhan ◽

Ray Hicks ◽

C. Randell Hill

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Cynodon Dactylon ◽

Pinus Elliottii ◽

Yield Reduction ◽

Pine Needle ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Plant Stand ◽

Hand Weeding ◽

On Farm ◽

Compost Treatment

This study was undertaken to evaluate natural mulches for weed control in organic onion (Allium cepa) production where current practices rely on hand-weeding or plastic mulch. Three experiments were conducted over 2 years, with two experiments conducted on-farm in different years and one experiment conducted on-station. Treatments consisted of hand-weeding or mulches of wheat (Triticum aestivum) or oat (Avena sativa) straw, bermudagrass hay (Cynodon dactylon), compost, and needles of slash pine (Pinus elliottii) and longleaf pine (P. palustris). All of the mulches with the exception of compost tended to lodge in the onion tops due to their close spacing. Wheat straw and bermudagrass hay reduced plant stand and yield. Compost settled well around the onion plants and initially smothered weeds, but over time the compost treatment became very weedy. Pine needle mulch (referred to as pine straw in the southeastern U.S.) showed the most promise with less stand loss or yield reduction, but did tend to lodge in the tops. None of these mulches were acceptable compared to hand-weeding.

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The Impact of Weeding Regime, Planting Density, and Growth Habits on Watermelon Yield in an Organic System

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech04311-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 571-577

Author(s):

Suzanne P. Stone ◽

George E. Boyhan ◽

W. Carroll Johnson

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Weed Control ◽

Growth Habit ◽

Southeastern United States ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Planting Density ◽

Separate Experiment ◽

Organic System ◽

Growth Habits ◽

The Impact

The southeastern United States produces 50% of U.S. conventional watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) but only 7% of U.S. organic watermelon. Weeds are a major threat to watermelon yield in the southeastern United States, and organic weed control is estimated to cost 20-times more than conventional herbicide programs. The objectives of this study were to determine the optimal weed control regime to reduce hand-weeding costs while maintaining yield and to compare the weed suppression of two watermelon types with differing growth habits in an organic system. In 2014 and 2015, watermelon plots were randomly assigned to the following treatments in a factorial arrangement: vine or compact growth habit; 1.0- or 0.5-m in-row spacing; and weekly weed control (kept weed-free by hoeing and hand-pulling weeds) for 0, 4, or 8 weeks after transplanting (WAT). At the time of the watermelon harvest, not weeding resulted in average total weed densities of 86.6 and 87.0 weeds/m2, and weeding for 4 WAT resulted in average total weed densities of 26.4 and 7.0 weeds/m2 in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Nonetheless, weeding for 4 WAT resulted in watermelon yields and fruit counts comparable to those of weeding for 8 WAT during both years. This partial-season weeding regime resulted in 67% and 63% weeding cost reductions for vine and compact plants, respectively, in 2014, and a 43% reduction for both growth habit types in 2015. In 2015, a separate experiment that evaluated weeding regimes that lasted 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 WAT found that yields resulting from weeding for 3 WAT were greater than those resulting from weeding for 2 WAT. However, the yields did not differ when weeding was performed for 4 WAT and 8 WAT.

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NEW SPECIALTY CROPS FOR HOME AND MARKET GARDENS

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.25.9.1113d ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 25 (9) ◽

pp. 1113d-1113

Author(s):

Astrid Newenhouse ◽

Helen Harrison

Keyword(s):

Production Systems ◽

Youth Organizations ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Farmers Market ◽

Specialty Crops ◽

Climate Adaptability ◽

Regional Interest ◽

Black Plastic ◽

Cole Crop

The primary goal of this project is to introduce various citizenry groups within Wisconsin to new and potentially profitable alternative crops and production systems, and to acquaint them with crops and ornamental which may be common in Europe and Asia but which have not been extensively grown in our region. Approximately 50 new cultivars of gourmet vegetables, edible flowers, everlasting flowers, fresh cut flowers, and ornamental grasses were field tested 3 years for their adaptability for home and market gardens in Wisconsin. Cultivars were chosen for their unique flavor, color, shape, or texture. Greenhouse grown plants were transplanted onto black plastic mulch, with an annual rye–grass living mulch planted between crop rows. Aside from carbaryl and Bacillus thuringiensis used for cole crop insect control, no chemical pesticides or herbicides were used. Data taken includes notes on production, climate adaptability, disease and insect stress, maturation date, color, taste, and texture. Regional interest has been widespread from various groups including growers for gourmet restaurants, farmers market producers, garden clubs, youth organizations, and urban gardeners..

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Weed Control with Landscape Fabrics

Journal of Environmental Horticulture ◽

10.24266/0738-2898-7.4.129 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 129-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jeffrey F. Derr ◽

Bonnie Lee Appleton

Keyword(s):

Field Study ◽

Weed Control ◽

Cyperus Esculentus ◽

Digitaria Sanguinalis ◽

Yellow Nutsedge ◽

Black Plastic ◽

Hand Weeding ◽

Preemergence Herbicides ◽

Large Crabgrass

Abstract Six polypropylene landscape fabrics were compared with black plastic and preemergence herbicides for weed control. Large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.] shoots and roots and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.) shoots penetrated all of the fabrics tested and developed into large plants. In greenhouse studies, black plastic plus mulch, and pennant (metolachlor) [2-chloro-N-(2ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] at 4.5 kg ai/ha (4.0 lb/A) plus mulch provided equal, or greater control of large crabgrass than the landscape fabrics. In the field study, more time was required to hand-weed landscape fabrics covered with mulch than uncovered fabrics. When covered with mulch, hand-weeding time and weed shoot fresh weights were similar for black plastic, surflan (oryzalin) [4-(dipropylamino)-3,5-dinitrobenzenesulfonamide] at 2.2 kg/ha (2.0 lb/A), and the landscape fabrics.

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