Effect of Brassica Cover Crops and Hazelnut Husk Mulch on Weed Control in Hazelnut Orchards

Weed management is critical in hazelnut (Corylus avellana) production. Weeds reduce nutrient availability, interfere with tree growth, and reduce hand-harvesting efficiency. Field experiments were conducted from Fall 2006 to 2010 to test effects of brassica (Brassica sp.) cover crops and hazelnut husk mulch as alternative weed management strategies in hazelnut. The cover crop treatments consisted of rape (Brassica napus), field mustard (Brassica rapa), oriental mustard (Brassica juncea), and fallow with no cover crop. Hazelnut husk was surface-applied at two thicknesses, 5- and 10-cm-thick layer. Dry biomass production by the cover crops was relatively consistent among years with oriental mustard producing the most biomass. Throughout the growing seasons, the cover crops reduced weed density, weed dry weight, and the number of weed species when compared with the fallow treatment. The most effective cover crop at suppressing weeds was oriental mustard. Hazelnut husk applied as a 10-cm-thick layer on the ground was highly effective at controlling weeds up to 180 days after application and reduced total weed dry weight by 83% at the end of the season. Our findings indicate that brassica cover crops or hazelnut husk may help control annual weed species in hazelnut orchards during early summer. However, these strategies should be combined with other methods like chemicals or cultivation for adequate weed management.

Download Full-text

Winter Annual Weed Suppression in Rye–Vetch Cover Crop Mixtures

Weed Technology ◽

10.1614/wt-d-12-00084.1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 818-825 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Zachary D. Hayden ◽

Daniel C. Brainard ◽

Ben Henshaw ◽

Mathieu Ngouajio

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Weed Species ◽

Cereal Rye ◽

Winter Annual ◽

Winter Annual Weeds ◽

Annual Weeds

Winter annual weeds can interfere directly with crops and serve as alternative hosts for important pests, particularly in reduced tillage systems. Field experiments were conducted on loamy sand soils at two sites in Holt, MI, between 2008 and 2011 to evaluate the relative effects of cereal rye, hairy vetch, and rye–vetch mixture cover crops on the biomass and density of winter annual weed communities. All cover crop treatments significantly reduced total weed biomass compared with a no-cover-crop control, with suppression ranging from 71 to 91% for vetch to 95 to 98% for rye. In all trials, the density of nonmustard family broadleaf weeds was either not suppressed or suppressed equally by all cover crop treatments. In contrast, the density of mustard family weed species was suppressed more by rye and rye–vetch mixtures than by vetch. Cover crops were more consistently suppressive of weed dry weight per plant than of weed density, with rye-containing cover crops generally more suppressive than vetch. Overall, rye was most effective at suppressing winter annual weeds; however, rye–vetch mixtures can match the level of control achieved by rye, in addition to providing a potential source of fixed nitrogen for subsequent cash crops.

Download Full-text

Allelopathic Influence of Germinating Seeds and Seedlings of Cover Crops on Weed Species

Weed Science ◽

10.1017/s0043174500094376 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

pp. 579-584 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Melinda L. Hoffman ◽

Leslie A. Weston ◽

John C. Snyder ◽

Emilie E. Regnier

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Resource Competition ◽

Petri Dish ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Weed Species ◽

Allelopathic Potential ◽

Below Ground ◽

Allelopathic Interference ◽

Radicle Length

Bioassays using binary mixtures that included a cover crop with known allelopathic potential and a weed species were employed to determine the importance of allelopathy compared to resource competition as interference mechanisms. Responses of weed species germinated with cover crops in a petri dish were measured. Interference between weed and cover crop seedlings was determined in a greenhouse experiment using the additive design, which included partitions to reduce above- and below-ground competition and used capillary mat subirrigation to control moisture and fertilizer availability. Germinating sorghum reduced radicle length of weeds, whereas germinating rye tended to increase weed radicle length. Methods limited above-ground competition, so likely interference mechanisms were below-ground competition and allelopathy. Germination with a cover crop had little effect on germination and shoot length of weeds. Increased density of rye but not of sorghum reduced growth of barnyardgrass seedlings. Reduced number of barnyardgrass leaves in the presence of rye was likely due to allelopathy. Suppression of barnyardgrass dry weight attributed to allelopathic interference by rye was successfully separated and compared to the combined effects of competition and allelopathy.

Download Full-text

Cover Crop and Postemergence Herbicide Integration for Palmer amaranth Control in Cotton

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/wet.2017.10 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 348-355 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Matthew S. Wiggins ◽

Robert M. Hayes ◽

Robert L. Nichols ◽

Lawrence E. Steckel

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Weed Management ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Palmer Amaranth ◽

Cereal Rye ◽

Crimson Clover ◽

Annual Grasses ◽

Winter Annual ◽

Hand Weeding

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the integration of cover crops and POST herbicides to control glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth in cotton. The winter-annual grasses accumulated the greatest amount of biomass and provided the most Palmer amaranth control. The estimates for the logistic regression would indicate that 1540 kg ha−1would delay Palmer amaranth emerging and growing to 10 cm by an estimated 16.5 days. The Palmer amaranth that emerged in the cereal rye and wheat cover crop treatments took a longer time to reach 10 cm compared to the hairy vetch and crimson clover treatments. POST herbicides were needed for adequate control of Palmer amaranth. The glufosinate-based weed control system provided greater control (75% vs 31%) of Palmer amaranth than did the glyphosate system. These results indicate that a POST only herbicide weed management system did not provide sufficient control of Palmer amaranth, even when used in conjunction with cover crops that produced a moderate level of biomass. Therefore, future recommendations for GR Palmer amaranth control will include integrating cover crops with PRE herbicides, overlaying residual herbicides in-season, timely POST herbicide applications, and hand weeding in order to achieve season-long control of this pest.

Download Full-text

COVER CROPS IN THE OFF-SEASON IN THE WEED MANAGEMENT AT NOTILLAGE AREA

Revista Caatinga ◽

10.1590/1983-21252021v34n106rc ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 50-57

Author(s):

FERNANDO COUTO DE ARAÚJO ◽

ADRIANO STEPHAN NASCENTE ◽

JULIANA LOURENÇO NUNES GUIMARÃES ◽

VINÍCIUS SILVA SOUSA ◽

MARCO ANTÔNIO MOREIRA DE FREITAS ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Weed Management ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Pennisetum Glaucum ◽

Pigeon Pea ◽

Weed Species ◽

Agricultural Areas ◽

Main Growth ◽

Crotalaria Spectabilis

ABSTRACT Cover crops can provide suppression of weeds and together with chemical control make the proper management of weeds in agricultural areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cover crop cultivation during the off-season on weed development in a no-tillage area. The experimental design was in randomized blocks scheme with six treatments and four replications. The treatments were: fallow (control), millet (Pennisetum glaucum) + crotalaria (Crotalaria spectabilis + C. juncea + C. ochroleuca), millet + pigeon pea (Cajanus cajans), millet + Urochloa ruziziensis, millet + Urochloa ruziziensis + pigeon pea and millet + buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum. The evaluations were done at 30, 75 and 225 days after sowing of the cover crops (DAS). The main growth weed species in the area were Cenchrus echinathus, Euphorbia heterophylla and Digitaria insularis. Fallow treatment showed greater number of weed species with density of 184 plants m-2, 9.0 species and with 527.8 g m-2 of dry matter mass at 225 DAS. In all treatments verified reduction in the density and mass of weeds dry matter compared to the fallow, with average of 30 plants m-2, 5.8 species and 7.9 g m-2 at 225 DAS, respectively. The use of cover crops is an important strategy for weed control in agricultural areas.

Download Full-text

Comparison of the Allelopathic Potential of Leguminous Summer Cover Crops: Cowpea, Sunn Hemp, and Velvetbean

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.42.2.289 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 289-293 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Michael J. Adler ◽

Carlene A. Chase

Keyword(s):

Plant Height ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Bell Pepper ◽

Weed Species ◽

Crop Species ◽

Allelopathic Potential ◽

Sunn Hemp ◽

Germination And Growth

The phytotoxicity of aqueous foliar extracts and ground dried residues of sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. cv. Iron Clay], and velvetbean [Mucuna deeringiana (Bort) Merr.] to crop and weed germination and growth was evaluated to compare the allelopathic potential of the cover crops. By 14 days after treatment (DAT), goosegrass [Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.] germination with 5% aqueous extracts of all cover crops (w/v fresh weight basis) was similar and greater than 75% of control. However, with the 10% extracts, goosegrass germination was lowest with cowpea extract, intermediate with velvetbean extract, and highest with sunn hemp extract. Livid amaranth (Amaranthus lividus L.) germination declined to ≈50% with cowpea and sunn hemp extracts and even lower to 22% with velvetbean extract. The suppression of livid amaranth germination was greater with the 10% extracts than the 5% extracts. Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) germination was unaffected by velvetbean extract, inhibited more by the 5% cowpea extract than the 10% extract, and was also sensitive to the 10% sunn hemp extract. All cover crop extracts resulted in an initial delay in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) germination, but by 14 DAT, inhibition of germination was apparent only with cowpea extract. The phytotoxicity of ground dried residues of the three cover crops on germination, plant height, and dry weight of goosegrass, smooth amaranth (A. hybridus L.), bell pepper, and tomato was evaluated in greenhouse studies. Goosegrass germination was inhibited in a similar manner by residues of the three cover crops to 80% or less of control. Smooth amaranth germination, plant height, and dry biomass were more sensitive to sunn hemp residues than to cowpea and velvetbean residues. Bell pepper germination, plant height, and dry weight were greater than 90% of control except for dry weight with cowpea residue, which was only 78% of control. The greatest effect of cover crop residue on tomato occurred with dry weight, because dry weights with cowpea and sunn hemp were only 76% and 69% of control, respectively, and lower than with velvetbean. There was more evidence of cover crop phytotoxicity with the weed species than with the crop species and cowpea extracts and residue affected all species more consistently than those of sunn hemp and velvetbean.

Download Full-text

Economic Returns in Plasticulture Tomato Production from Crucifer Cover Crops as a Methyl Bromide Alternative for Weed Management

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.20.4.764 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 764-771 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Sanjeev K. Bangarwa ◽

Jason K. Norsworthy ◽

Ronald L. Rainey ◽

Edward E. Gbur

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Methyl Bromide ◽

Weed Management ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Untreated Control ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Net Returns ◽

Hand Weeding ◽

Oriental Mustard

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.

Download Full-text

Effect of roller-crimper technology on weed management in organic zucchini production in a Mediterranean climate zone

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170515000046 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 111-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Corrado Ciaccia ◽

Stefano Canali ◽

Gabriele Campanelli ◽

Elena Testani ◽

Francesco Montemurro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Weed Management ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Central Italy ◽

Competitive Balance ◽

Weed Species ◽

Wide Range ◽

Cropping Seasons

AbstractIntegrating cover crops into vegetable cropping systems can provide a wide range of ecological services, of which weed management is a key component. Cover crop effects on weed control, however, are dependent on termination methods and weed species present in specific cropping seasons. A 2-year weed management experiment with two cultivars of organic zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) in central Italy was carried out to compare the effect of a barley (Hordeum distichum L.) cover crop terminated with a modified roller-crimper (RC) to incorporated barley as green manure (GM) and a tilled control left fallow (FA) in the off-season. The effects of cover-crop management on crop competitiveness, yields and weed populations were evaluated by direct measurement, visual estimation and competition index methods. Results showed a significant reduction in weed biomass (>80%) and weed abundance with the RC compared to the GM and FA treatments. Moreover, the RC barley mulch maintained weed control in zucchini plots even under high weed pressure, as determined by the agronomic tolerance to competition (ATC) value of 67% in the RC treatment compared to 40 and 34% in the FA and GM treatments, respectively, averaged over both years of the experiment. The competitive balance (Cb), which quantified the ability of the zucchini crop to compete with weed populations, was also greater (+0.37) in the RC treatment compared to FA (−0.87) and GM (−0.69) treatments over the same period. Zucchini crop biomass was greatest in the RC treatment in 2011. Zucchini fruit yields varied from an average over both years of 1.4 Mg ha−1 in the RC treatment to 0.7 Mg ha−1 in the GM treatment, but yields in the FA treatment, 1.2 Mg ha−1, did not differ from the RC treatment. No differences in yield between ‘Dietary’ and ‘Every’ zucchini, or any significant interactions between cultivar and cover management related to fruit biomass, were observed. Our findings suggested the viability of the modified RC in creating a barley cover-crop mulch to effectively manage weeds and enhance yields in transplanted zucchini.

Download Full-text

Use of the Cover Crop Weed Index to Evaluate Weed Suppression by Cover Crops in Organic Citrus Orchards

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.43.1.27 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 27-34 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Jose Linares ◽

Johannes Scholberg ◽

Kenneth Boote ◽

Carlene A. Chase ◽

James J. Ferguson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Weed Management ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Single Species ◽

Organic Production ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Initial Growth ◽

Arachis Glabrata

Citrus is one of the most important crops in Florida. During the past decade, increased international competition and urban development, diseases, and more stringent environmental regulations have greatly affected the citrus industry. Citrus growers transitioning to organic production may benefit from premium prices, but they also face many challenges, including development of effective weed management strategies. Cover crops (CC) may constitute an environmentally sound alternative for improved weed management in organic systems. Two field experiments were conducted at Citra in north central Florida from 2002 to 2005, to evaluate the effectiveness of annual and perennial CC to suppress weeds in organic citrus groves. To quantify and compare the effectiveness of CC to suppress weed growth, a new weed suppression assessment tool, the cover crop/weed index (CCWI), was developed using the ratio of biomass accumulation of CC and weeds. Annual summer CC accumulated more biomass in comparison with winter CC. Sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), hairy indigo (Indigofera hirsuta L.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.), and alyceclover (Alysicarpus vaginalis L.) all provided excellent weed suppression, which was superior to tillage fallow. Single-species winter CC did not always perform consistently well. Use of winter CC mixtures resulted in more consistent overall CC performance, greater dry matter production, and more effective weed suppression than single species of CC. Initial perennial peanut (PP) growth was slow, and summer planting of PP (Arachis glabrata Benth.) was determined to be the most effective date in terms of weed suppression, which was improved gradually over time, but all planting dates resulted in slow initial growth compared with annual CC. For both PP and annual CC, weed biomass typically was inversely related to CC dry weight accumulation resulting from competition for resources. The CCWI was a suitable tool to quantify CC performance in terms of weed suppression.

Download Full-text

Herbicide and Cover Crop Residue Integration forAmaranthusControl in Conservation Agriculture Cotton and Implications for Resistance Management

Weed Technology ◽

10.1614/wt-d-11-00127.1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 490-498 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Andrew J. Price ◽

Kip S. Balkcom ◽

Leah M. Duzy ◽

Jessica A. Kelton

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Weed Management ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Management Practices ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Integrated Weed Management ◽

Early Season ◽

Density And Biomass

Conservation agriculture (CA) practices are threatened by glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth. Integrated control practices including PRE herbicides and high-residue CA systems can decreaseAmaranthusemergence. Field experiments were conducted from autumn 2006 through crop harvest in 2009 at two sites in Alabama to evaluate the effect of integrated weed management practices onAmaranthuspopulation density and biomass, cotton yield, and economics in glyphosate-resistant cotton. Horizontal strips included four CA systems with three cereal rye cover crop seeding dates and a winter fallow (WF) CA system compared to a conventional tillage (CT) system. Additionally, vertical strips of four herbicide regimes consisted of: broadcast, banded, or no PRE applications ofS-metolachlor (1.12 kg ai ha−1) followed by (fb) glyphosate (1.12 kg ae ha−1) applied POST fb layby applications of diuron (1.12 kg ai ha−1) plus MSMA (2.24 kg ai ha−1) or the LAYBY application alone. Early-seasonAmaranthusdensity was reduced in high-residue CA in comparison to the CA WF systems in 2 of 3 yr.Amaranthusdensities in herbicide treatments that included a broadcast PRE application were lower at three of five sampling dates compared to banding early-season PRE applications; however, the differences were not significant during the late season and cotton yields were not affected by PRE placement. High-residue conservation tillage yields were 577 to 899 kg ha−1more than CT, except at one site in 1 yr when CT treatment yields were higher. CA utilizing high-residue cover crops increased net returns over CT by $100 ha−1or more 2 out of 3 yr at both locations. High-residue cover crop integration into a CA system reducedAmaranthusdensity and increased yield over WF systems; the inclusion of a broadcast PRE application can increase early-seasonAmaranthuscontrol and might provide additional control when glyphosate-resistantAmaranthuspopulations are present.

Download Full-text

Evaluating cereal rye and crimson clover for weed suppression within buffer areas in dicamba-resistant soybean

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/wet.2020.121 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-29

Author(s):

Connor L. Hodgskiss ◽

Bryan G. Young ◽

Shalamar D. Armstrong ◽

William G. Johnson

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Early Summer ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Weed Species ◽

Cereal Rye ◽

Herbicide Resistant ◽

Crimson Clover ◽

Emergence Patterns ◽

Crop Biomass

Abstract As herbicide-resistant weeds become more problematic, producers will consider the use of cover crops to suppress weeds. Weed suppression from cover crops may be especially in the label-mandated buffer areas of dicamba-resistant soybean where dicamba use is not allowed. Three cover crops terminated at three timings with three herbicide strategies were evaluated for their effect on weed suppression in dicamba-resistant soybean. Delaying termination to at soybean planting, or after, and using a cereal rye or cereal rye + crimson clover increased cover crop biomass by at least 40% compared to terminating early or using a crimson clover only cover crop. Densities of problematic weed species were evaluated in early-summer prior to a blanket POST application. Plots with cereal rye had 75% less horseweed compared to crimson clover at two of four site-years. Cereal rye or the mix cover crop terminated at, or after soybean planting reduced waterhemp densities by 87% compared to early termination timings of crimson clover and the earliest termination timing of the mix at one of two site-years. Cover crops were not as effective in reducing waterhemp densities as they were in reducing horseweed densities. This difference is due to a divergence in emergence patterns; waterhemp emergence generally peaks after termination of the cover crop while horseweed emergence coincides with establishment and rapid vegetative growth of cereal rye. Cover crops alone were generally not as effective as using a high biomass cover crop combined with herbicide strategy that contained dicamba and residual herbicides. However, within label-mandated buffer areas where dicamba cannot be used, a cover crop containing cereal rye with delayed termination to at soybean planting combined with residual herbicides could be utilized to improve suppression of horseweed and waterhemp.

Download Full-text