Comparison of conventional and alternative nursery weed management strategies

• Published in: Weed technology 1995-10, Vol.9 (4), p.761-767
• Main Authors: Calkins, J.B. (University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.), Swanson, B.T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AGRICULTURA ALTERNATIVA; Agricultural management; AGRICULTURE ALTERNATIVE; ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURE; AXADIAZON; Biological and medical sciences; BIOLOGICAL COMPETITION; Biological control and other methods; CHEMICAL CONTROL; CICLO VITAL; COBERTURA VERDE; COMPANION CROPS; COMPETENCIA BIOLOGICA; COMPETICION VEGETAL; COMPETITION BIOLOGIQUE; COMPETITION VEGETALE; COMPETITIVE ABILITY; CONTROL CULTURAL; CONTROL QUIMICO; Cover crops; COVER PLANTS; Crop management; CULTIVOS ASOCIADOS; CULTURAL CONTROL; CYCLE DE DEVELOPPEMENT; DENSIDAD DE LA POBLACION; DENSITE DE POPULATION; DESHERBAGE; EFFICACY; ESCARDA; FESTUCA RUBRA; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grass weeds; GROUND COVER; Herbicides; LABRANZA; LIFE CYCLE; LIVE MULCHES; LOLIUM PERENNE; LOTUS CORNICULATUS; LUTTE CHIMIQUE; LUTTE CULTURALE; MALEZAS; MAUVAISE HERBE; MINNESOTA; MULCH VIVANT; Orchard soils; OXADIAZON; Parasitic plants. Weeds; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; PLANT COMPETITION; PLANTAS DE COBERTURA; PLANTE DE COUVERTURE; PLANTE DE CULTURE ASSOCIEE; POPULATION DENSITY; Rye; SECALE CEREALE; Sod strips; TILLAGE; TRAVAIL DU SOL; WEED CONTROL; WEEDS
• ISSN: 0890-037X; 1550-2740
• DOI: 10.1017/S0890037X00024179

Soil cultivation (3 to 5 times/yr) and herbicide management (oxadiazon, 3.92 kg ai/ha), agricultural standards for reducing weed competition, were compared to three alternative nursery field management systems regarding weed suppression: 'Norcen' bird's-foot trefoil companion crop, 'Wheeler' winter rye cover crop/mulch, and grass sod (80% 'Eton' perennial ryegrass and 20% 'Ruby' red fescue). Field management treatment had a significant effect on observed weed populations. Weed densities were also subject to yearly variations caused by climate and endogenous weed life cycles. Herbicide management (oxadiazon) consistently provided the best control of undesired vegetation$(0.3\ \text{weeds}/{\rm m}^{2})$followed by the grass sod$(0.7\ \text{weeds}/{\rm m}^{2})$, Wheeler rye cover crop/mulch$(1.7\ \text{weeds}/{\rm m}^{2})$, Norcen bird's-foot trefoil companion crop$(8.6\ \text{weeds}/{\rm m}^{2})$, and cultivated$(55.7\ \text{weeds}/{\rm m}^{2})$treatments, respectively. Although the grass sod treatment provided excellent control of undesired vegetation, as an alternative to cultivation and herbicide use, it proved to be excessively competitive with the nursery crop. The bird's-foot trefoil treatment quickly became infested with broadleaf weeds the eradication of which proved difficult. The Wheeler winter rye cover crop/mulch field management system provided acceptable weed control combined with other beneficial effects on the plant/soil environment. Results support the effectiveness of Wheeler winter rye and perhaps other allelopathic cover crop/mulch systems in controlling undesired vegetation in horticultural field production systems.