Managing Meloidogyne incognita and Bemisia tabaci with thiacloprid in cucumber crops in China

Field trials were conducted to determine the potential use of thiacloprid for integrated Meloidogyne incognita and Bemisia tabaci B biotype control in cucumber (Cucumis sativus Linn.) in China. The following five treatments were evaluated: three thiacloprid doses (7.5, 15, and 30 kg ha⁻¹), an avermectin treatment (7.5 L ha⁻¹) and an untreated control. All thiacloprid application rates were effective for reducing the M. incognita and B. tabaci B biotype populations. M. incognita was reduced by 51.0%∼86.7% on 60th day and B. tabaci B biotype was reduced by about 37.2%∼95.3% within 21 days, respectively. In addition, greater thiacloprid doses resulted in fewer nematodes and whiteflies. Over two successive years, the cucumber plants that were treated with thiacloprid at a dose of 15 kg ha⁻¹ had the greatest plant height, plant vigor and marketable yield, which were 134.1 cm, 91, 1514.3 g plant⁻¹, respectively in 2010–2011 and 151.9 cm, 93, 1651.4 g plant⁻¹, respectively in 2011–2012. In addition, thiacloprid was superior to avermectin. The results of this study demonstrated that thiacloprid could be used in cucumber production for the integrated control of M. incognita and B. tabaci B biotype. Furthermore, a dose of 15 kg ha⁻¹ of thiacloprid was recommended for controlling nematode and whitefly populations according to the control effect and marketable cucumber yield.     

Effects of 1,3-dichloropropene on nematode,weed seed viability and soil-borne pathogen

1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D, C₃H₄Cl₂) is one of the potential candidates as soil disinfectant since the restriction of methyl bromide (MeBr) in soil fumigation due to its ecological risk. Its nematode, soil-borne pathogen and weed control efficacies were evaluated in a laboratory dose-response study and in two commercial tomato fields. Laboratory studies found that the seeds of Digitaria chinensis Hornem. were the most sensitive to soil fumigation with 1,3-D, followed by Eleusina indica (Linn.) Gaertn., Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv. and Amaranthus retroflexus L. with the LC₉₀ values between 14.23 and 73.59 mg kg⁻¹ soil. Among the pathogens, Phytophthora capsici Leonian was the most sensitive and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae was the least sensitive to 1,3-D fumigation with the LC₅₀ values were 0.24 and 1.55 g m⁻². Rhizoctonia solani Kühn., Phytophthora nicotianae var. nicotianae and Botrytis cinerea Persoon exhibited intermediate susceptibility. Field trials revealed that 1,3-D applied to the field at 180, 120 and 80 L ha⁻¹ could suppress Meloidogyne incognita root galling while maintaining high tomato marketable yields, better than Dazomet at the concentration of 400 kg ha⁻¹. Our results indicated that 1,3-D was an excellent nematicide and could provide good to moderate weed and pathogen control. Based on our results, 1,3-D, in combination with other alternatives to MeBr is recommended to reach an integrated pest management.     

Effects of 1,3-dichloropropene plus chloropicrin on weed seed germination

Telone C-35, a commercial formulation of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and chloropicrin (CP), is one of the potential replacements to methyl bromide (MB) for soil fumigation. A laboratory dose–response study and two field trials in tomato were conducted to evaluate their weed control efficacy and their effect on tomato yield. Laboratory studies found that the seeds of Digitaria chinensis were the most sensitive to soil fumigation with Telone C-35, followed by Eleusina indica, Portulaca oleracea and Stellaria media with the LC₅₀ values between 3.35 and 11.68 mg kg⁻¹ soil. Field trials revealed that Telone C-35 applied to the field at 327, 243 and 164 L ha⁻¹ could suppress the percentage of germination weed seeds while maintaining high tomato marketable yields, with no significant differences between MB + CP and the higher two Telone C-35 rates. The yield data from both seasons indicated that all Telone C-35 treatments had a positive effect on tomato yield; there was a 32%–62% increase the mean marketable tomato yield. Our results indicated that Telone C-35 was an excellent MB alternative and could provide acceptable weed control efficacy. Based on our results, Telone C-35, in combination with other alternatives to MB, is recommended to achieve integrated pest management.     

Management of herbicide-resistant Phalaris minor in wheat by sequential or tank-mix applications of pre- and post-emergence herbicides in north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains

Development of cross resistance or multiple cross resistance in Phalaris minor in wheat will continue to increase, as the weed develops mechanisms of resistance against new herbicides. This weed is a major threat to wheat productivity in north-western India, and as such needs to be addressed with integrated weed management approaches, including crop and herbicide rotations, herbicide combinations along with cultural and mechanical methods. Three field experiments were conducted during 2008–09 to 2012–13 along with large plot adaptive trials during 2012–13 with the objective to evaluate the efficacy of sequential applications of pendimethalin applied pre-emergent followed by clodinafop, sulfosulfuron, or pinoxaden applied post-emergent and tank-mix applications of metribuzin with these post-emergence herbicides for the management of herbicide-resistant P. minor in wheat. Clodinafop 60 g ha⁻¹ or sulfosulfuron 25 g ha⁻¹ at 35 days after sowing (DAS) and pendimethalin 1000 g ha⁻¹ as pre-emergence did not provide consistently effective control of P. minor in wheat. An increase in the dose of clodinafop from 60 to 75 g ha⁻¹ and of sulfosulfuron from 25 to 30 g ha⁻¹ also did not improve their efficacy to a satisfactory level. However, pinoxaden 50 g ha⁻¹ provided effective control (97–100%) of P. minor but not of broadleaf weeds. The tank-mix application of metribuzin with clodinafop 60 g ha⁻¹ or sulfosulfuron 25 g ha⁻¹ at 35 DAS and the sequential application of pendimethalin 1000 g ha⁻¹ or trifluralin 1000 g ha⁻¹ just after sowing followed by clodinafop 60 g ha⁻¹ or sulfosulfuron 25 g ha⁻¹ at 35 DAS provided 90–100% control of P. minor along with broadleaf weeds in wheat, thus resulting in improved grain yields (4.72–5.75 t ha⁻¹) when compared to clodinafop 60 g ha⁻¹ (3.85–5.60 t ha⁻¹) or sulfosulfuron 25 g ha⁻¹ alone (3.95–5.10 t ha⁻¹). The efficacy of mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron (a commercial mixture) 14.4 g ha⁻¹ against P. minor was not consistent across the experiments and over the years. The ready-mix combination of fenoxaprop + metribuzin (100 + 175 g ha⁻¹) at 35 DAS provided effective control of weeds but its varietal sensitivity needs to be determined before its use in field conditions. The tank-mix or sequential application of herbicides would be a better option than their applications alone to manage the serious problem of herbicide-resistant P. minor in wheat.     

Management of complex weed flora in dry-seeded rice

Dry-seeded rice has been introduced as an alternative to puddled hand-transplanted rice in the north Indian states of Punjab and Haryana. In dry-seeded rice, weed flora tends to be more diverse and weeds emerge in several flushes during the crop growth cycle and substantial yield reductions due to weed competition are quite common. The efficacy and compatibility of tank mixtures of different herbicides for the control of diverse weed flora in dry-seeded rice was evaluated in field experiments during the summer seasons of 2012 and 2013. The tank mixture of fenoxaprop with ethoxysulfuron improved the control of Echinochloa crus-galli and Echinochloa colona by 43–69% as compared to fenoxaprop alone while the tank-mix of azimsulfuron with fenoxaprop was antagonistic and reduced the control of Leptochloa chinensis by 86% as compared to fenoxaprop alone. Addition of azimsulfuron or ethoxysulfuron to bispyribac did not improve the control of grass weeds as compared to bispyribac alone. Weed control with the mixture of bispyribac and fenoxaprop varied over the two years. In 2012, bispyribac and fenoxaprop mixture was antagonistic for the control of Dactyloctenum aegyptium, Acrachne racemose, and L. chinensis but in 2013, there was no apparent antagonism and the addition of bispyribac to fenoxaprop reduced grass weed biomass as compared to fenoxaprop alone. In 2013, there was a strong negative correlation (r = −0.95, P < 0.001) between weed dry matter at 45 days after sowing and rice grain yield. According to the linear regression, rice crop is likely to produce no grain yield when weed dry matter exceeds 400 g m⁻². Over the two seasons, fenoxaprop-ethoxysulfuron tank-mix produced similar grain yields (5.6–6.2 t ha⁻¹) to the weed-free check (5.6–7.1 t ha⁻¹). At the farmer fields, rice grain yield in the plots treated with pendimethalin followed by post-emergence bispyribac or a tank-mix of fenoxaprop + ethoxysulfuron ranged from 6.2 to 7.7 t ha⁻¹ as compared to 5.3–5.6 t ha⁻¹ in the plots treated with pendimethalin alone. The tank mixture of fenoxaprop with bispyribac needs further evaluation as this mixture has the potential to effectively control aerobic and aquatic grasses in dry-seeded rice. Single hand weeding prevented crop yield loss from weeds that escaped herbicide treatments only when it was performed within six weeks of sowing.     

Effects of the nematicide 1,3-dichloropropene on weed populations and stem canker disease severity in potatoes

The soil fumigant 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) has been used in the UK for the control of potato cyst nematodes (PCN), Globodera pallida (Stone) and Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber), but its potential herbicidal activity has not been extensively investigated in this country. Field and glasshouse studies were therefore conducted to evaluate the potential of 1,3-D for the control of weeds in potatoes, and observations were made on the severity of potato stem canker, caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani Kühn [teleomorph: Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank) Donk]. Autumn application of 1,3-D at 211.5 L active substance (a.s.) ha⁻¹ significantly suppressed the number of germinating weeds and the percentage of weed ground cover by 83% and 79%, respectively, relative to controls. There were also species-specific significant decreases (field pansy, Viola arvensis, in particular) in the number of weed seeds germinating in field soil in the glasshouse post-1,3-D treatment. The effect of 1,3-D declined in time and single (autumn or spring) or combined application produced a slight, but not significant, reduction in the number of weeds germinated on potato ridges relative to those recorded in untreated soil. The severity of stem canker on potato plants was not significantly reduced by 1,3-D but both mean number and weight of stems per plant were significantly increased compared with plants from untreated plots. These studies demonstrated that 1,3-D, in addition to giving PCN control, has efficacy against weeds; implications are the potential for reduced herbicide input in the crop rotation with accompanying economic and environmental benefits.     

Parthenium hysterophorus L. control in response to pyraflufen-ethyl application

Pyraflufen-ethyl is a phenylpyrazole herbicide for control of annual and perennial broadleaf weeds. Greenhouse and field studies were conducted to determine pyraflufen-ethyl efficacy for control of Parthenium hysterophorus at the rosette and flowering stages, respectively. Both growth stages were treated with pyraflufen-ethyl at six rates ranging from 0.46 to 14.60 g a.i. ha⁻¹. Aboveground dry weight of rosette P. hysterophorus was reduced 90% by pyraflufen-ethyl at 2.33–2.65 g a.i. ha⁻¹ 14 days after treatment (DAT). At the label use rate of 0.91–3.64 g a.i. ha⁻¹ for control of broadleaf weeds, pyraflufen-ethyl was estimated to provide 13–58% and 5–32% control of flowering P. hysterophorus 60 and 87 cm in height, respectively at 21 DAT. These results show that pyraflufen-ethyl can control rosette P. hysterophorus within the label use rate for broadleaf weeds. However, rates higher than the label use rate are required for control of flowering P. hysterophorus, showing that pyraflufen-ethyl must be applied at the early stages of P. hysterophorus growth for effective control.     

Control of broadleaf weeds with post-emergence herbicides in four barley (Hordeum spp.) cultivars

Limited information is available on control of broadleaf weeds in barley and response of barley cultivars to herbicides. Field experiments were conducted from 2007 to 2009 to evaluate post-emergence herbicides for control of broadleaf weeds in four barley cultivars. Herbicide treatments included 2,4-D sodium salt at 500 g ai ha⁻¹, carfentrazone-ethyl at three rates (15, 20 and 25 g ai ha⁻¹), and metsulfuron-methyl at 4 and 5 g ai ha⁻¹. The results suggested that density of broadleaf weeds was not affected by barley cultivars in 2007 and 2008, but it was influenced in 2009. Application of carfentrazone-ethyl or metsulfuron-methyl at all the rates was effective to reduce density and biomass of broadleaf weeds in all the years. A variable response was observed for yield attributes among barley cultivars. Barley grain yield was similar in all barley cultivars in 2007; however, higher yield was recorded in ‘DWRUB 52’ in 2008 and 2009 compared to other cultivars. All herbicide treatments were usually effective to secure higher barley yields in all the years and there was a significant interaction between barley cultivars and weed management treatments. Hand hoeing was not as effective as herbicide treatments to reduce density and biomass of broadleaf weeds; however, barley yield was usually comparable with herbicide treatments. Results also revealed that there was no significant herbicide injury on any barley cultivar during three year experiments. It is concluded that carfentrazone-ethyl and metsulfuron-methyl are additional tools for broadleaf weed control in barley. However, more research is required to evaluate efficacy of these herbicides as a tank mix partner that may increase weed control spectrum in barley.     

Effect of pre-plant soil fumigants on Agrobacterium tumefaciens, pythiaceous species,and subsequent soil recolonization by A. tumefaciens

Paradox (Juglans hindsii × J. regia), the dominant rootstock used in the California walnut industry, is susceptible to crown gall caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. In practice, soil fumigation has been a common pre-plant management strategy for crown gall, but even the industry standard, methyl bromide (MeBr), results in inconsistent disease control. To examine MeBr efficacy and identify potential alternatives, combinations of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D), chloropicrin, iodomethane, dazomet, and metam-sodium were examined. Except for 1,3-D alone, all treatments reduced A. tumefaciens and Phytophthora cactorum populations below detection limits. MeBr eliminated A. tumefaciens populations in buried gall tissue, but a combination of 1,3-D and chloropicrin (TC35) did not. An additional 280 kg/ha of chloropicrin in addition to TC35 eliminated A. tumefaciens populations in buried gall tissue. Of the treatments tested, TC35 was the best alternative to MeBr given its efficacy on soil populations of A. tumefaciens and P. cactorum and potential suppressiveness to soil recolonization by A. tumefaciens. MeBr reduced general aerobic bacterial populations below detection limits producing a temporary biological vacuum. A. tumefaciens reintroduced in soils treated with MeBr and TC35 reached significantly higher populations than in non-fumigated soil. However, A. tumefaciens populations in TC35-treated soil were 100-fold lower than MeBr-treated soil 110 d after reintroduction. Increased recolonization rates resulting in higher subsequent soil populations could be a mechanism underlying the observed inconsistent crown gall control after MeBr application.     

Efficacy of 1,3-dichloropropene plus chloropicrin gelatin capsule formulation for the control of soilborne pests

A gelatin capsule (gel cap) formulation of the mixture of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and chloropicrin (CP) has been developed to reduce environmental emissions and potential human exposure from the use of 1,3-D/CP as a soil fumigant. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the biological efficacy of 1,3-D/CP gel cap formulations under greenhouse trial conditions. The current results indicate that a 1,3-D/CP gel cap formulation at 30 or 50 g a.i. m⁻² can reduce the soil populations of Fusarium spp., Phytophthora spp., Pythium spp. and Meloidogyne spp.. In all tested crops, the 1,3-D/CP gel cap formulation provided marketable yields that were significantly higher than untreated controls and equal to the methyl bromide and 1,3-D/CP liquid injection treatments. Yields of tomato and a subsequent melon crop in plots treated with 1,3-D/CP gel cap were 93% and 87% greater, respectively, than the control. The yields of grafted cucumber and the subsequent balsam pear crop were increased by 16% and 201% respectively, compared to the control. The present study confirms that the tested 1,3-D/CP gel cap formulation provides a promising method for soil pest and disease control and reducing environmental emissions and potential human exposure in greenhouse vegetable cultivation.     

Herbicide coverage in narrow row soybean as influenced by spray nozzle design and carrier volume

The use of reduced drift nozzles that produce larger droplet sizes that are less prone to drift will likely be required for use of future postemergence herbicide applications in soybean in the USA. Experiments to evaluate the effect of reduced drift spray nozzles on spray solution coverage were conducted in the field in Indiana. Air induction extended range (AIXR) and turbo TeeJet air induction (TTI) nozzles that produce extremely coarse to ultra coarse droplets were compared to extended range (XR) and Turbo TeeJet (TT) nozzle that produced fine to coarse droplets. Each nozzle was evaluated for spray coverage at 94 and 140 l ha⁻¹ spray volumes using water sensitive cards. Precipitation varied between site years and resulted in differences in soybean canopy development and spray solution coverage. Coverage was greater at the top of the canopy than at the bottom of the soybean canopy as expected. An interaction occurred at the top and middle of the canopy in which the AIXR and TTI nozzles had similar coverage between the two spray volumes, whereas the XR and TT nozzles had greater coverage at 140 l ha⁻¹ carrier volume than 94 l ha⁻¹ carrier spray volume. Spray solution coverage at the bottom of the canopy, where target weeds would be, was similar between all nozzle types. Coverage was greater at the bottom of the canopy at 140 l ha⁻¹ spray volume than with the 94 l ha⁻¹ carrier volume. Spray volume has a greater influence on coverage than spray nozzle type and AIXR and TTI nozzles are less prone to coverage differences due to spray volume than the XR and TT nozzles.     

Efficacy of azoxystrobin for the control of cucumber downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) and fungicide residue analysis

During a five-year trial (2007–2011), the efficacy of azoxystrobin (Quadris, 250 g a.i. L⁻¹, Syngenta) in two doses (187.5 g a.i. ha⁻¹ and 250 g a.i. ha⁻¹) and chlorothalonil (Bravo 720-SC, 720 g a.i. L⁻¹, Syngenta) at a rate of 1.44 kg a.i. ha⁻¹ was tested for the control of cucumber downy mildew (CDM). Cultivars that were susceptible or resistant to CDM (Regal and Haros, respectively) were tested for their response to fungicide applications. Differences in both disease severity and yield of the cultivars among resistance levels and fungicide treatments were observed. A highly significant and negative correlation was obtained between AUDPC and yield. Higher yields can be achieved by planting more resistant cultivars in combination with lower doses of fungicides. This is an indication that CDM contributes significantly to yield losses in cucumber production in Serbia. While monitoring the degradation of azoxystrobin residues, a decrease in residue levels to 1.0 mg kg⁻¹ below the maximum residue level (MRL) was observed at the end of the pre-harvest interval (PHI).     

Applications of pre-emergent pyroxasulfone,flufenacet and their mixtures with triallate for the control of Bromus diandrus (ripgut brome) in no-till wheat (Triticum aestivum) crops of southern Australia

Four field experiments were conducted over a three-year period in Victoria and South Australia to investigate the effectiveness of pre-emergence (PRE) applications of pyroxasulfone, flufenacet and their mixtures with triallate for the control of Bromus diandrus in spring wheat. Herbicide mixtures of pyroxasulfone plus triallate and flufenacet plus triallate applied PRE to wheat provided consistently high levels of B. diandrus control (≥85%). In contrast, applications of pyroxasulfone and flufenacet applied alone along with trifluralin plus metribuzin (a common farmer practice in southern Australia) provided more variable control of B. diandrus (33–90%). Pyroxasulfone plus triallate treatments had a much lower (≤47 panicles m⁻²) panicle density of B. diandrus than trifluralin plus metribuzin (42–318 panicles m⁻²) and the non-treated control (118–655 panicles m⁻²). PRE herbicides which were safe to spring wheat and provided the greatest level of control of B. diandrus resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) higher grain yields at Culgoa (120%) and Gama (13%) than non-treated wheat (720 and 1740 kg ha⁻¹). Although flufenacet was effective against B. diandrus, crop phytotoxicity at the higher dose (900 g ai ha⁻¹) reduced spring wheat grain yield. Based on these results, PRE pyroxasulfone plus triallate could play an important role in the management of B. diandrus in spring wheat. However, high cost of these herbicides (AUS$35-$70 ha⁻¹) may limit their adoption in low rainfall and low yielding wheat environments in southern Australia where B. diandrus is most prevalent.     

Evaluation of potential biocides for control of the earthworm Eukerria saltensis (Oligochaeta: Ocnerodrilidae), a pest of rice in southern Australia

The earthworm Eukerria saltensis can cause severe crop establishment problems in aerially sown rice grown on heavy clay soils in southern Australia. Damage occurs indirectly through destabilization of the topsoil, increased water turbidity, and mobilization of soil nutrients into the water column which leads to increased algal growth. We investigated the possibilities for chemical control of E. saltensis using laboratory bioassays and a series of field trials involving either the use of enclosures in flooded crops or soil incorporation of pesticides into rice fields during fallow periods or shortly before flooding. The four most toxic compounds in 7 day soil/water laboratory bioassays were carbofuran, acetamiprid, bendiocarb and lambda-cyhalothrin which provided corrected mortalities of 86–100% at 2 mg a.i. L⁻¹. Other compounds that showed some level of efficacy (corrected mortality >20% at one or more rates) were imidacloprid, esfenvalerate, thiacloprid, niclosamide and alpha-cypermethrin. Twenty-six of the 38 pesticides evaluated failed to produce mean corrected mortalities >6% at application rates of up to 2 mg a.i. L⁻¹. Eight trials were conducted in flooded rice crops using small stainless steel enclosures and carbofuran, thiodicarb, niclosamide and bendiocarb at rates of 1 and 2 kg a.i. ha⁻¹. Trials were assessed 8–14 days after chemical application. None of these treatments produced a statistically significant decrease in Eukerria biomass, although consistent downward trends in response to higher treatment rates were evident in 2 trials (one with carbofuran and one with bendiocarb). Three trials with liquid pesticides watered into fallow rice fields were conducted with carbofuran (0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 kg a.i. ha⁻¹) and thiodicarb (0.94 and 1.87 kg a.i. ha⁻¹) however only the 5.0 kg a.i. ha⁻¹ carbofuran treatment provided significant (P < 0.05) levels of control. Preflood soil applications of liquid carbofuran, thiodicarb and niclosamide (2 kg a.i. ha⁻¹), granular carbofuran and granular ethoprophos (0.5–2 kg a.i. ha⁻¹) also did not provide statistically significant levels of control, although the 2 kg a.i. ha⁻¹ liquid and granular carbofuran treatments did provide moderate levels of suppression (49–84%). Although further field trials with compounds such as acetamiprid and lambda-cyhalothrin may prove valuable, our results suggest chemical control of E. saltensis may be difficult to achieve with environmentally acceptable pesticides applied at economically viable rates. Cultural approaches such as appropriate crop rotations and landforming to ensure uniformly shallow water should continue to form the basis of Eukerria management programs.     

Weed emergence as affected by maize (Zea mays L.)-cover crop rotations in contrasting arable soils of Zimbabwe under conservation agriculture

Weed control in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa is labour intensive or costly. Many researchers have therefore advocated for the use of cover crops in weed management as an affordable alternative for smallholders. Cover crops may be grown in rotations to suppress weeds and reduce the reliance on herbicides. The use of cover crops creates microenvironments that are either conducive or inhibitive to the emergence of certain weed species. A study, initiated in 2008 in contrasting soils at four different locations of Zimbabwe, investigated the effect of maize (Zea mays L.)-cover crop rotations on the emergence of weeds that showed dominance in those soils. Weed assessments were however, carried out from 2011 to 2014. The weed species Galinsoga parviflora Cav., Commelina benghalensis L., and Richardia scabra L. showed dominance in all four locations with weed densities as high as 500 plants m⁻² being recorded for R. scabra L. in a sandy soil. Maize-cover crop rotations resulted in higher densities of Bidens pilosa compared with maize monocropping (control treatment) due to its high nitrogen (N) requirement to produce more seeds. On the other hand, the integration of cover crops such as pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] that had poor shading qualities, due to large gaps or spaces and slower initial growth, had limited effects on competitive weeds such as Cyperus esculentus L. which tend to dominate exhausted soils. The density of C. esculentus was 38% greater in maize–pigeon pea rotations compared with the control treatment. Variability between seasons and sites affected emergence of all weeds in the present study, which masked long-term trends. The results suggest that there is need to identify the germination and emergence requirements of specific weeds and select cover crops best suitable for their control. The study provides useful information for farmers and advisors on the best cover crops for control of certain problematic weeds in different soil types of Zimbabwe.     

Weed control efficacy and winter wheat safety of a novel herbicide HW02

HW02, a pyruvate dehydrogenase inhibitor, is a newly developed herbicide for broadleaf weed control in wheat, maize and turf in China. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to evaluate its efficacy against weeds and safety to winter wheat. In the greenhouse experiment, this herbicide had higher activities than 2,4-D against Descurainia sophia (L.) Schur., Amaranthus retroflexus L., Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic., and Malachium aquaticum (L.) Fries.. When it was applied at late tillering stage of winter wheat in spring, the herbicide provided weed biomass reduction of 98%–100% at the rates 225–525 g a.i. ha⁻¹ and was safe to the crop at the rate of up to 900 g a.i. ha⁻¹. These results showed HW02 could be an alternative herbicide for resistant weed management because its mode of action is different from herbicides presently used.     

Yield and agronomic performance of maize hybrids resistant to the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

This study evaluated improved maize hybrids (Zea mays L.) with varying level of resistance to the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, for yield and agronomic traits for two seasons. A total of 22 improved maize hybrids and three commercial standards were tested. Out of the 22 tested, two hybrids CKPH08035 (7.4–9.9 t ha⁻¹) and CKPH08039 (7.3–9.8 t ha⁻¹) significantly out yielded the commercial standards WH505 (8.8 t ha⁻¹) and BH140 (5.5 t ha⁻¹). In addition to yield, the improved hybrids also possess desirable traits including good plant height, good plant and ear aspects and good husk cover. The hybrid CKPH08004 had the lowest Dobie index of susceptibility and was regarded as resistant to S. zeamais. Weevils fed with the resistant hybrids produced low numbers of F₁ generation weevils, had a high median developmental time and a low percentage of grain damage and grain weight loss. An increasing number of F₁ generation resulted in an increasing grain damage and grain weight loss. We found an inverse relationship between the susceptibility index and percent mortality. However, the numbers of F₁ generation, percent grain damage and grain weight loss were positively correlated with the susceptibility index. The use of resistant maize hybrids should be promoted in managing S. zeamais in stored maize under subsistence farming conditions in Africa.     

Evaluation of herbicides to manage herbicide-resistant corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) in winter cereals

Corn poppy is the most important broad-leaved weed in winter cereals in southern Europe. It is an increasing problem due to the appearance of herbicide-resistant biotypes. Experiments were conducted in north-eastern Spain with three corn poppy populations to determine the level of resistance to 2,4-D and tribenuron using seed-germination tests. Field experiments were conducted at sites from where the tested populations had been collected to test the effectiveness of various herbicides applied pre-emergence (PRE) or post-emergence (POST) in winter cereals. In the seed-germination tests, two populations were found to be 2,4-D-resistant and one resistant to both 2,4-D and tribenuron. In field trials, the efficacy of 2,4-D at 900 g a.i. ha⁻¹ ranged from 25 to 76% of reduction of plant densities, depending on season and population, indicating that all populations were 2,4-D-resistant in field conditions. Moreover, at 15 g a.i. ha⁻¹ tribenuron, one of the three populations (CU2) was only reduced by 65% in two seasons, indicating also the presence of resistance to tribenuron in this population in addition to 2,4-D. Florasulam at 6.25 g a.i. ha⁻¹ + 2,4-D at 300 g a.i. ha⁻¹ resulted in poor control (75–85%) in CU2 suggesting possible cross-resistance to this triazolopyrimidine. On average, all the other herbicides provided 90–100% control of corn poppy. Only PRE herbicides and the mixture 150 g a.i. ha⁻¹ bromoxynil + 150 g a.i. ha⁻¹ ioxynil + 450 g a.i. ha⁻¹ mecoprop in POST performed consistently well (>90% control). The results of this study indicate that 2,4-D and tribenuron-resistant corn poppy populations in winter cereals can be controlled by application of PRE or POST herbicides with alternative modes of action.     

Model predictions of winter rainfall effects on N dynamics of winter wheat rotation following legume cover crop or fallow

Winter rainfall in a Mediterranean region varies from year to year. Both release of inorganic N from soil organic matter (SOM) or a legume cover crop (LCC) and subsequent nitrate movement in the soil profile are strongly affected by winter rainfall, through its effects on soil water status and on vertical flux. N accumulation of a LCC also varies over years due to weather effects on growth. Thus, these two factors need to be taken into account for efficient use of SOM-N and LCC-N in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation. To determine how winter weather might affect the performance of wheat-fallow rotations that include an LCC grown and incorporated during the fallow year, we used the CERES-wheat model and a 46-season weather record to simulate N dynamics of 2-year unfertilized and irrigated winter-LCC wheat systems with high LCC (236 kg N ha⁻¹) or low LCC (118 kg N ha⁻¹) inputs. Unfertilized and fertilized fallow-wheat controls were also simulated. Within a given LCC input value, coefficients of variation for total seasonal N supply (the sum of predicted wheat N uptake, N leaching and inorganic soil N at wheat maturity) over years were <15%, despite the fluctuating winter rainfall (CV 48%). Average N leaching was predicted to be highest in the high LCC input system (108 kg N ha⁻¹), followed by the low LCC input system (86 kg N ha⁻¹) and midseason-intensive and planting-intensive fertilized wheat-fallow systems (82 and 72 kg N ha⁻¹, respectively), and least in the unfertilized wheat-fallow system (54 kg N ha⁻¹). N leaching exceeded 100 kg N ha⁻¹ in 4, 20, 16, 18, and 29 seasons out of 46 seasons, respectively, in the unfertilized and planting-intensive and midseason-intensive fertilized wheat-fallow rotations and in wheat rotations with low and high LCC inputs. There was no difference in predicted wheat yield among the four systems with N inputs from fertilizer or LCC, but yield was lower in the unfertilized wheat-fallow rotation. If the goal of use of LCC was to attain the same yield level as high LCC input or fertilized wheat system while diminishing the risk of N leaching, the low LCC input case met this goal in the short term. However, a simple balance sheet using the model showed that the N balance of the low LCC input system was −147 kg N ha⁻¹ season⁻¹, if we assumed 50% of LCC-N was derived from atmospheric fixation. The low-LCC-input system could therefore fail to maintain inherent soil N fertility in the long term unless nearly 100% LCC-N was derived from fixation.     

Impact of selective flame weeding on onion yield,pungency, flavonoid concentration,and weeds

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of multiple selective flame weeding treatments on onion (Allium cepa L.). Onions were flamed between one and six times over the course of the season with a high (72 kg propane ha⁻¹) or low (45 kg propane ha⁻¹) propane dose. In each treatment, one subplot was hand-weeded in addition to flame treatment to remove differential weed effects, while the other received only the prescribed flame weeding regimen as weed control. Overall, control of broadleaf weeds was better than that of grass species. Broadleaf weed density and shoot mass were reduced as propane dose and the number of flame treatments increased. Grass density was reduced by 50% in all flamed treatments compared to the non-treated control, but no differences between flamed treatments were observed. Effects of flame treatments on grass shoot mass were minimal. Among weed-free treatments, onion was able to tolerate up to six flame treatments at either dose without a loss of yield. Treatments that received only flame weeding as weed control had total onion yields 37 and 80% of the weed-free flamed treatments in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Flame weeding treatments had little effect on the time to reach maturity, onion pungency, or quercetin concentration.