Comparison of various weed control programs for potatoes

All weed control programs resulted in satisfactory weed control. Costs of controlling weeds ranged from $10 to $93/ha. Cultivation alone was the cheapest method of controlling weeds. Controlling weeds by using herbicides alone with no cultivation resulted in the highest weed control costs but tended to give the best weed control at harvest. Herbicides saved one to two cultivations. EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate) gave slightly better control of green foxtail [Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.] and slightly poorer control of broadleaf weeds than trifluralin (α,α,α,-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N, N-dipropyl-p-toluidine). Cultivation helped control weeds but had no other apparent beneficial or adverse effect on potatoes. The correlation coefficient between total tuber yield and dry weight of weeds was ?0.97 at Grand Forks, North Dakota and ?0.85 at Casselton, North Dakota.     

Chemical weed control in potatoes

Nine herbicide treatments were applied to potatoes grown at three locations in each of 3 years. The locations were characterized by widely different soil types—silty clay loam, sandy loam, and muck—and by differences in rainfall and temperatures during the growing season. None of the herbicide treatments applied pre-emergence gave adequate weed control at all locations and/or in all years. EPTC at 6 lb per acre (6.72 kg/ha) gave excellent weed control on both mineral soils but not on muck. Metabromuron at 4 lb per acre (4.48 kg/ha gave excellent weed control only on the low organic matter sandy loam. Propachlor at 6 lb. (6.72 kg/ha) and 2 lb amiben plus 3 lb propachlor (2.24 plus 3.36 kg/ha) gave variable control. Four herbicides: 1 lb paraquat (1.12 kg/ha), 2 lb linuron (2.24 kg/ha), 6 lb dinoseb (6.72 kg/ha) and 6 lb dinoseb plus 2.25 dalapon (6.72 plus 2.52 kg/ha) applied at potato plant emergence, when weeds were in the 2–6 leaf stage, also gave variable control but as a group generally gave better control than the pre-emergence herbicides, particularly on muck soil. The effectiveness of herbicides applied at potato plant emergence was less affected by soil type than those applied pre-emergence but was affected by the degree of weed emergence. On muck soil, weeds generally emerged well before “at emergence” herbicide treatments were applied. Tuber yields were not directly affected by the herbicides, but were reduced where weed control was inadequate. Tuber specific gravity and chip color were unaffected by the herbicides.     

Effectiveness of selective herbicides for the control of annual weed species in lathyrus (Lathyrus sativus L.)

Field research was conducted over a four-year period, 1987–1990, to evaluate the efficacy and selectivity of trifluralin, metribuzin, cyanazine, bentazone, imazethapyr and several formulations of MCPA in lathyrus (Lathyrus sativus L.). Lathyrus exhibited satisfactory tolerance to trifluralin applied pre-planting soil incorporated and to postemergence applications of bentazone and imazethapyr. Lathyrus tolerated both pre-planting soil-incorporated and postemergence applications of metribuzin in dry years, but was injured by this herbicide in years with adequate precipitation. Tank mixtures of metribuzin or cyanazine with sethoxydim plus surfactant markedly increased the phytotoxicity of these herbicides to lathyrus. Lathyrus was sensitive to all formulations of MCPA and phytotoxicity increased with the addition of sethoxydim plus surfactant to the spray mixture.     

The critical period for weed control in dry-seeded rice

The critical crop-weed competition period in a dry-seeded rice system is an important consideration in formulating weed management strategies. Field experiments were conducted in the summer seasons of 2012 and 2013 at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India, to determine the extent of yield loss in two different rice cultivars (PR 114 and PR 115) with different periods of weed interference. Twelve weed control timings were used to identify critical periods of weed competition in dry-seeded rice. PR 114, a long-duration rice cultivar (145 d) having slower initial growth than PR 115 (125 d), was more prone to yield losses. In both years, 100% yield loss was observed where weeds were not controlled throughout the season. In weed-free plots, the grain yield of PR 114 was 6.39–6.80 t ha⁻¹, for PR 115, it was 6.49–6.87 t ha⁻¹. Gompertz and logistic equations fitted to yield data in response to increasing periods of weed control and weed interference showed that, PR 114 had longer critical periods than PR 115. Critical weed-free periods to achieve 95% of weed-free yield for PR 114 was longer than for PR 115 by 31 days in 2012 and 26 days in 2013. Weed infestation also influenced the duration of critical periods. Higher weed pressure in 2012 than in 2013 increased the duration of the critical period of crop-weed competition in that year. The identification of critical crop-weed competition periods for different cultivars will facilitate improved decision-making regarding the timing of weed control and the adoption of cultivars having high weed-suppressing abilities. This will also contribute to the development of integrated weed management in dry-seeded rice systems.     

Management of Sinapis alba subsp. mairei winter cover crop residues for summer weed control in southern Spain

Sinapis alba subsp. mairei (H. Lindb. fil.) Maire, a wild subspecies of S. alba L., which is distributed throughout the Mediterranean basin, has been recently introduced in southern Spain as a winter cover crop in olive groves. The reason behind using this cover crop is for the reduction of Verticillium dahliae inoculum. The effectiveness of this cover crop for weed control has not been assessed to date, despite weed flora in olive groves being highly diverse and competitive, especially in spring and summer, when rainfall is low, temperature is high and crop water needs are at their maximum. The objective of this work is to assess the ability and optimum management of S. alba subsp. mairei cover crop residues for controlling summer weeds. This work offers a more detailed study of the influence of this cover crop on the seedling emergence of Amaranthus blitoides (prostrate pigweed) and Chenopodium album (common lambsquarters) in rainfed field conditions. A factorial design was conducted during the 2002 and 2003 seasons. The studied factors were the following: (1) S. alba subsp. mairei cover crops versus bare soil; (2) two different S. alba residue management techniques after mowing and chopping (incorporation into the soil with shallow tillage versus leaving the residues as a mulch); and (3) the effect on two artificially sown-out summer weeds (prostrate pigweed versus common lambsquarters). The S. alba subsp. mairei cover crop residues reduced the weed infestation by 50 and 60%, and it delayed weed appearance by 3 and 4 weeks the first and second years, respectively, compared with bare soil. The optimum cover crop residue management for weed control was to leave mulch. This management was especially efficient for controlling prostrate pigweed, whether no differences were found for common lambsquarters control when the residues were incorporated into the soil with tillage. These results indicate the great ability of S. alba subsp. mairei cover crop residues to provide summer weed control in rainfed field conditions. Its use, therefore, can contribute to the reduction of the number of herbicide treatments in olive groves.     

北方地区豆田杂草防除技巧

北方春季干旱多大风,严重影响除草剂药效,因此掌握豆田杂草防除技巧对指导豆田杂草防除工作具有十分重大的现实意义.本文阐述了豆田苗前封闭除草和苗后茎叶处理的化学除草技巧,以期为农业科技人员提供防除豆田杂草的理论参考.     

Broadening weed control with imazamethabenz combinations

Broad-spectrum weed control by use of imazamethabenz (AC 222 293) in herbicide combinations was investigated in the greenhouse. Imazamethabenz at rates ranging from 0·1 to 0·4 kg a.i./ha effectively controlled wild oats (Avena fatua L.). Additional control of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) was achieved when imazamethabenz, plus octoxynol surfactant, was applied in combination with MCPA (amine or ester) or commercial MCPA mixtures (bromoxynil/MCPA and cyanazine/MCPA). Only inclusion of propanil/MCPA in the combination reduced wild-oat control by imazamethabenz at the lower rate (0·1 kg/ha). Control of green foxtail (Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.) was also obtained by use of fenoxaprop-ethyl in combination with imazamethabenz (plus octoxynol). Three-way mixtures of imazamethabenz (or plus octoxynol), MCPA alone or mixture, and fenoxaprop-ethyl may provide practical control of grass and broad-leaved weeds in the field.     

Evaluation of various methods of weed control for increasing rhubarb yields

Four herbicides, monthly handweeding and a 15 cm deep straw mulch were evaluated for weed control during 1982 to 1987 on rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum L. ≡ R. rhaponticum L. ‘Victoria Red’). The straw-mulched plots produced larger plants, provided higher yields and had fewer weeds than all other treatments during the five years of these field trials. Yields in 1987 were 29·42, 17·65 and 13·06 tonnes/hectare for straw, handweeded and herbicide treatments, respectively. Monthly handweeding produced large plants and high yields, but required much more hand labour than mulching, making straw mulch the most cost-effective treatment. The four herbicides evaluated (glyphosate, fluazifop, sethoxydim and propyzamide) provided weed control for up to 1 month and would require reapplication during the growing season.     

Use of uniconazole to control plant height for an industrial/pharmaceutical maize platform

A variety of crops and their production systems have been proposed as platforms for plant-made pharmaceuticals (PMPs) and plant-made industrial compounds (PMICs), each with their own advantages and challenges. Maize grown in isolated, confined environments avoids several challenging issues associated with future production of PMPs/PMICs. When grown under optimizing conditions of temperature, nutrition, and water status, however, maize tends to elongate excessively, which contributes to lodging and interferes with delivery of sufficient overhead electric lighting to the inner foliar canopy where ears develop. Suppression of extensive stem elongation without compromising grain yield would help in delivering overhead light into the foliar canopy for efficient grain production. The plant-growth retardant uniconazole (UCZ) was tested for its effects on maize height and grain yield. UCZ reduced plant height effectively, but dosages that strongly suppressed stem elongation also decreased grain yield, ear length, and cob weight. Duration of growth suppression was prolonged at high UCZ concentrations. UCZ also induced branching of maize, which was enhanced as concentrations increased. A range of ear types occurred on branches, with some conversion of ears to tassels at high UCZ concentrations. Minimum stem diameter declined with increasing UCZ concentration. Plant height was reduced from 306 cm to 232 cm (−25%) using a concentration of 1.0 mg/L UCZ without affecting grain yield of 180-200 g per plant. This low UCZ concentration caused 1-2 basal branches to form that would not affect planting density in a cropping situation.     

Use of propanil and quinclorac tank mixtures for broadleaf weed control on rice (Oryza sativa) levees

Broadleaf weed control on rice levees is an emerging problem faced by growers and consultants in Arkansas, USA. Field experiments were conducted at Lonoke and Stuttgart, Arkansas, in 2007 and 2008 to evaluate the effectiveness of various postemergence herbicides applied alone or in tank mixture with propanil or quinclorac for large-sized broadleaf weed control on rice levees. Rice injury was minimal (≤5%) from all herbicides at 2 weeks after treatment (WAT), and no injury was observed at 4 WAT. Sida spinosa (prickly sida) and Amaranthus palmeri (Palmer amaranth) were the most difficult-to-control weeds on levees. Of the herbicides applied alone, 2,4-D generally supplied the highest and most consistent weed control across the six species evaluated. Quinclorac was generally a better tank-mix partner than propanil for control of the weed spectrum evaluated. Propanil at 4.48 kg/ha lowered the activity of several systemic herbicides on S. spinosa, Polygonum pensylvanicum (Pennsylvania smartweed), and Ipomoea wrightii (palmleaf morningglory). Quinclorac plus 2,4-D was the most consistent tank mixture, providing more than 80% control of all weeds at 2 and 4 WAT, except A. palmeri.     

Use of plant extracts in the control of common bean anthracnose

Three hundred (300) methanol extracts of barks, leaves, flowers and stems of 200 plant species from Alto Rio Grande and Vale do São Francisco regions, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, were prepared and submitted to an in vitro growth test with the fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, causal agent of anthracnose in common bean. Extracts from 13 plant species (Astronium fraxinifolium, Inga marginata, Malva sylvestris, Matayba elaeagnoides, Miconia argyrophylla, Myrcia fallax, Ocimum gratissimum, Origanum vulgare, Rollinia emarginata, Siparuna arianeae, Styrax pohlii, Tabebuia serratifolia and Trichilia pallida) presented antifungal activity and were used in other in vitro assays. Extracts from M. argyrophylla, M. fallax, O. vulgare, S. arianeae and S. pohlii were the most promising for the inhibition of the mycelial growth while the extracts of M. argyrophylla, M. elaeagnoides and O. gratissimum presented the best results for the inhibition of conidial germination. Under greenhouse conditions, the extracts of M. argyrophylla and O. vulgare caused the greatest reductions (41.82% and 37.65%, respectively) in disease severity when a local effect assay was carried out. In the systemic effect assay, also in a greenhouse, the most promising extracts were those from I. marginata, M. argyrophylla, M. fallax, M. sylvestris, O. gratissimum, O. vulgare and S. arianeae, which reduced the severity of the anthracnose to values below 35% of the observed for the control. Therefore, future studies with these plant species should be carried out to develop new products to control the common bean anthracnose.     

双低油菜保优高产栽培技术研究——除草技术初探

调研发现 ,目前油菜田间杂草群落向繁复变迁 ,种群更新快 ,易产生抗药性。根据双低油菜保优高产栽培基本要求 ,防除杂草应坚持以农业防治为主 ,充分发挥生物自控能力 ,加强预测预报 ,科学用药 ,将杂草防控在经济安全阈值以内 ,使双低油菜生产达到高产、高效和高出油率的“三高”目的。     

Value of information about weed distribution for improving postemergence control decisions

Weeds apparently occur in patches within fields. This spatial distribution has implications for choosing the most profitable postemergence control measure, because weed distribution influences the yield loss from competition, the design of the optimal scouting plan and the feasibility of patch spraying. Simulation models that use data on the distribution and composition of actual populations may be used to examine these implications for choosing between many potential treatments for postemergence control of a mixed species population. Simulation experiments were carried out to investigate the value of information about weed patchiness for improving the recommendations of a decision model (HERB) for postemergence weed control in soybean. Information about weed patchiness was more valuable when used to account for the possible error in the density estimates obtained by scouting than when used to increase the accuracy of the yield loss prediction. Accurate scouting was shown to be important for choosing treatments when control is required, as well as determining if control is necessary. Simulation results may be used to identify the optimal scouting plan once information about the cost of scouting becomes available.     

乙羧氟乳油防除春大豆田苗杂草示范总结

近几年大豆田杂草对大豆的生长造成极大威胁,在大豆生长期间,杂草与大豆争水、争肥,严重影响大豆产量,经试验证明江苏连云港立本农药化工有限公司生产的10%乙羧氟草醚乳油、江苏长青农化股份有限公司生产的20%乙羧氟·精喹禾乳油对春大豆田一年生阔叶杂草防除效果较好,对大豆田各种杂草的防除达90%以上。     

烯禾啶防除棉田禾本科杂草田间药效试验

通过试验可以看出,200g/L烯禾啶Ec用于防除棉田禾拳科杂草,见效快,防效高,对棉花安全;用药时间上应掌握在禾本科杂草2—5叶期为最佳;建议使用1500—1800ml/hm^2,最终株防效迭95％左右,鲜重防效迭99％以上。     

Efficacy of a new glyphosate formulation for weed control in maize in southwest Nigeria

A field trial in 2003 and 2004 assessed the efficacy of a new formulation of glyphosate, Touchdown Forte HiTech (glyphosate-TF) and two older versions, Roundup (glyphosate-RP) and Touchdown (glyphosate-TD) for weed control in Nigeria. Treatments were glyphosate-TF at 0.25–1.25 kg a.i./ha, glyphosate-RP at 1.8 kg a.i./ha, and glyphosate-TD at 1.0 kg a.i./ha. Weeded and unweeded treatments were controls. Visual evaluations of weed control at 4 and 8 weeks after treatment (WAT) in both years indicated that glyphosate-TF at all doses gave moderate to complete control of all major weeds (50–100%). At 4 WAT, control of Ageratum conyzoides L., Commelina benghalensis L., Ipomoea involucrata P. Beauv., Brachiaria comota [Hochst ex A. Rich] stapf, and Acalypha ciliata Forssk was at a level similar to that in the weeded control. In 2003, all herbicide formulations and the weeded control reduced Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. shoot dry biomass to the same level at 8 WAT (91–100%) and at maize harvest (83–88%). In 2004, 0.50–1.25 kg a.i./ha of glyphosate-TF and 1.8 kg a.i./ha of glyphosate-RP gave 95% reduction at 8 WAT and 97% at harvest, similar to the weeded control. Maize grain yield in the weeded control and herbicide treatments was 2.8 times higher than that in the unweeded control in both years. These results indicate that glyphosate-TF is effective for weed control in maize at herbicide doses lower than the older formulations.