Abstract

This experiment was conducted to determine temporal and spatial weed management characteristics for tart cherry orchards. Annual ryegrass and lambsquarter were planted in tree rows of a 14-year-old tart cherry orchard. Vegetation was controlled with nonresidual herbicides (Gramoxone + B-1956) either all season, May, June, July, August, before harvest, after harvest, or not controlled. Shoot growth measurements showed significantly more growth by trees without weed competition during the entire season, May, June, and before harvest compared to the weedy control and postharvest, July, or August treatments. Weedy early season plots reduced the shoot growth by half. All season, before harvest, May, and June weed-free plots showed higher amounts of leaf N compared with weedy controls or late-season treatments. Early season weed control is more important than late season. Vegetation-free areas of 0, 2, 3, and 4 m2 were maintained during 1998 by postemergence herbicides. Tissue analysis showed higher N concentration in leaves with vegetation controlled to 2 m2 or more compared to the weedy control. The critical vegetation free area for young cherry trees is between 0 and 2 m2.

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