Abstract
Mustard seed meal (MSM) derived from Sinapis alba controls weeds for several weeks following application to soil, but also has potential to injure the planted crop. Producers of certified organic potatoes typically utilize a combination of cover crops, soil hilling, harrowing, and cultivation for weed control. Once the potato canopy nears row closure, most late emerging weeds are suppressed by the dense potato canopy. MSM may have value for early season weed suppression in potato, but has not been previously tested. Our objectives were to determine the weed control efficacy and potato tolerance to MSM. We evaluated response of potatoes and weeds to MSM applied at 1.1, 2.2, and 4.5 MT ha-1 applied in a band on the potato hill just after a shallow harrowing and prior to potato emergence as part of an integrated weed management program in potatoes. MSM applied at 2.2 and 4.5 MT ha-1 reduced early season grass and broadleaf weed density 73 to 99% and 54 to 98%, respectively, in potato and reduced late season broadleaf weed biomass 71 to 94% in all three years tested. Early season grass weed density in potato was reduced by MSM at 2.2 and 4.5 MT ha-1. Late season grass weed biomass was reduced by the highest rate of 4.5 MT ha-1. MSM at 4.5 MT ha-1 caused minor injury to potato (3 to 15%) at 3 weeks after emergence, but did not reduce total tuber yields or percentage of US No.1 tubers. MSM could be a component of an integrated weed control program in potato.
Highlights
Consumer demand for certified organic produce grown without synthetic pesticides continues to increase and with the proliferation of organic agriculture, the need for new bioherbicides to control weeds has grown (Cai & Gu, 2016).Weed management in conventional potato production relies heavily on synthetic herbicides due to their outstanding efficacy, ease of use, and relatively low cost
Season grass weed density was reduced by the two highest rates of Mustard seed meal (MSM) and broadleaf weed densities were reduced by the highest rate of MSM compared to nontreated checks in 2006 (Table 2)
In 2007, early season grass and broadleaf weed densities were reduced by the two highest rates of MSM compared to the nontreated checks
Summary
Consumer demand for certified organic produce grown without synthetic pesticides continues to increase and with the proliferation of organic agriculture, the need for new bioherbicides to control weeds has grown (Cai & Gu, 2016).Weed management in conventional potato production relies heavily on synthetic herbicides due to their outstanding efficacy, ease of use, and relatively low cost. Weed management in organically grown potatoes typically consists of a combination of an early cultivation that removes the top of the hill formed at planting (drag off), a cultivation to reform the hill (rehilling) that uproots and buries early emerging weed seedlings prior to potato emergence, additional shallow cultivations if needed, and reservoir tillage (dammer-diking) that creates shallow pockets in the furrows to improve water infiltration and prevent runoff (Boydston & Vaughn, 2002; Boydston, 2010). Excessive cultivation decreases soil organic matter, increases soil erosion, and has potential to injure crop roots. A biopesticide that could control weeds and decrease the need for cultivation would be useful
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