The Effect of Composted Organic Wastes on Weed Control Provided by Preemergence Herbicides

Abstract

Community waste management programs that include the composting of sewage sludge and yard wastes have become a necessity. Using these composts provides many benefits; however, increased levels of organic matter may reduce the effectiveness of preemergence herbicides. Determining how herbicide application rates may need to be adjusted when composted waste is incorporated into the soil may permit the use of these amendments without any decrease in weed control. This experiment examined the effect of two types of compost (composted sewage sludge and composted yard waste) on the weed control provided by four preemergence herbicides. The soil was a Hagerstown silt loam amended with 10%, 20%, or 30% compost by volume. Each mix was placed in half-gallon cardboard milk cartons. The cartons were seeded at 1/2 and 1/4 inches with a mixture of broadleaved weeds and grasses. Each soil mix was treated with simazine, oxyfluorfen, oryzalin, and metolachlor at two rates. Control was evaluated both visually by number and by the dry weight of the harvested weeds. Preliminary results indicate composted sewage sludge causes a greater reduction in herbicide efficacy than composted yard waste. Oryzalin and metolachlor were affected less than oxyfluorfen or simazine. The experiment was repeated using lower application rates. In one replication the soil mixes from the previous experiment were used. The second replication used a Hagerstown silty clay loam soil with fresh compost. The results of this experiment will provide preliminary information for future field studies designed to determine if the application rates of preemergence herbicides need to be adjusted when fields are amended with composted organic matter.