- Author: Richard Smith
- Author: Steven Tjosvold
2010-2011 Roadside Weed Control Evaluation with Organic and Conventional Herbicides
Richard Smith and Steve Tjosvold, Farm Advisors
University of California Cooperative Extension, Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties
A trial was established near Bonny Doon, California (in the Santa Cruz mountains). The objective of the trial was to screen alternative roadside herbicides in the wake of the ban on the use of glyphosate for roadside weed control imposed by the Santa Cruz County board of supervisors in 2005. The plots were in an area that had large population of French broom. Other weeds present...
- Re-posted by: Gale Perez
- Posted by: David Low
Abstract: Farmers view weed management and the risk of lower yields as barriers to transition from conventional to organic agriculture. The 3 years of transition before organic certification can be used to implement strategies to suppress weeds and improve soil fertility. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of five organic transition strategies on soil quality, weed suppression, and yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and potato (Solanum tuberosum) in the first year of organic production. The transition strategies included a tilled fallow, nontreated weedy, high diversity prairie mixture, smother crops, and vegetable rotation. Subplots with and without compost application were...
- Re-posted by: Gale Perez
- Author: Richard Smith
A video entitled, "Alternative Cultivators for Organic Vegetable Production" is now available on YouTube. The video was produced by Aaron Heinrich and Richard Smith and presents information on new developments in automated weed control technology and research information on blind cultivators such as torsion and finger weeders. The video can be accessed at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4kzebMG6rE
For more information on alternative cultivation see the blog below. Also, go to
http://cemonterey.ucdavis.edu/Vegetable_Crops/Weed_Reports/
- Re-posted by: Gale Perez
- Posted by: David Low
Abstract: Weed control in blackberries (Rubus spp.) is a serious problem for organic producers and those who wish to reduce their reliance on herbicides. Three landscape fabrics and one industrial grade white on black plastic were evaluated for weed control in conjuction with newly planted ‘Kiowa’ root cuttings in Feb. 2006 at a site near Monte Alto, Texas (26◦N Lat.). In the no-fabric treatment, weeds were controlled mechanically by hand. The reflectant white plastic and weave weed barriers reduced mid-summer soil temperatures at 10 cm and reduced the magnitude in soil temperature fluctuation. Field plant vigor and plant height measured in 2007 (only) were improved by use of weed barriers. The time required for plot...
- Posted By: Gale Perez
- Written by: Posted by David Low | WeedsNews2801 | January 22, 2012 | 11:15 PM
Abstract: Organic mulches could be a part of a wide strategy of integrated weed management in vegetable production systems. A 2-year field experiment was carried out in Central Italy with the aim of assessing the effect of grass and legume mulches, coming from winter cover crops, combined with herbicide or mechanical hoeing on weed control, on weed community (density and aboveground biomass of each species), and yield of a pepper crop. Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), oat (Avena sativa L.) and their mixture were sown in early autumn and suppressed in May. The cover crop aboveground biomass was cut and arranged in strips which were used as beds for pepper seedlings transplanted in paired rows. A conventional treatment...