- Author: Jorge Antonio Angeles
- Posted by: Gale Perez
Silverleaf nightshade, Solanum Elaeagnifolium, is perennial weed that is native to South America, Mexico, American Southwest and Southern States. This herbaceous and woody summer weed belongs to Solanaceae just like other weeds such as black nightshade (Solanum nigrum), hairy nightshade (Solanum physalifolium) and horsenettle (Solanum carolinense). It can be found throughout California and in grows in desert and semi-arid areas. Silverleaf nightshade is often found growing in different cropping systems, rangeland, pastures, roadsides, and disturbed areas. Silverleaf nightshade is highly adaptable and can tolerate a wide range of soil and climatic conditions such as high temperatures, low rainfall,...
- Author: Tong Zhen
- Author: Bradley Hanson
- Posted by: Gale Perez
Tong Zhen is a Ph.D. student in the Hanson Lab at UC Davis.
Non-chemical weed control usually is based on physical methods (e.g. tillage or mowing) or thermal methods such as propane flaming or steam. Electric Weed Control (EWC) is another thermal method that passes electrical current through target plants and the heat generated by electrical resistance damages plant cells. With funding from the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), we recently initiated new research with collaborators at Oregon State University and Cornell University to evaluate an electrical weed control device in orchard and berry crops.
- Author: Lee Allen
- Posted by: Gale Perez
From Page 13 of the Western Farm Press (May 2022) magazine
Electric weed control takes hold in orchards
By Lee Allen (Contributing writer)
Sometimes it takes a long time for an idea to be embraced by the public. Take electric weed control, a concept first patented in 1890, yet it hadn't received much attention until a few decades ago.
“Even if current ways still work, new ways are inevitable because they may...
/h3>- Author: Drew A Wolter
- Posted by: Gale Perez
Weeds in young orchards compete with trees for orchard resources such as sunlight, water and nutrients. This can lead to reductions in growth and future yields. If weed stands are allowed to mature, not only are they harder to control via chemical and mechanical methods, but they can also create cover for voles and gophers which can then damage tree trunks, root systems and irrigation systems.
Weed management can be particularly difficult in newly planted and young orchards because rapid weed growth is accelerated by frequent irrigation necessary to establish trees, fertilizer inputs to grow the trees, and the abundant sunshine due to small tree size. In addition, control is challenging because tree trunks may still be green and...
- Author: Drew A Wolter
- Posted by: Gale Perez
Why scout for weeds?
While weeds are present in every orchard, there is variation in the weed species composition and density from orchard to orchard. Scouting for weeds is the basis for a good Integrated Weed Management (IWM) plan. Information gathered from weed scouting allows growers to:
- Evaluate the current year's weed control program
- Adjust control practices for the following year
- Discover weed stands and possible resistance before they spread throughout the orchard
- Select the best control option for species of concern, such as:
- Choosing appropriate management...