Author : Shosha Annette Capps
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781267398178
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (981 download)
Book Synopsis Evaluation of Natural Product Herbicides for Organic and Conventional Specialty Crop Production in California by : Shosha Annette Capps
Download or read book Evaluation of Natural Product Herbicides for Organic and Conventional Specialty Crop Production in California written by Shosha Annette Capps and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Options for weed control in both organic and conventional specialty crops are restricted by the limited number of herbicides registered for use in these production systems. The purpose of this research is to increase options available to growers by investigating the efficacy of various natural product herbicides, including vinegar (acetic acid), C-Cide (5% citric acid), Green Match (d-Limonene 55%), Green Match EX (Lemongrass Oil 50%), Matran (50% clove oil), Raps (30% Ammonium Pelargonate, 20% Dimethyl Azelate), Racer (pelargonic acid), and Weed Zap (clove oil 45%, cinnamon oil 45%). These products were evaluated in greenhouse and field trials to assess weed control as effected by product, concentration, spray volume, adjuvant, weed type (grass or broadleaf) and weed species. The field trials associated with this project were conducted in grapes (2007/2008), tomatoes (2008), and lettuce (2008), and took place in Davis, CA and Napa, CA. Greenhouse experiments were ongoing and guided the development of field treatments. This research shows that natural products more effectively control broadleaf weeds than grasses and that higher concentrations and spray volumes increase control across all herbicides, with a larger effect shown from increasing spray volume. The most effective herbicides tested were Racer and vinegar (acetic acid), followed by Greenmatch EX, Matran EC, and Weed Zap. C-cide was the least effective product tested, although improved performance was observed in warm weather (tomato and lettuce) trials. Adjuvant use improved performance across all products, with the 0.05 percent rate producing better control than higher rates (0.5 or 1.0 percent) in the lettuce trial.