ARS | Publication request: VOLUNTEER POTATO CONTROL OUTLOOK 2000

Submitted to: Spud Topics
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: February 1, 2000
Publication Date: March 1, 2000
Citation: BOYDSTON, R.A., SEYMOUR, M.D. VOLUNTEER POTATO CONTROL OUTLOOK 2000. SPUD TOPICS. VOL. 45(15). 2000.

Technical Abstract: Field surveys and soil temperature data indicate that volunteer potatoes left in the field after the 1999 harvest survived the mild winter of 1999- 2000. Minimum soil temperatures at 3 inches did not dip below 30.9 degrees F at three locations. Combining soil temperature data with past data on tuber burial depth, tuber mortality for 1999-2000 winter was estimated to fall between 27% and 49%. Control measures for volunteer potatoes are discussed which include fumigation with metham sodium and 1, 3, dichloropropene, treatment with herbicides (fluroxypyr, atrazine, glyphosate, dicamba, and oxyfluorfen), repeated cultivation, and rotating with competitive crops, such as wheat.