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Title: INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT IN VEGETABLE CROPS

Author
item Boydston, Rick
item Williams, Martin

Submitted to: Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2005
Publication Date: 12/1/2005
Citation: Boydston, R.A., Williams, M. 2005. Integrated weed management in vegetable crops. Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association Meetings, Pasco, WA, p. 1-4. http://www.pnva.org.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Weeds are present in all annual cropping systems. Most problem weeds in cultivated cropping systems are introduced species that are favored by certain production practices used to grow the crop. Integration of different weed control methods is important to prevent individual weed species from becoming the dominant weed and to prevent herbicide resistant weed biotypes from becoming prevalent. Weed control methods are often categorized as mechanical, cultural, biological, and chemical. No single control method should be used exclusively, as weeds will adapt. Three examples of integrating different methods of weed control taken from recent and ongoing research are discussed: volunteer potato control in snap beans – integrating preplant tillage with postemergence herbicides, volunteer potato control in sweet corn – integrating cultivation with postemergence herbicides, and wild proso millet control in sweet corn – integrating competitive hybrids with herbicide tolerant hybrids. Utilizing an integrated approach to weed management can improve control of the target weed and reduce herbicide rates needed for weed control.