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Submitted to: University of Georgia Research Report
Publication Type: Experiment Station Publication Acceptance Date: 2/6/2007 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Solarization is a form of pest control using clear plastic mulch that allows sunlight to heat the soil to temperatures lethal to plant pests. Fallow tillage is a proven practice to reduce baseline weed densities. Field trials were conducted at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton, GA from 2003 to 2005 to evaluate integrated systems of pest control using solarization and fallow tillage. Treatments were all possible combinations of four solarization regimes and three fallow tillage regimes. Solarization regimes began in either May, July, September, or a non-solarized control. Plots were solarized using clear plastic mulch. Fallow tillage treatments were weekly, monthly, and a non-tilled control using a power-tiller. All solarization materials were removed in early October each year and turnip green were direct seeded into the pre-existing plots. The following spring, sweet corn were seeded and plots re-established a second time. Solarization beginning in May or July provided excellent control of yellow nutsedge in plots planted to turnip green and reduced densities of plant parasitic nematodes. Fallow tillage throughout the summer with a power-tiller at monthly or weekly intervals were equally effective. Yellow nutsedge in spring planted sweet corn responded similarly. These results show that an integrated system of solarization and fallow tillage can effectively reduce populations of yellow nutsedge to manageable levels without the use of fumigants or herbicides, provided that the solarization period during the summer last at least 90 days. |
