ARS | Publication request: Weed Research in Mint

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Washington Mint Growers Winter Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: November 1, 2006
Publication Date: December 1, 2006
Citation: Boydston, R.A. and Baker, R. 2006. Weed Research in Mint. Proceedings of the Washington Mint Growers Winter Conference. December 2006. Pg 21-42.

Technical Abstract: Production of high quality and high yielding peppermint and spearmint oil requires effective management of weeds. Since soil disturbance is kept to a minimum to reduce the spread of Verticillium wilt in mint production, weed control is accomplished primarily with herbicides. Flucarbazone, and propoxycarbazone applied to dormant peppermint caused moderate crop injury and did not reduce oil yields. Carfentrazone and pyraflufen ethyl applied preemergence peppermint and spearmint did not injure mint, but failed to control prickly lettuce and marestail. Applied postemergence, carfentrazone and pyraflufen ethyl injured mint. Low rates of mesotrione applied postemergence to peppermint temporarily injured mint, did not reduce oil yield, and controlled prickly lettuce and marestail. MCPB and clopyralid were the least injurious of six auxin inhibitor herbicides tested on native spearmint, Scotch spearmint, and peppermint. Mustard (Sinapis alba) seed meal surface applied preemergence to newly planted peppermint controlled several annual broadleaf and grass weeds without appreciable injury to peppermint.