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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #76132
Title: EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE WEED MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN POTATOES

Author
item Boydston, Rick
item Vaughn, Steven

Submitted to: Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Several weed management alternatives were tested in Russet Burbank potatoes in 1994 and 1995. A standard herbicide treatment of metribuzin applied preemergence at 0.4 kg ai ha-1 was compared to: 1) a cultivation with tine tooth harrow at potato emergence followed by a rehilling with rolling cultivators; 2) reservoir tillage in the furrows when potatoes were 15 cm tall; 3) a fall-planted green manure crop of winter rye, followed by metribuzin at 0.4 kg ha-1 applied in a 29 cm band; and 4) a fall-planted green manure crop of rapeseed followed by reservoir tillage in the furrows. In both 1994 and 1995, the standard metribuzin treatment reduced early season weed density and final weed biomass equal to or better than all other treatments. A fall-planted rye green manure crop followed by a banded application of metribuzin controlled early season weeds equal to the standard broadcast herbicide treatments. Potato tuber yield following the rye treatment was equal to the standard herbicide-treated plots in 1994. Cultivation reduced early season weed densities, but later germinating weeds and injury to potatoes from cultivation reduced potato yield. Potato tuber yield following rapeseed and reservoir tillage was reduced by 30% compared to a standard herbicide treatment. A green manure crop of winter rye followed by banding metribuzin in the potato hill was an effective alternative weed management system which consistently controlled weeds, while decreasing herbicide use and maintaining potato yield.