Location: Global Change and Photosynthesis Research
2016 Annual Report
Objectives
Objective 1: Develop control measures for weeds in vegetables, fruits, and specialty crops. Objective 2: Determine herbicide residues in harvested product.
Approach
Herbicides alone or in combination with cultural and mechanical methods will be
evaluated under field conditions and percent weed control by species, crop injury
and crop yield will be determined. Plant samples will be collected for determination of herbicide residues.
Progress Report
Crop tolerance to herbicides is being tested in field trials using twelve or more cultivars of each crop. Trials in sweet corn and/or popcorn include crop tolerance to the herbicide combinations metolachlor+mesotrione+bicyclopyrone and metolachlor+mesotrione+bicyclopyrone+atrazine. Trials in edamame include crop tolerance to pyroxasulfone, flumioxazin, flumioxazin+pyroxasulfone, flumioxazin+chlorimuron, flumioxazin+pyroxasulfone+chlorimuron, and flumioxazin+chlorimuron+metribuzin. Data are being submitted to the herbicide manufacturer, and some of these products are now available for minor crop use.
Accomplishments
1. Nascent weed management systems for edamame. Lack of effective weed management systems is a major barrier to producing edamame domestically in the U.S., the world's leading producer of grain-type soybean that also imports most of its edamame. ARS researchers in Urbana, IL developed and compared 10 systems that included cultural and mechanical tactics, as well as herbicides that have become registered for use on the crop in recent years or may become registered in the near future. The research identifies currently available weed management systems which are most effective, reducing reliance on hand weeding and improving competitiveness of U.S.-grown edamame.
Review Publications
Williams II, M.M. 2015. Managing weeds in commercial edamame production: current options and their outcomes. Weed Science. 63:954-961.
