Location: Horticultural Crops Research Unit
Project Number: 2072-21000-055-001-G
Project Type: Grant
Start Date: Sep 1, 2018
End Date: Oct 31, 2021
Objective:
1. Evaluate saturated steam and rotary brush weed control performance in organic blueberry as compared to organic herbicides and record operational cost of each management option.
2. Examine the efficacy and crop safety of saturated steam as a selective tool to manage weeds growing at the base of blueberry plants.
Approach:
Efficacy of weed control using steam and a rotary brush will be evaluated in two field experiments conducted in commercial organic blueberry fields in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. These plantings incorporate synthetic mulches (weed-mat) and are representative of industry practices. The performance of these two weed management approaches will be compared to organic herbicides. We will also evaluate the sequential application of saturated steam or rotary brush followed by organic herbicides. The experimental design will be a randomized block design with four replicates.
