Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #201800
Title: Non-pungent jalapeno peppers: Weed control and yields

Author
item Webber Iii, Charles
item SHREFLER, JAMES - OSU, LANE, OK
item Russo, Vincent

Submitted to: Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2006
Publication Date: 2/28/2007
Citation: Webber III, C.L., Shrefler, J.W., Russo, V.M. 2007. Non-pungent jalapeno peppers: Weed control and yields [abstract]. Weed Science Society of America, February 4-8, 2007, San Antonio, Texas. Paper No. 44.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Unknown to most consumers, non-pungent jalapeno peppers are used for making commercial picante sauces (salsas). The non-pungent jalapeno peppers produce the required jalapeno flavor along with the appropriate texture necessary for picante sauce. Capsaicin is added during processing to produce the various levels of pungency (i.e. high, medium, and mild). These peppers have a potential for outstanding yields in Oklahoma, but additional research is required to determine the crop safety of certain herbicides when used specifically for weed control in non-pungent jalapeno peppers. The objectives of this research were to determine the weed control efficacy and crop safety of a combination of preplant incorporated herbicides on transplanted non-pungent jalapeno peppers. A field study was conducted during the summer of 2005 on 91-cm wide raised beds at Lane, OK. The herbicides in the study included napropramide (2.2 kg ai/ha), clomazone (1.1 kg ai/ha), bensulide (6.7 kg ai/ha), and trifluralin (1.1 kg ai/ha) used separately, and in combination with one of the other herbicides. All herbicides were applied preplant incorporated just prior to transplanting on 6 May 2005. Pace 105 non-pungent jalapeno peppers were transplanted on 6 May 2005 with a 46-cm spacing between plants within the rows. Fruit were harvested on 21 July 2005, 76 days after transplanting. Plants treated with only clomazone produced the greatest yields (16.4 mt/ha) compared to plants treated with the other herbicides used individually, although it was not significantly greater than napropramide (9.2 mt/ha). Four of the five top yielding herbicide treatments included the use of clomazone. The tank mixture of napropramide and bensulide produced the second greatest yield (16.2 mt/ha). Weed interference in the weedy-check reduced yields by 86% compared to the weed-free treatment’s 17.5 mt/ha. These results demonstrate that clomazone used individually or in combination with certain other herbicides, can maintain non-pungent jalapeno yields equivalent to weed-free levels.