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Title: Influence of corn gluten meal on squash plant survival and yields

Author
item Webber Iii, Charles
item SHREFLER, JAMES - OSU, LANE, OK
item TAYLOR, MERRITT - OSU, LANE, OK

Submitted to: HortTechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/4/2010
Publication Date: 8/1/2010
Citation: Webber III, C.L., Shrefler, J.W., Taylor, M.J. 2010. Influence of corn gluten meal on squash plant survival and yields. HortTechnology. 20(4):696-699.

Interpretive Summary: Corn gluten meal (CGM) is an organically approved, non-selective preemergence or preplant-incorporated, herbicide that inhibits root development, decreases shoot length, and reduces plant survival. Development of a mechanized application system by USDA scientists at Lane, OK, for the precise placement of CGM has increased its potential use and crop survival for organic vegetable production, especially in direct-seeded vegetables. The objective was to determine the ability to control weeds incorporating a CGM-free area for crop placement and growth. Neither CGM formulation (powdered or granulated), nor incorporation method (incorporated or non-incorporated), resulted in significant differences in plant survival or squash yields. Banded application (CGM-free areas) resulted in significantly greater crop survival and yields than broadcast applications. Banded applications of CGM may be useful in direct-seeded vegetables.

Technical Abstract: The precision placement of the limited number of organically approved herbicides increases their potential usefulness for organic production systems. Corn gluten meal (CGM) is a non-selective preemergence or preplant-incorporated herbicide that inhibits root development, decreases shoot length, and reduces plant survival. The development of a mechanized application system for the precise placement of CGM has increased its potential use in organic vegetable production, especially in direct-seeded vegetables. The objective of this research was to determine the impact of banded CGM applications on direct-seeded squash plant survival and yields. Neither CGM formulation (powdered or granulated), nor incorporation method (incorporated or non-incorporated), resulted in significant differences in plant survival or squash yields. However, the banded application resulted in significantly greater crop safety and yields than the broadcast (solid) applications. It was demonstrated that banded applications of CGM may be useful in direct-seeded squash production and other direct-seeded vegetables.