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Microencapsulated Herbicide-Treated Bark Mulches for Nursery Container Weed Control

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Hannah M. Mathers*
Affiliation:
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University, 2001 Fyffe Court, Columbus, OH, 43210
Luke T. Case
Affiliation:
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University, 2001 Fyffe Court, Columbus, OH, 43210
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: mathers.7@osu.edu.

Abstract

Nursery container preemergence herbicides must be applied multiple times, usually every 6 to 8 wk, in order to maintain acceptable weed control. Nursery growers have identified extended duration of container preemergence activity as a research priority for reduction of herbicide usage and costs. The objective of this study was to determine if the combination of slow-release (microencapsulated [ME]) formulations of alachlor and acetochlor with wood-based organic mulches could provide extended efficacy and reduced phytotoxicity vs. over-the-top (OTT) sprays or mulch alone. Efficacy and phytotoxicity studies were conducted over 3 yr with various plants. Both acetochlor formulation OTT sprays reduced spirea shoot dry weights at 45 and 110 days after treatment (DAT) compared with the controls, and emulsifiable concentrate (EC) acetochlor OTT spray also reduced shoot dry weights of rose. No herbicide-treated bark mulch (TBM) combination reduced rose or spirea shoot dry weights. EC acetochlor + hardwood (in 2003) was the only treatment to provide 100% weed control at 45 and 110 DAT. The addition of EC or ME acetochlor to mulch reduced phytotoxicity and extended efficacy in 2002 and 2003; alachlor EC or ME TBM did not. Regardless of bark type, 3-yr average EC and ME TBM were 80% more effective than untreated bark mulch (UBM) and 83% and 98% more effective at 45 and 110 DAT, respectively than their comparable OTT sprays. Of the eight treatments that received ratings above commercially acceptable, averaged over dates and years, the three providing the least phytotoxicity and greatest extent, consistency, and duration of efficacy were all TBM combinations: EC acetochlor + Douglas fir or hardwood bark, EC acetochlor + pine, and ME acetochlor + pine. TBM-reduced phytotoxicity compared with OTT sprays.

Los herbicidas pre-emergentes para macetas en viveros deben aplicarse m°ltiples veces, usualmente cada 6 u 8 semanas para mantener un control de malezas aceptable. Cultivadores en invernaderos han señalado que lograr una larga duración del efecto pre- emergente de los herbicidas en macetas es una importante prioridad para la investigación, para reducir el uso del mismo así como sus costos. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar si una combinación de una fórmula de liberación prolongada [micro-encapsulado (“ME”)], de alachlor y acetochlor como tratamiento para el pajote orgánico de madera, podría extender la eficacia y reducir la fitotoxicidad cuando comparado con herbicidas aplicados por aspersión (OTT over-the-top) o con sólo el uso del pajote. Los estudios de eficacia y la reducción de la fitotoxicidad se realizaron por más de tres años en diversas plantas. Las dos formulaciones de acetochlor en aspersiones OTT disminuyeron el peso seco de los brotes de la spirea a los 45 y a los 110 días después del tratamiento (DAT) comparadas con los testigos. Los concentrados emulsificables (EC) de aspersión OTT de acetochlor también redujeron el peso seco de los brotes de rosa. Ninguna combinación de pajote de corteza tratada con herbicida (TBM), redujo el peso seco de los brotes de rosa y de spirea. El acetochlor (EC) + corteza de madera dura (2003) fue el único tratamiento que alcanzó el 100% de control de malezas a los 45 y 110 días después del tratamiento (DAT). La adición de concentrados emulsificables (EC) o el acetochlor micro-encapsulado (ME) al pajote, redujo la fitotoxicidad y prolongó la eficacia en 2002 y 2003 pero no se obtuvieron los mismos resultados con el alachlor EC ni con el herbicida micro-encapsulado como tratamiento para el pajote (ME TBM). Sin importar el tipo de madera, el promedio tomado por tres años, demostró que las combinaciones del pajote tratado con el concentrado emulsificable EC y con el herbicida micro-encapsulado fueron el 80% más efectivas que el pajote no tratado (UBM) y también fueron el 83 y 98% más efectivos a los 45 y 110 días después del tratamiento (DAT) respectivamente que las aspersiones OTT. De los ocho tratamientos que tuvieron resultados por arriba de lo comercialmente aceptable, al promediarlos por fechas y años, los tres que proporcionaron la menor fitotoxicidad y la mayor extensión, consistencia y duración de eficacia, fueron combinaciones de pajote tratado: acetochlor + pajote de abeto Douglas u otra madera dura; acetochlor EC + pino y acetochlor ME + pino. El pajote tratado (TBM) redujo la fitotoxicidad comparado con las aspersiones OTT.

Type
Weed Management—Techniques
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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