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Reducing Weeds in Berry Crops:
Part 2
Last month, we talked about 3 things to do before you plant your next
berry field to reduce weed problems - site selection, crop rotation and
preplant cleanup. This month, let's focus on things to do at planting
time to reduce weeds.
- Stale seedbed technique: Consider setting your field
up to plant as a stale seedbed, to plant without tillage. A cover crop
like rye should be established early the previous summer or fall. Plant
a higher seed population and fertilize enough to establish a thick and
uniform cover crop stand. Once growth starts in the spring, a burndown
glyphosate treatment should be applied. To cut through the killed cover
crop, fluted coulters and heavier press wheels can be added to your
transplanter. Ensure irrigation is used after planting to help transplants
establish. Herbicides can be used in no-till plantings similar to tilled
plantings. Research trials with this system in Ontario resulted in good
stands with little weed emergence for several months.
- Plasticulture: Growing strawberries in plasticulture
totally changes the weed problems. The black mulch prevents weeds on
the beds and between plants, and tillage, flaming or mulching can control
weeds between the beds. In plasticulture, common weeds like pigweed
and lambs-quarters are rarely a problem. However, weeds can establish
around the planting hole, especially winter annuals, so prevention is
important. Hand pulling and wick wiping can be quick and effective to
remove these weeds when they are small.
- Banding fertilizer: Weeds flourish under high soil
fertility, so reducing their access to fertilizer can give your crop
the advantage. Banding fertilizer at planting, at renovation and again
for the Labour Day nitrogen can reduce weed growth in the other areas
of the field. Equipment modifications like shielding will be required,
but the fertilizer expense can be reduced.
- Trickle irrigation: Although common in raspberries
and blueberries, strawberry growers have been reluctant to adopt trickle
irrigation due to the large numbers of emitters and tubing required,
and the need for sprinklers for frost protection. However, where applicable,
restricting water to only the crop area will reduce weeds between rows
(well, not in a wet year like 2006, but under "normal" dry
summer conditions).
In the next issue, I will focus on things you can do during the growing
season to reduce weeds.
Related Links
For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
Local: (519) 826-4047
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
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