Author
|
Submitted to: American Peanut Research and Education Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 4/29/2010 Publication Date: 1/23/2011 Citation: Johnson, W.C. 2011. The Art and the Science of Cultivation for Weed Control in Organic Peanut. American Peanut Research and Education Society Abstracts. 42:33. Interpretive Summary: Successful weed management is challenging in organic peanut production. Handweeding is an option, but is not practical as the sole means of weed management. Conceptually, cultural weed control is the basis on which an integrated system of weed management in organic peanut is based. Field trials were conducted in Georgia to evaluate modified cultural practices and cultivation intensity for weed management in organic peanut. Modified cultural practices evaluated were row patterns and seeding rates. Cultivation regimes included duration and frequency of cultivation with a tine weeder. Results showed that peanut seeded in wide rows (two rows, 91 cm apart), at a density of 20 seed/m, and cultivated weekly for at least 6-wk was the most effective regime evaluated. Weeds were not effectively controlled in peanut seeded in twin rows (two pairs of rows, each pair 46 cm apart with each row in the pair 17 cm apart) at a density of 10 seed/m. However, when peanut in twin-row patterns were seeded at 20 seed/m, weeds were controlled by intense cultivation with a tine weeder. These results suggest that in-row plant spacing is critical for successful weed control with cultivation and independent of row pattern. Peanut seeded at 20 seed/m improved crop competition with weeds and greatly facilitated overall weed control with cultivation. It was noted that cultivation needed to be initiated before weed emergence, which coincided with peanut emergence (‘cracking’). Weeds already emerged were not consistently controlled with the tine weeder, regardless of the duration or frequency of cultivation. These basic concepts were also proven to be effective in transition to organic production in plantings of millet and southern pea. Technical Abstract: Cultural weed control is the basis on which an integrated system of weed management in organic peanut is based. The cultural practices evaluated for weed control were row patterns and seeding rates, integrated with cultivation intensity. Results showed that peanut seeded in wide rows (two rows, 91 cm apart), at a density of 20 seed/m, and cultivated weekly for at least 6-wk was the most effective regime evaluated. Weeds were not effectively controlled in peanut seeded in twin rows (two pairs of rows, each pair 46 cm apart with each row in the pair 17 cm apart) at a density of 10 seed/m. However, when peanut in twin-row patterns were seeded at 20 seed/m, weeds were controlled by intense cultivation with a tine weeder. These results suggest that in-row plant spacing is critical for successful weed control with cultivation and independent of row pattern. Peanut seeded at 20 seed/m improved crop competition with weeds and greatly facilitated overall weed control with cultivation. It was noted that cultivation needed to be initiated before weed emergence, which coincided with peanut emergence (‘cracking’). Weeds already emerged were not consistently controlled with the tine weeder, regardless of the duration or frequency of cultivation. These basic concepts were also proven to be effective in transition to organic production in plantings of millet and southern pea. |
