Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T06:20:51.392Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Time of hilling and interseeding affects weed control and potato yield

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Robin R. Bellinder
Affiliation:
Department of Fruit and Vegetable Science, Plant Science Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
Michael P. Hoffmann
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Insectary, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853

Extract

The current emphasis on reducing pesticide use has led to increased interest in alternative weed control methods. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of hilling, in combination with subsequent interseeding of cover crops, to control weeds in potato and to determine the impact of these actions on potato yield and insects. Each cover crop, either hairy or lana vetch, oats, barley, red clover, or a combination of oats and hairy vetch, was interseeded, following hilling, 3, 4, or 5 wk after planting (WAP). Hilling and interseeding treatments were compared to a no-cover treatment and a chemical standard, metolachlor (1.7 kg ai ha−-1) plus linuron (1.7 kg ai ha−-1). Cultivation associated with the interseeding operation and cover crops reduced weed density 20 to 27% by 3 wk after interseeding. To prevent excessive competition, cereals interseeded 3 or 4 WAP and vetches interseeded 3 WAP were controlled at a height of 25 to 35 cm using fluazifop (0.22 kg ai ha−-1) plus metribuzin (0.28 kg ai ha−-1). Because of slow growth, it was necessary to control red clover (interseeded 3 WAP), only in 1996, at a height of 15 cm. Control of cereals resulted in a dead mulch that provided 0 to 95% weed control, whereas legumes regrew after herbicide application and provided 45 to 70% weed control. However, an adequate minimum of 70% weed control was achieved only with the chemical standard, cereals (1995 and 1996), and legumes (1996) interseeded 3 WAP when controlled with herbicides. In a dry season (1995), potato yields were highest with the chemical standard, whereas in a season with adequate precipitation (1996), potato yields equivalent to those of the chemical standard were obtained with early interseeding (3 WAP) of cereals. The observed changes in the densities of potato leafhopper and of its natural enemies were unlikely to have any effect on potato yield because of low overall insect populations. Thus, the results suggest that in good growing conditions, early (3 WAP) interseeding of cover crops supplemented with postemergence herbicides may both suppress weeds with 70% less herbicide (ai ha−-1) and provide yields comparable to those associated with conventional potato production.

Type
Weed Management
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

Bellinder, R. R., Gummeson, G., and Karlson, C. 1994. Percentage-driven government mandates for pesticide reduction: The Swedish model. Weed Technol. 8: 350359.Google Scholar
Burton, W. G. 1989. The Potato. 3rd ed. Harlow, UK: Longman Group, 742 p.Google Scholar
Callihan, R. H. and Bellinder, R. R. 1993. Management of Weeds. Pages 95102 in Rowe, R. C., ed. Potato Health Management. Plant Health Management Series. St. Paul, MN: American Phytopathological Society Press.Google Scholar
Crosvier, J. C. 1970. Le desherbage chimique de la pomme de terre. Pomme Terre Franc. 337: 1518.Google Scholar
Dallyn, S. L. 1971. Weed control methods in potatoes. Am. Potato J. 48: 116128.Google Scholar
Dallyn, S. L. and Sweet, R. D. 1970. Weed control methods, losses and costs due to weeds and benefits of weed control in potatoes. FAO International Conference on Weed Control, Davis, CA, pp. 210228.Google Scholar
Dempster, J. P. and Coaker, T. H. 1974. Diversification of crop ecosystems as a means of controlling pests. Pages 106114 in Jones, D. P. and Solomon, M. E., eds. Biology in Pest and Disease Control. New York: J. Wiley.Google Scholar
Ferro, D. N. 1986. Potato insect pests. Pages 3240 in Hollingsworth, C. S. et al., eds. Potato Production in the Northeast: A Guide to Integrated Pest Management. Cambridge, MA: Cooperative Extension, University of Massachusetts.Google Scholar
Foulds, C. M., Stewart, K. A., and Samson, R. A. 1991. On-farm evaluation of legume interseedings in broccoli. Pages 179180 in Hargrove, W. L., ed. Cover Crops for Clean Water. Ankeny, IA: Soil and Water Conservation Society.Google Scholar
Griffin, J. L. and Dabney, S. M. 1990. Preplant-postemergence herbicides for legume cover crop control in minimum tillage systems. Weed Technol. 4: 332336.Google Scholar
Guldan, S. J., Martin, C. A., Cueto-Wong, J., and Steiner, R. L. 1996. Dry-matter and nitrogen yields of legumes interseeded into sweet corn. Hortic. Sci. 31: 206208.Google Scholar
Hoffman, M. L., Regnier, E. E., and Cardina, J. 1993. Weed and corn (Zea mays) responses to a hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) cover crop. Weed Technol. 7: 594599.Google Scholar
Hoffmann, M. P. and Frodsham, A. C. 1993. Natural Enemies of Vegetable Insect Pests. Ithaca, NY: Cooperative Extension, Cornell University. 63 p.Google Scholar
Lanfranconi, L. E., Bellinder, R. R., and Wallace, R. W. 1993. Grain rye residues and weed control strategies in reduced tillage potatoes. Weed Technol. 7: 2328.Google Scholar
Lewis, W. C. and Rowberry, R. G. 1973. Some effects of planting depth and time and height of hilling on Kennebec and Sebago potatoes. Am. Potato J. 50: 301310.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McKinley, R. G. 1985. Effect of undersowing potatoes with grass on potato aphid numbers. Ann. Appl. Biol. 106: 2329.Google Scholar
Müller-Schärer, H. and Potter, C. A. 1991. Cover plants in field grown vegetables: prospects and limitations. Proc. Br. Weed Control Conf. 2: 599604.Google Scholar
Müller-Schärer, H., Potter, C. A., and Hurni, B. 1992. Cover plants in field planted leek: impact on yield, insect pests, and nitrogen availability in the soil. Proc. First Int. Weed Control Congr. 2: 353355.Google Scholar
Nelson, D. C. and Thoreson, M. C. 1981. Competition between potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) and weeds. Weed Sci. 29: 672677.Google Scholar
Palada, M. C., Ganser, S., Hofstetter, R., Volak, B., and Culik, M. 1983. Pages 193213 in Lockeretz, W., ed. Environmentally Sound Agriculture. New York: Praeger Scientific.Google Scholar
Putnam, A. R., DeFrank, J., and Barnes, J. P. 1983. Exploitation of allelopathy for weed control in annual and perennial cropping systems. J. Chem. Ecol. 8: 10011010.Google Scholar
Rioux, R., Comeau, J. E., and Genereux, H. 1979. Effect of cultural practices and herbicides on weed population and competition in potatoes. Can. I. Plant Sci. 59: 367374.Google Scholar
Roberts, B. W. and Cartwright, B. 1991. Alternative soil and pest management practices for sustainable production of fresh-market cabbage. J. Sust. Agric. 1: 2135.Google Scholar
Schonbeck, M., Herbert, S., DeGregario, R., Mangan, F., Guillard, K., Sideman, E., Herbst, J., and Jaye, R. 1993. Cover cropping systems for brassicas in the northeastern United States: 1. Cover crop and vegetable yield, nutrients and soil conditions. J. Sust. Agric. 3: 105132.Google Scholar
Scott, T. W., Mt. Pleasant, J., Burt, R. F., and Otis, D. J. 1987. Contributions of ground cover, dry matter, and nitrogen from intercrops and cover crops in a corn polyculture system. Agron. J. 79: 792798.Google Scholar
Shock, C. C., Zalewski, J. C., Stieber, T. D., and Burnett, D. S. 1992. Impact of early-season water deficits on Russet Burbank plant development, tuber yield, and quality. Am. Potato J. 69: 793803.Google Scholar
Sloneker, L. L. and Moldenhauer, W. C. 1977. Measuring the amounts of crop residue remaining after tillage. J. Soil Water Conserv. 32: 231236.Google Scholar
Stirzaker, R. J., Sutton, G., and Collis-George, N. 1989. Sustainable systems of soil management in vegetable production. Acta Horticulturae 247: 8184.Google Scholar
Sweet, R. D. and Sieczka, J. B. 1973. Comments on the ability of potato varieties to compete with weeds. Proc. Northeast Weed Sci. Soc. 27: 302304.Google Scholar
Teasdale, J. R. 1993. Intercation of light, soil moisture, and temperature with weed suppression by hairy vetch residue. Weed Sci. 41: 4651.Google Scholar
Teasdale, J. R. and Mohler, C. L. 1993. Light transmittance, soil temperature, and soil moisture under residue of hairy vetch and rye. Agron J. 85: 673680.Google Scholar
Tessier, M. and Leroux, G. D. 1993. Row intercropping for weed control in an organic production of broccoli. Weed Sci. Soc. Am. (abstract) 33: 341.Google Scholar
Tomar, J. S., MacKenzie, A. F., Mehuys, G. R., and Alli, I. 1988. Corn growth with foliar nitrogen, soil-applied nitrogen, and legume intercrops. Agron. J. 80: 802807.Google Scholar
[USDA] U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1972. United States Standards for Grades of Potatoes, Revised February 5, 1972. Washington, DC: Agricultural Marketing Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture.Google Scholar
[USDA] U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1992. Managing Cover Crops Profitably. Washington, DC: Rodale Institute, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 112 p.Google Scholar
VanGessel, M. J. and Renner, K. A. 1990. Effect of soil type, hilling time, and weed interference on potato (Solanum tuberosum) development and yield. Weed Technol. 4: 299305.Google Scholar
Vrabel, T. E., Minotti, P. L., and Sweet, R. D. 1980. Seeded legumes as living mulches in sweet corn. Proc. Northeast Weed Sci. Soc. 34: 171175.Google Scholar
Wall, D. A. and Friesen, G. H. 1990. Effect of duration of green foxtail (Setaria viridis) competition on potato (Solanum tuberosum) yield. Weed Technol. 4: 539542.Google Scholar
Wallace, R. and Bellinder, R. R. 1989. Potato (Solanum tuberosum) yields and weed populations in conventional and reduced tillage systems. Weed Technol. 3: 590595.Google Scholar
Wiles, L. J., William, R. D., and Crabtree, G. D. 1989. Analyzing competition between a living mulch and a vegetable crop in an interplanting system. J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 114: 10291034.Google Scholar
Yenish, J. P., Worsham, A. D., and York, A. C. 1996. Cover crops for herbicide replacement in no-tillage corn (Zea mays). Weed Technol. 10: 815821.Google Scholar