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Effect of Application Method on Dichlobenil Efficacy of Hair Fescue (Festuca filiformis) in Lowbush Blueberry
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 November 2024
Abstract
This study assessed dichlobenil’s potential to manage hair fescue in lowbush blueberry when targeted or broadcast-applied (7000 g ai ha-1) as justification for developing a precision-targeted applicator. A randomized complete block design was used to assess both application methods, and results were compared with industry-standard propanamide (2240 g ai ha-1). Targeted and broadcast-applied dichlobenil in fall 2020 significantly reduced average total tuft density in the non-bearing year (2021) by 75% and 67%, respectively, and in the bearing year (2022) by 61% and 59%, respectively. Broadcast pronamide applications in fall 2020 significantly reduced total tuft density by 84% in the non-bearing year (2021) and 81% in the bearing year (2022). These reductions in total tuft density resulted in average lowbush blueberry yields of 416, 557, 573, and 617 g m-2 for each control, pronamide, targeted, and broadcast-applied dichlobenil, respectively. Increases in yield were not significant, though the large variation within the sample is the likely cause. The similarities between targeted and broadcast-applied treatments demonstrate the potential of targeted dichlobenil. Given the high product cost of dichlobenil at $1,873 ha-1, hair fescue’s non-uniform distribution in lowbush blueberry fields and the lowbush blueberry industry’s overreliance on pronamide, targeted application of dichlobenil has significant potential. This work justifies developing a mechanized precision targeted applicator for use in the lowbush blueberry cropping system.
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- Creative Commons
- This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
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- © Weed Science Society of America, 2024