Organic Herbicide Trials Reduce Weeding Costs in Broccoli, Onions
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Matran and Scythe organic herbicides showed potential for reducing weed pressure and labor costs in broccoli and onion crops when applied at early growth stages. For broccoli, low rates could be used safely as a directed spray but caused injury when applied over the top. Onions required even more selectivity due to no opportunity for directed spraying. Timely applications at the 1st true leaf provided best control. These herbicides may also have uses in hooded spray operations or robotic weeding to reduce hand weeding which is difficult, tedious and expensive. While more refinement is needed, organic herbicides show promise as a tool for organic vegetable producers.
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Organic Herbicide Trials Reduce Weeding Costs in Broccoli, Onions
- 1. Selectivity of Organic Herbicides in Broccoli and Onions Richard Smith Vegetable Crop and Weed Science Farm Advisor, Monterey County
- 2. Comparison of Organic vs Conventional Broccoli and Onion Production Costs Production System Weeding Costs/A Organic1 $270 Conventional.2 $161 1 – Tourte and Smith, 2004; 2 – Smith et al. 2004 Hand weeding costs for onions can be extreme due to lack of cultivation and dense stands
- 3. The waxy cuticle on cole crops and onions protects them to some degree from fertilizers and contact herbicides
- 4. Conventional Materials Commonly Sprayed on Broccoli and Onions • Liquid fertilizers – AN20, NpHuric, Sulfuric Acid, Acid based fertilizers • Contact herbicides – Goal 2XL, Goal Tender, Buctril (onions) • These postemergence applications greatly reduce production costs • It seemed logical that postemergence applications of organic herbicides could be used in the same way
- 5. Eco-Exempt 2-Phenethyl Propionate..................21.4.% Eugenol (Clove Oil)..........................21.4% Matran 2 [Matran EC] Clove Oil (46%) Other Ingredients (54%) (Water and Lecithin) [Clove Oil (50%) Other Ingredients* (50%) (Wintergreen Oil, Butyl Lactate, and Lecithin) ] AllDown Citric Acid 5% Acetic Acid, yucca extracts, and water 94.8% Garlic oil 0.2% Burnout II Clove Oil ...... 12% Sodium Laurel Sulphate ... 8% Other Ingredients: Vinegar, Lecithin, Water, Citric Acid, Mineral Oil 80% Weed Zap Clove Oil 30% Inerts including vinegar 70% [Clove Oil 45% Cinnamon Oil 45%] Weed-A-Tak eugenol (clove oil), 2-phenethyl propionate (peanuts), castor oil, thyme oil and wintergreen oil. Scythe* Pelargonic acid 4.2 lbs ae/gal 40% inert ingredients * To be reviewed by NOP in 2007 Adapted from Cheryl Wilen, 2006
- 6. Other important considerations: Timing, weed species, weed size (< 2 true leaves)
- 7. Postemergence Trials on Broccoli
- 8. Number of Weeds in Broccoli 2006 Trial No. 1 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Untreated Transplants, 1 vs 2 passes 10.80% Matran Rate 5.40%
- 9. Hours Per Acre to Weed Broccoli 2006 Trial No. 1 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Untreated 10.80% Matran Rate 5.40%
- 10. Number of Weeds in Broccoli 2006 Trial No. 2 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Untreated 5.00% Matran Rate 2.50%
- 11. Hours Per Acre to Weed Broccoli 2006 Trial No. 2 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Untreated 5.00% Matran Rate 2.50%
- 12. Phytotoxicity Ratings 2006 Trial No. 3 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Untreated Matran 5% Matran 2.5% Scythe 3% Scythe 1.5% Direct seeded, plants a bit old Treatments
- 13. Yield – Number of Heads/Plot 2006 Trial No. 3 35 a 30 ab ab ab b 25 20 15 10 5 0 Untreated Matran 5% Matran 2.5% Scythe 3% Scythe 1.5% Treatments
- 15. Scythe @ 1.0% Over the Top Directed Sept 18
- 16. Scythe @ 1.5% Over the Top Directed Sept 18
- 17. Scythe @ 2.0% Over the Top Directed Sept 18
- 19. Scythe @ 1.0% Over the Top Directed Sept 26
- 20. Scythe @ 1.5% Over the Top Directed Sept 26
- 21. Scythe @ 2.0% Over the Top Directed Sept 26
- 22. Broccoli Summary • The organic herbicides examined in these studies are not safe for over-the-top use on broccoli • Low rates of these herbicides can be used on broccoli if they are applied as a directed spray to the base of the plant • If too much of the material gets up onto the foliage it can cause significant phytotoxicity • If however, the material is successfully applied acceptable yields can be achieved.
- 23. Onion Studies • Onions are different in that there is little opportunity for the spray material to be directed to the base of the plants • As a result, there is greater need for selectivity and careful selection of appropriate rates
- 25. Matran EC @ 20%
- 26. Matran EC @ 20%
- 27. weed burn down and regrowth if weed is too big at time of application
- 28. 2005 Dry Bulb Onion Evaluation Treatment Weed Control Percent Phyto Rating Weed Time hrs/A Untreated ---- 0.0 20.7 Yield 1000 Bulbs/A 139.8 Matran EC @ 20% 38.8 0.5 14.3 134.6 Goal Tender @ 0.125 lb* 82.5 2.3 5.4 139.3 * First true leaf
- 30. 1st true leaf 2nd true leaf
- 31. Shepherds Purse 1st true leaf 2nd true leaf
- 32. Goal 2XL @ 1st true leaf untreated
- 33. Matran @ 20%
- 34. Scythe @ 5%
- 35. 2005 Green Onion Trial Weed Control Ratings 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Untreated Matran 20% 1st Matran 20% 2nd Scythe 5% Scythe 5% 1st 2nd Treatments
- 36. 2005 Green Onion Trial Phyto Ratings 5 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 Untreated Matran 20% 1st Matran 20% 2nd Scythe 5% Scythe 5% 1st 2nd Treatments
- 37. 2005 Green Onion Trial Yield – T/A 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 Untreated Matran 20% 1st Matran 20% 2nd Scythe 5% Scythe 5% 1st 2nd Treatments
- 38. Size of weeds By 2nd true leaf 39 days after planting 2 days after 3% Scythe 2006 Dry Bulb Onion Trial
- 40. Onion Summary • More effective weed control can be achieved if the organic herbicides can be applied at the first true leaf stage • However, we observed greater phytotoxicity on the crop when applied at this earlier growth stage • If applications go on too late and the weeds are too big, the low rates of organic herbicides will not be adequate to effectively control weeds.
- 41. Other Applications for Organic Herbicides (Crazy ideas???)
- 43. Difficult, Tedious and Expensive to Hand Weed
- 45. There may be opportunities to use organic Herbicides applications that are precision guided And that are hooded to take out some of the Weeds in this type of a situation
- 47. The robotic system uses microjets These would lend themselves to organic materials
- 48. Conclusions • Postemergence use of organic herbicides on broccoli and onions is a bit dicey. • Directed sprays on broccoli are very helpful to maintain safety • These trials indicate that there is hope for onions, but skill and good timing will be necessary to make this system work
- 49. Conclusions • These organic herbicides may have a role in other ways in organic & conventional systems • They may feature in hooded spray operations and possibly in robotic weeding
- 50. Acknowledgements • Cooperating growers – Chris Drew, Sea Mist Farms – Bob Martin, Rio Farms – Bill Peixoto, Dick Peixoto Farms – Jerry Rava, Rava Farms • Research assistants – Tiffany Bensen – Pat Headley – Dave Miltz.