Project Number: 6602-22000-032-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Oct 01, 2000
End Date: Aug 31, 2005

Objective:
Develop integrated weed management systems with emphasis on reducing herbicide use, improving crop production efficiency, reducing vulnerability to weed establishment, and minimizing weed propagule production. Conduct basic research in weed-crop ecology by correlating environmental factors with weed emergence, evaluating shifts in weed composition in reduced tillage cropping systems, and determining the effect of weed management practices on the soil seedbank. Evaluate alternative methods for managing weeds in vegetable crops without methyl bromide fumigation by assessing the efficacy of new technologies in vegetable crops to replace methyl bromide and integrating alternatives to methyl bromide fumigation into vegetable crop production systems.

Approach:
The majority of the research is in field plots. The research will devise new crop production practices that improve the crop's ability to compete with weeds. Innovative crop production practices that offer potential include crop planting dates, narrow row patterns, conservation tillage, mechanical barriers with thin-film plastic mulch, alternative mulching materials, and stale seedbed weed control. This research also involves in-depth study of new herbicide technologies, which are still a critical component of crop production in the southeastern Coastal Plain. Cover crops will be evaluated for their weed control benefits in conservation tillage systems, including small grains and clovers. Recently renovated greenhouse facilities will be fully utilized for evaluating weed species composition and weed seed survivability from varous soil seedbanks. Weed emergence patterns in the field will be correlated with environmental factors, particularly temperature. Growth chambers and thermal gradient germination tables will be used to evaluate base temperatures for weed germination. Base temperature data will be used in conjunction with field emergence patterns to develop predictive weed emergence models. Alternatives to methyl bromide fumigation for weed control vary from short-term replacements, such as metham, to more permanent long-term solutions such as solarization, mulching, and cultural weed control methods. All aspects will be given equal research effort. Most of the research will be in-field studies, but some will be conducted in the recently renovated greenhouses.

Project Team

Johnson, Wiley Lewis, Wallace Webster, Theodore

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002   FY 2001