Integrating Mechanical and Chemical Methods for Weed Control in the Potato Fields

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Moslem Taghipoor
• Ali Ghanbari
• Mehdi Rastgoo

Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

10.22067/jpp.v33i4.75174

Abstract

Introduction: The presence of weeds seriously reduces potato yield by particularly where crop competition is reduced because of poor growing conditions or disease or in cultivars where development rate is slow. Weeds can also have a serious effect on harvesting the crop, entangling equipment and slowing operations. They can also encourage some pests and diseases such as slugs, free living nematodes, wireworm and Rhizoctonia. The potato crop, once the haulm meets in the rows, is usually effective in reducing late weed emergence through shading. However, weeds emerging before row closure can grow above the crop canopy. Noxious weeds such as field bindweed and knotgrass can grow through the crop, and tall weeds, such as fat-hen, sow thistles, and grasses, can grow above the crop, shading and competing strongly for resources. Weed control needs to start whilst the weeds are accessible to treatment, that is, pre-emergence of the crop to before the crop shades emerged weeds. The treatment needs to be able to maintain weed control for up to 6-8 weeks after crop emergence to allow the crop canopy to close and shade further weed emergence. In less vigorous and less competitive varieties, canopy closure may take longer, or remain incomplete. In conventional farming systems, treatments are based on herbicide treatment. This may be before weeds and crop emergence with a residual soil-acting herbicide which gives a number of weeks of control, depending on dose, soil type and weather conditions. Some residual herbicides have some foliar as well as root activity and can be used as the weeds and crop emerge. Mixtures with a contact herbicide are often used at this timing. This timing, slightly later than purely pre-emergence of the crop, allows the residual effect of soil-acting herbicides to persist for longer into the season. This is particularly useful for slow growing varieties or in slow growing conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of integrated weed management, using chemical and mechanical methods, on weed density and biomass of potato C.V. Agria. 
Material and Methods: To evaluate the effect of cultivator and herbicide application on yield and weed community of potato, an experiment was conducted using factorial arrangement based on randomized complete block design with four replications at the Research Field of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in 2015. Factors included cultivator at two levels (no and once cultivator) and herbicide application at six levels (pre-planting application of pendimethalin+broadcast application of metribuzine as post-emergence, pre-planting application of pendimethalin+band application of metribuzine as post-emergence, pre-planting application of pendimethalin alone, broadcast application of metribuzine as post-emergence alone, band application of metribuzine post-emergence  alone, and no herbicide treatment). In addition to these treatments, a weed free treatment as a control considered in each block. Weed flora, total weed density and total weed biomass recorded at 15, 30, 45 and 90 days after treatment using a 0.35×0.75 m-2 quadrates. At the harvest time, tuber yield and potato biomass recorded in 2 m2 area. Data analysis; including ANOVA and mean differences at the 5 %significant level was done using SAS 9.1 and figures created using Excel 2007.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that cultivator just had significant effect on total weed density and had no significant effect on total weed biomass and potato yield. Application of pendimethalin+metribuzine using broadcast or band application method reduced total weeds density and total weed biomass and increased tuber yield, and biomass of potato. The lowest weed biomass (250.2 and 212.2 g.m-2) and highest tuber yield observed in application pendimethalin+metribuzine broadcast and band application  method, 41.158 and 36.168 ton.ha-1 ,respectively and highest weed biomass (900.1 and 933.9 g.m-2) and lowest tuber's yield observed in no herbicides and pendimethalin alone, 16.482 and 18.752 ton.ha-1 , respectively.
Conclusion: It was concluded that one cultivator alone not only could not help to weed control program, but also excite weed emergence. Then repeating the cultivator operation or application of pre-planting or post-emergence herbicide is necessary to achieve a good weed control in potato. In addition, integration band application of post emergence metribuzine and cultivation between rows reduced significantly herbicide application in potato.

Keywords

• Band application
• Biomass
• Sencor
• Stomp
• Metribuzine

20.1001.1.20084749.1398.33.4.9.6

---

References

1- Aien A., and Mamnoei A. 2014. Chemical control weeds in onion field’s seedling in South Kerman, Iran. Journal of Weed Ecology 2: 358-367. (In Persian with English abstract)

2- Bakhtiari M., and Jahedy A. 2013. Evolution possible integrated chemical and mechanical approaches to control weeds potato, 8th National Congress Agriculture Machinery and Mechanization, Mashhad, Iran. (In Persian with English abstract)

3- Bellinder R.R., Kirkland J.J.; Wallace R.W., and Colquhoun J.B. 2000. Weed control and potato yield with banded herbicide and cultivation. Weed Technology 14: 30-35.

4- Boydston R.A. 2007. Potato and response to post emergence-applied halosulfuron, rimsulfuron and EPTC. Weed Technology 21: 465-469.

5- Boydston R.A. 2010. Management weeds in potato rotation without herbicides. Potato Association of America 84: 420-427.

6- Carlos. 2012. Differentiation of potato cultivars experimentally cultivated based on their chemical composition and applying discriminate analysis. Elsevier. Food Chemistry, 133 Pp.

7- Dallyn S.L. 1970. Weed control methods in potatoes. News and reviews. American Potato Journal, 623 Pp.

8- Felix J., George J., Kigode O., and Duohan D. 2009. Timing potato cultivation using the weed cost model. Weed Science 55: 87-93.

9- Harris P. 1992. The Potato Crop, 373-393.

10- Hussain Z., Fazel M., Khan Bahador M., Kawsar A., Riaz A., and Shahida B. 2013. Studies on efficacy of different herbicide against weeds in potato in Peshavar Pakistan. Journal Botanical 45: 487-491.

11- Jahedi A. 2005. Integrated weeds management in potato. Sepehreh Danesh Publisher, Iran.

12- Khajehpour M.R. 2005. Industrial Plants. Jehade Daneshgahi Isfahan University. 530 Pp.

13- Moradi A., Rashed Mohhasel M.H., and Parsa M. 2009. Evaluation efficiency of Imaztethapyr, Oxyflorofen, Trifluralin, Pendimethalin and hand weeding on crop yield of Chickpea verity ILC 482 in Mashhad. The 3th Iranian Weed Science Congress, February 2010, 459-460. (In Persian with English abstract)

14- Mousavi S.K. 2009. Evaluation of some herbicides for weeds control in Chickpea and their residual effects on wheat in the following season. Journal Agronomy Researches 1: 229-238. (In Persian with English abstract)

15- Nelson D., and Giles J. 1989. Weed Management in two Potato (Solanum tuberosum) cultivars using tillage and pendimethalin. Weed Science 37: 228-232.

16- Rashed Mohassel M.H., Haj Mohammadnia Ghalibaf K., and Hossaini S.A. 2011. Evaluation effect some methods chemical and mechanical management weeds for reduce application herbicides in potato. Journal Plant Protection 3: 227-236. (In Persian with English abstract)

17- Zand E., Baghestani M.A., Shimi P., Nezamabadi N., Mousavi S.M., and Mousavi S.K. 2013. Chemical weed control guideline for major crops of Iran. Jehade Daneshgahi Mashhad Press. 4: 176 Pp.

18- Zarzecka K., Gugala M., and Baranowska A. 2014. Elements by weeds in potato to cultivation under different conditions of soil tillage and weed control methods. Journal of Ecological Engineering 15: 131-136.