Developing Integrated Strategies to Address Emerging Weed Management Challenges in Christmas Tree Production
Weed control is an important aspect during the first few years of Christmas tree establishment, as weed competition directly relates to the rate of Christmas tree growth during this time. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the weed control efficacy of organic mulch and herbicide combinati...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/5/881 |
| _version_ | 1797600127393726464 |
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| author | Greta Gallina Bert Cregg Eric Patterson Debalina Saha |
| author_facet | Greta Gallina Bert Cregg Eric Patterson Debalina Saha |
| author_sort | Greta Gallina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Weed control is an important aspect during the first few years of Christmas tree establishment, as weed competition directly relates to the rate of Christmas tree growth during this time. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the weed control efficacy of organic mulch and herbicide combinations and to determine their phytotoxic effects on four different species of Christmas trees during the establishment stage: Fraser fir (<i>Abies fraseri</i> (Pursh) Poir), blue spruce (<i>Picea pungens</i> Engelm.), white pine (<i>Pinus strobus</i> L.), and Scotch pine (<i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L.). Twelve weed control treatments were established in a complete randomized block design with four replications in each of five fields. Weed control treatments included cypress bark organic mulch and herbicides applied alone and in combinations as well as an untreated control. Herbicides included clopyralid, oxyfluorfen, and glyphosate. All herbicides were applied at their highest labeled rate. Data collection included visual estimations of weed control and phytotoxicity to trees at 30, 60, and 90 days after treatment (DAT). Tree growth and foliar nitrogen concentration were also measured. Mulch combined with herbicide provided 60%–100% weed control in all cases; at two farms, mulch provided a significant increase in weed control when compared to the same treatments without mulch. Combinations of mulch + clopyralid + glyphosate and clopyralid + oxyfluorfen + glyphosate resulted in the highest phytotoxicity ratings. Tree growth was decreased due to some treatments at Gobles farm, and foliar N did not differ among any of the treatments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:44:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ec99ab979d9d4fe5afb41717c62aecb6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:44:12Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec99ab979d9d4fe5afb41717c62aecb62023-11-18T01:23:06ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072023-04-0114588110.3390/f14050881Developing Integrated Strategies to Address Emerging Weed Management Challenges in Christmas Tree ProductionGreta Gallina0Bert Cregg1Eric Patterson2Debalina Saha3Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, 1066 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI 48824, USADepartments of Horticulture and Forestry, Michigan State University, 1066 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI 48824, USADepartment of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, 1066 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI 48824, USADepartment of Horticulture, Michigan State University, 1066 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI 48824, USAWeed control is an important aspect during the first few years of Christmas tree establishment, as weed competition directly relates to the rate of Christmas tree growth during this time. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the weed control efficacy of organic mulch and herbicide combinations and to determine their phytotoxic effects on four different species of Christmas trees during the establishment stage: Fraser fir (<i>Abies fraseri</i> (Pursh) Poir), blue spruce (<i>Picea pungens</i> Engelm.), white pine (<i>Pinus strobus</i> L.), and Scotch pine (<i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L.). Twelve weed control treatments were established in a complete randomized block design with four replications in each of five fields. Weed control treatments included cypress bark organic mulch and herbicides applied alone and in combinations as well as an untreated control. Herbicides included clopyralid, oxyfluorfen, and glyphosate. All herbicides were applied at their highest labeled rate. Data collection included visual estimations of weed control and phytotoxicity to trees at 30, 60, and 90 days after treatment (DAT). Tree growth and foliar nitrogen concentration were also measured. Mulch combined with herbicide provided 60%–100% weed control in all cases; at two farms, mulch provided a significant increase in weed control when compared to the same treatments without mulch. Combinations of mulch + clopyralid + glyphosate and clopyralid + oxyfluorfen + glyphosate resulted in the highest phytotoxicity ratings. Tree growth was decreased due to some treatments at Gobles farm, and foliar N did not differ among any of the treatments.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/5/881Christmas treesweed controlpostemergence herbicidesorganic mulchglyphosate |
| spellingShingle | Greta Gallina Bert Cregg Eric Patterson Debalina Saha Developing Integrated Strategies to Address Emerging Weed Management Challenges in Christmas Tree Production Forests Christmas trees weed control postemergence herbicides organic mulch glyphosate |
| title | Developing Integrated Strategies to Address Emerging Weed Management Challenges in Christmas Tree Production |
| title_full | Developing Integrated Strategies to Address Emerging Weed Management Challenges in Christmas Tree Production |
| title_fullStr | Developing Integrated Strategies to Address Emerging Weed Management Challenges in Christmas Tree Production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Developing Integrated Strategies to Address Emerging Weed Management Challenges in Christmas Tree Production |
| title_short | Developing Integrated Strategies to Address Emerging Weed Management Challenges in Christmas Tree Production |
| title_sort | developing integrated strategies to address emerging weed management challenges in christmas tree production |
| topic | Christmas trees weed control postemergence herbicides organic mulch glyphosate |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/5/881 |
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