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Integrated Weed Control Strategies in Organic Farming

Integrated Weed Control Strategies in Organic Farming. Jim Shrefler, OSU / WWAREC Charles Webber, USDA / ARS Warren Roberts, OSU / WWAREC Merritt Taylor, OSU / WWAREC “Lane Agricultural Center”. Cooperators / Collaborators. OSU Scientists, Specialists USDA Scientists Growers

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Integrated Weed Control Strategies in Organic Farming

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  1. Integrated Weed Control Strategies in Organic Farming Jim Shrefler, OSU / WWAREC Charles Webber, USDA / ARS Warren Roberts, OSU / WWAREC Merritt Taylor, OSU / WWAREC “Lane Agricultural Center”

  2. Cooperators / Collaborators OSU Scientists, Specialists USDA Scientists Growers Noble Foundation Kerr Center

  3. While On The Soapbox … • Why do we want to do this? • What are the problems with non-organic? • Are we irrationally disregarding valuable technology? • Will organics be problem free? • Can exploration of organics lead to conceptually new ideas? • What will the bottom-line be ….. • Should we consider multi-generation sustainability?

  4. Weed Control For Organics- Presentation Emphasis - • Yes - Crops • Fruits • Vegetables • Herbs • Row Crops • No - Other Areas • Forages • Turf • Ornamentals

  5. What is a Weed? • “Plant whose virtues are yet to be discovered” • “A plant out of place” • Regardless, whether wild or cultivated, extraneous plants in a crop can reduce yield, quality and production cost

  6. General Management Factors • Exclusion • Elimination • Prevent Establishment • Removal • Amelioration

  7. General Management Factors- Exclusion - • Field selection • Prevent new weedy species additions

  8. General Management Factors- Elimination - • Prevent weed build-up • Destroy propagules • Solarization • Fumigation • Eradication – For minor infestations of certain weeds

  9. General Management Factors- Prevent Establishment - • Herbicides • Cultivation • Cover crops • Grazing • Mulches • organic and synthetic

  10. General Management Factors- Removal - • Mechanical • Chemical • Physical • flame • steam

  11. General Management Factors- Amelioration - • Crop Selection • crops that tolerate weeds • crops that enable control of weeds • Give crop an edge • transplants • planting date

  12. So, what can we do under the constraints of organics?

  13. Weed Management for Organics- Exclusion - • Field selection • a good choice • knowledge needed of sites • usefulness depends on available certified land • Prevent weed additions • critical for Organics • “bring-ins” may contain weeds • Organic mulches • Raw manures

  14. Weed Management for Organics- Elimination - • Prevent weed build-up • timely cultivation, tillage • purposeful plantings – don’t let weeds take over • Weed population reduction • perennial management through grazing • fallow / tillage cycles • solarization • fumigants???

  15. Weed Management for Organics- Prevent Establishment - • Preemergence “herbicides” • corn gluten meal, mustard meal • Timely cultivation • Stale seedbeds • Cover crop management • Species important: e.g. rye • Crop sequence (more detail later) • Grazing • Mulches • organic and synthetic

  16. Weed Management for Organics- Weed Removal –“Stop ‘em in their tracks” • Mechanical – cultivation • keep it shallow • minimize injury to the crop • Improve the root zone • Manual • choose easy-to-use tools

  17. Weed Management for Organics- Weed Removal (cont.)–“Stop ‘em in their tracks” • Chemical: vinegar, pelargonate, etc. • currently just contact activity • good foliage cover needed • Physical: energy consumers! • flame • special equipment, directed flame • best for small, annual weeds • steam

  18. Weed Management for Organics- Amelioration - • Crop Selection • use crops that tolerate weeds • rapid growth, dense canopy • crops that allow weed control • sweet corn – easily cultivated • Give crop an edge • plant date • transplants

  19. Specific Examples of Tactics • Cover crop management • Preemergence “herbicide” • “Burn down” chemicals

  20. Cover Crop Management • Cereal Rye a classic example • Effective due to • Biochemical constituents • Biomass • Management involves • Coordination of rye growth with crop plant date: • Rye destruction: rolling?, tillage? • Crop planting method

  21. Preemergence “Herbicides”Bioherbicides • Corn Gluten Meal • Makeup: 9% nitrogen (fertilizer?) • Available as powder, granule, pellet • Weed control properties • Certain peptides toxic to germinating seeds • Works best under drying soil conditions • Apply to surface or mix very shallowly

  22. Burn-down Chemicals • Pelargonic acid is a leading option • Also called nonanoic acid & pelargonate • Kills living plant tissue within hours • Contact action not systemic • Ammonium formulation for organic use • Control • Grasses: Small & before tillering is best • Broadleafs: varies with species • No crop selectivity

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