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Weed Management in Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo) Transplanted on Polyethylene-Covered Seedbeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

W. Carroll Johnson III  and
Benjamin G. Mullinix Jr.
W. Carroll Johnson III*
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, GA 31793
Benjamin G. Mullinix Jr.
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, GA 31793
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: cjohnson@tifton.cpes.peachnet.edu
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Abstract

Studies were conducted from 1998 to 2001 in Tifton, GA, on weed management systems in transplanted cantaloupe and watermelon grown on polyethylene-covered seedbeds. Soil fumigants were metham (748 L/ha) and a nonfumigated control. All metham applications were sprayed in a 61-cm band and incorporated with a modified power tiller. Herbicide treatments were ethalfluralin (0.8 kg ai/ha) premergence (PRE), ethalfluralin plus halosulfuron (36 g ai/ha) PRE, ethalfluralin PRE followed by glyphosate (1.1 kg ai/ha) postemergence POST-SHIELDED, ethalfluralin plus halosulfuron PRE followed by glyphosate POST-SHIELDED, and a nontreated control. Premergence herbicides were directed to row middles not covered in polyethylene, without contacting the transplants. Glyphosate was applied to row middles using a hooded sprayer, just before vine running. Overall weed control was not improved with soil fumigation in either cantaloupe or watermelon, and there was no yield response in either crop. There may be minimal benefit in transplanted cantaloupe and watermelon on polyethylene-covered seedbeds from preplant soil fumigation for weed control, in the absence of other pests. Herbicide systems that included halosulfuron PRE or glyphosate applied POST-SHIELDED improved control of yellow nutsedge compared with ethalfluralin alone. Control of Texas panicum, southern crabgrass, Florida pusley, and smooth pigweed was not improved by halosulfuron or glyphosate. Polyethylene-covered seedbeds provide a mechanical barrier to weed infestation for many species. Integration of these weed control practices gives cantaloupe and watermelon growers effective options for weed management, particularly for a troublesome species such as yellow nutsedge.

Keywords

Ethalfluralinhalosulfuronmethamcrowfootgrass, Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd. #3 DTTAEFlorida pusley, Richardia scabra L. # RCHSCsmooth pigweed, Amaranthus hybridus L. # AMACHsouthern crabgrass, Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koel. # DIGSPTexas panicum, Panicum texanum Buckl. # PANTEyellow nutsedge, Cyperus esculentus L. # CYPEScantaloupe, Cucumis melo L.watermelon, Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) MansfAlternatives to methyl bromidefumigationhalosulfuronmethamplasticulturePOST, postemergencePRE, premergencePTO, power take off
Type
Commentary
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 16 , Issue 4 , December 2002 , pp. 860 - 866
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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