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Weed Suppression by Grasses for Orchard Floor Management

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Thomas J. Tworkoski  and
D. Michael Glenn
Thomas J. Tworkoski*
Affiliation:
USDA-ARS, Appalachian Fruit Research Station, 2217 Wiltshire Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430
D. Michael Glenn
Affiliation:
USDA-ARS, Appalachian Fruit Research Station, 2217 Wiltshire Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: tom.tworkoski@ars.usda.gov
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Abstract

Fruit trees in orchards of the mid-Atlantic region of the United States are often planted in vegetation-free rows alternating with grass alleys. Grass managed to suppress weeds but to compete minimally with fruit trees may be an alternative to herbicide and tillage. This research was conducted in the greenhouse and field to assess five different grasses that may suppress weeds without reducing yield of fruit trees. In the greenhouse with high seeding rates, red fescue competed more effectively than did chewings fescue, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass with three weeds (damesrocket, cornflower, and chicory). However, with reduced seeding rates, similar to rates used in the field, grass competitiveness with weeds was similar between red fescue, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass. Similar results were obtained during a 4-yr field experiment; roughstalk bluegrass competed least effectively with weeds but the other four grasses provided similar weed suppression—generally providing as much weed suppression as traditional herbicides. None of the candidate grasses significantly reduced yields of 10-yr-old apple and peach trees, although fruit size was affected by some grasses. The grass that was least suppressive of yield, roughstalk bluegrass, was the least effective in controlling weeds. Annual mowing in combination with four of the grasses tested is one option to manage the orchard floor with reduced herbicides, but fruit size may decrease.

En las fincas de frutales de la región Atlántica media de los Estados Unidos, los árboles son plantados en líneas libres de vegetación alternadas con pasillos cubiertos con zacate. El uso de coberturas de zacate manejadas para suprimir malezas pero que compitan poco con los árboles frutales podría ser una alternativa al uso de herbicidas y labranza. Esta investigación fue realizada en invernadero y campo para evaluar cinco zacates diferentes que podrían suprimir malezas sin afectar el rendimiento de los árboles frutales. En el invernadero y a altas densidades de siembra, Festuca rubra compitió más efectivamente que F. rubra var. commutata, Lolium arundinaceum y L. perenne con tres malezas (Hesperis matronalis, Centaurea cyanus y Chorium intybus). Sin embargo, con densidades de siembra reducidas, equivalentes a las usadas en campo, la competitividad del zacate con malezas fue similar entre F. rubra, L. arundinaceum y L. perenne. Se obtuvo resultados similares durante los cuatro años del experimento de campo. Poa trivialis fue la especie que compitió en forma menos efectiva con las malezas, mientras que los otros cuatro zacates brindaron una supresión de malezas similar, la cual fue generalmente tan alta como la supresión de malezas de herbicidas tradicionales. Ninguno de los zacates candidatos redujo significativamente los rendimientos de árboles de manzana y pera de 10 años de edad, aunque el tamaño de la fruta fue afectado por algunos zacates. El zacate que redujo menos el rendimiento, P. trivialis, también fue el menos efectivo controlando malezas. Realizar una chapia anual en combinación con cuatro de los zacates evaluados es una opción para manejar el piso de una plantación de frutales haciendo un uso reducido de herbicidas, pero el tamaño de la fruta podría disminuir.

Keywords

Chicory, Cichorium intybus L.cornflower, Centaurea cyanus L.damesrocket, Hesperis matronalis L.apple, Malus × domestica Borkhchewings red fescue, Festuca rubra var. commutata L. Gaudinpeach, Prunus persica (L.) Batchperennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L.red fescue, Festuca rubra L.roughstalk bluegrass, Poa trivialis L.tall fescue, Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) S.J. DarbyshireApplecompetitionground coverreduced herbicidepeach
Type
Notes
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , September 2012 , pp. 559 - 565
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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