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Air-Propelled Abrasive Grit for Postemergence In-Row Weed Control in Field Corn

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Frank Forcella
Frank Forcella*
Affiliation:
North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 803 Iowa Avenue, Morris, MN 56267
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: frank.forcella@ars.usda.gov
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Abstract

Organic growers need additional tools for weed control. A new technique using abrasive grit propelled by compressed air was tested in field plots. Grit derived from corncobs was directed at seedlings of summer annual weeds growing at the bases of corn plants when the corn was at differing early stages of leaf development. Season-long, in-row weed control exceeded 90% when two or three abrasion events were coupled with between-row cultivation. Timing of weed abrasion was critical, with highest levels of control corresponding to the one- and five-leaf stages or the one-, three-, and five-leaf stages of corn development. Corn yields associated with these treatments were equivalent to those of hand-weeded controls in which no abrasive grit was applied. Thus, air-propelled abrasive grit applications at the one-, three-, and five-leaf stages of corn controlled weeds sufficiently to prevent weed-induced reductions in corn grain. Additionally, these applications were not harmful to corn plants. This new concept for weed control may be of interest to organic crop managers.

Los agricultores de productos orgánicos necesitan de herramientas adicionales para el control de la maleza. Una nueva técnica que usa un polvo abrasivo propulsado por aire comprimido fue probada en parcelas en el campo. Un polvo derivado de mazorcas de maíz fue dirigido a plántulas de maleza anual de verano que crecían al pie de las plantas de maíz, cuando este cultivo se encontraba en diferentes etapas tempranas del desarrollo de las hojas. A lo largo de la estación, dentro de hileras, el control de maleza excedió 90% cuando dos o tres aplicaciones de la abrasión se asociaron con paso de cultivadora entre hileras. El tiempo de abrasión para la maleza fue crítico, con los más altos niveles de control correspondiente a las etapas de 1 y 5 hojas o en las etapas de desarrollo del cultivo de 1, 3 y 5 hojas. Los rendimientos de maíz asociados con estos tratamientos fueron equivalentes a aquellos con controles de deshierbe manual, en los cuales no se aplicaron los polvos abrasivos. Por lo tanto, las aplicaciones de los polvos propulsados con aire comprimido en las etapas de 1, 3 y 5 hojas de maíz, controlaron la maleza lo suficiente para prevenir reducciones en el rendimiento del grano causadas por éstas. Adicionalmente, estas aplicaciones no fueron perjudiciales a las plantas de maíz. Este nuevo concepto para el control de maleza podría ser de interés para los productores de cultivos orgánicos.

Keywords

Corn, Zea mays L. ‘Croplan 294RR’ and ‘3114RR’Abrasionalternative weed managementcorncobnonchemicalorganicsandblasting
Type
Notes
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 26 , Issue 1 , March 2012 , pp. 161 - 164
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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