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Effects of Integrated Polyethylene and Cover Crop Mulch, Conservation Tillage, and Herbicide Application on Weed Control, Yield, and Economic Returns in Watermelon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2018

Andrew J. Price ,
Jacob P. Williams ,
Leah A. Duzy ,
J. Scott McElroy ,
Elizabeth A. Guertal  and
Steve Li
Andrew J. Price*
Affiliation:
Plant Physiologist, National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Auburn, AL, USA
Jacob P. Williams
Affiliation:
Former Graduate Student, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
Leah A. Duzy
Affiliation:
Former Agricultural Economist, National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Auburn, AL, USA
J. Scott McElroy
Affiliation:
Professor, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
Elizabeth A. Guertal
Affiliation:
Professor, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
Steve Li
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
*
*Author for correspondence: Andrew J. Price, Plant Physiologist, National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 411 South Donahue Drive, Auburn, AL 36832 (andrew.price@ars.usda.gov)
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Abstract

A 3-yr watermelon experiment was established in fall 2013 to evaluate cover crop, polyethylene mulch, tillage, and herbicide application components for weed control, yield, and profitability. Conservation tillage, either with a cereal rye cover crop alone or integrated with polyethylene mulch, was compared to the standard industry practice of conventional tillage with bedded polyethylene mulch. The study also used a non-bedded conventional tillage system without polyethylene to determine polyethylene and cover crop residue effects. Within each of the four systems, herbicide treatments comprised halosulfuron applied (1) at 26.3 g ai ha–1 PRE, (2) at 26.3 g ai ha–1 POST, or (3) sequentially at 26.3 g ai ha–1 PRE and POST. Each system also had a nontreated control. In addition, clethodim was applied in all plots twice POST at 140 g ai ha–1, except for nontreated in each system. In 2014, polyethylene or cereal rye cover crop effectively controlled tall morningglory, coffee senna, and carpetweed early season in nontreated plots, whereas the integration of the two was effective at controlling common purslane. Tall morningglory and purslane control was insufficient late season regardless of production system and herbicide application. In 2015, polyethylene effectively controlled cutleaf eveningprimrose, sicklepod, and arrowleaf sida early season in nontreated plots. Yellow nutsedge control was insufficient late season regardless of production system and herbicide application. Utilizing sequential halosulfuron applications did not increase weed control over PRE or POST alone in all years. Polyethylene use resulted in yields higher than systems without in all years. Across all 3 yr, net returns were highest for polyethylene mulch systems. The results of this experiment underscore the need for more progress in developing integrated conservation systems for watermelon production. Effective herbicides, low-disturbance cultivation, and/or hand weeding are most likely the key to success in conservation specialty crop systems.

Keywords

Michael WalshUniversity of SydneyClethodimhalosulfuronarrowleaf sida, Sida rhombifolia L.cereal rye, Secale cerale L.carpetweed, Mollugo verticillata L.coffee senna, Senna occidentalis (L.) Linkcommon purslane, Portulaca oleracea L.cutleaf eveningprimrose, Oenothera laciniata Hilllarge crabgrass, Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.sicklepod, Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.S. Irwin & Barnebyyellow nutsedge, Cyperus rotundus L.tall morningglory, Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Rothwatermelon, Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & NakaiCereal ryecover cropsconservation tillagepolyethylene
Type
Weed Management-Other Crops/Areas
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 32 , Issue 5 , October 2018 , pp. 623 - 632
Copyright
© Weed Science Society of America, 2018 

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