Performing Department
Plant Biology & Pathology
Non Technical Summary
Summary: Weeds, particularly perennials, are difficult to control in cranberry bogs. Clopyralid is a new herbicide that has been registered for use and is being used for weed control in cranberries. Clopyralid effectively controls legume and composite weeds. Clopyralid has been used prior to registration under a section 18 Emergency Exemption in New Jersey cranberries wild bean Apios americana control. Research has indicated that cranberry tolerance to clopyralid and other experimental herbicides depends on application rate and time of application. Growers observed control of other composite and legume weeds, in addition to wild bean in treated bogs, including fireweed Erechtites hieracifolia and beggar-ticks Bidens frodosa. Field research will be conducted to develop information needed to expand the list of weeds controlled with clopyralid, and determine the optimum herbicide rate and time of application. Weed species in addition to wild bean that clopyralid has the potential to control includes fireweed, beggars-ticks, goldenrod Solidago species, and aster Aster species. In recent years, pronamide, marketed under the trade name of Kerb, has been used for dodder control with section 18 Emergency Exemptions. Pronamide will no longer be available for the control of dodder in cranberries. Research to identify alternative dodder control measures is a priority. Screening to identify additional herbicides with the potential to control weeds in cranberries will continue when new chemistry becomes available. Phytotoxicity and efficacy of labeled and experimental herbicides will be evaluated on newly established cranberry beds. Plots will be treated annually and followed through the first harvest to determine the affect of weed control on establishment and yield.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Objectives: 1. Integrate effective herbicides into the current cranberry practices to improve the control of yellow loosestrife, sedges, and other weeds, prevent crop phytotoxicity, and maintain the longest practical preharvest interval. 2. Evaluate the phytotoxicity and efficacy herbicides with the potential to control dodder and other serious weeds in cranberries. 3. Screen herbicides registered on other crops and experimental herbicides for phytotoxicity to cranberries. 4. Evaluate herbicides on newly planted cranberry beds 5. Develop support for registration from the manufacturer(s) of herbicides with good potential for safely controlling weeds in cranberries. 6. Cooperate with IR-4, the herbicide manufacturers, and state and federal agencies to obtain registration for herbicides, including BAS 514 and DPX 6025 that are not phytotoxic to the crop, control troublesome weeds, and are environmentally and toxicologically safe. Expected Outputs: Research results will be used to improve weed control recommendations for growers, ensure effective weed control without crop injury, and to support section 18 Emergency Exemption requests, and eventually 24C Special Local Needs or Section 3 labels for effective herbicides in cranberries. Screening will identify additional herbicides useful in cranberry production. The availability of additional herbicides will result in reduced weed pressure, reduced cost of weed control, and increased yields for growers.
Project Methods
Methods: Troublesome cranberry weeds will be evaluated for control on sites with moderate to heavy uniform populations in cranberry bogs. Priority will be given to local weed problems with national significance; however, local and regional weed problems will be researched when potential herbicides are identified as safe for use on the crop. Initial efforts will concentrate on the control of dodder, legume and composite weeds, yellow loosestrife, and sedges. Clopyralid is known to be effective for the control of legume and composite weeds. A Section 18 Emergency Label for pronamide will no longer be granted for use in cranberries. BAS 514 has been effective for the control of yellow loosestrife and other cranberry weeds, and has been identified as non-phytotoxic to cranberries. DPX 6025 has been identified as potentially safe for use in cranberries and have the potential to suppress or control sedges Cyperus species. Callisto has shown potential as dodder, sedge, rush, and redroot (paint-root) herbicide with excellent crop safety in cranberries. Preliminary research has indicated that EL 152, a herbicide used to control dodder in alfalfa and carrots, can safely be applied in the spring as granular formulation after the winter flood has been removed but before bud swell. Additional data is needed to evaluate EL 152, Callisto, BAS 514 and other herbicides for crop safety and dodder control in cranberries. For the experimental herbicides with the potential to control yellow loosestrife sedges, rushes, and redroot the rate, time of year the treatment is applied, and the method of application will be evaluated. The use pattern, which provides maximum weed control, crop safety, and environmental and toxicological safety, will be determined. The affects of tank-mixes will be evaluated. Field evaluations of herbicides for phytotoxicity to cranberries will be conducted at Rutgers Cranberry and Blueberry Research Center, Chatsworth, New Jersey. Field experiments will be evaluated for crop injury and yield for two growing seasons after treatment. All experiments will be replicated and statistically analyzed. Results will be presented at the American Cranberry growers Association Workshop and at regional and national weed science meetings.