EFFECTIVENESS OF EFFECTIVENESS OF

CORN GLUTEN MEAL CORN GLUTEN MEAL

AS A NATURAL AS A NATURAL

HERBICIDEHERBICIDE

By: Jazmin D. WilliamsBy: Jazmin D. Williams

Guidance of Dr. Michael BomfordGuidance of Dr. Michael Bomford

BackgroundBackgroundBackgroundBackgroundBackgroundBackgroundBackgroundBackground

Corn gluten meal (CGM) is a Corn gluten meal (CGM) is a byproduct of corn (byproduct of corn (ZeaZea maysmaysL.) wet milling processL.) wet milling process

Corn gluten meal has been Corn gluten meal has been proposed as a naturallyproposed as a naturally--derived prederived pre--emergent emergent herbicide, suitable for use on herbicide, suitable for use on organic farms organic farms

When CGM is exposed to When CGM is exposed to moisture it releases moisture it releases dipeptidesdipeptides that inhibit root that inhibit root formation in germinating formation in germinating seedlingsseedlings

As a plant food, corn gluten As a plant food, corn gluten meal has a Nmeal has a N--PP--K ratio of 9K ratio of 9--11--0, or 9% nitrogen by 0, or 9% nitrogen by weight (weight (eartheasyeartheasy) )

ObjectivesObjectives

Determine effect of CGM application rate on weed germination and growth

Determine if incorporation of CGM enhances its effectiveness

Plots Plots

sampledsampled [CGM] I vs. U[CGM] I vs. U

22 0 I 0 I

33 0 U 0 U

22 100 I 100 I

22 100 U 100 U

11 200 I 200 I

22 200 U 200 U

11 50 I 50 I

11 50 U 50 U

22 400 I 400 I

33 400 U 400 U

MethodsMethods

CGM was applied at 0, 50, 100, CGM was applied at 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 g/m200, and 400 g/m22 to 30 to 30 freshlyfreshly--cultivated 1 mcultivated 1 m22 plots plots arranged in a completely arranged in a completely randomized design randomized design

CGM was incorporated into the CGM was incorporated into the soil by raking after application soil by raking after application or left on the soil surface by or left on the soil surface by raking before applicationraking before application

Plots were irrigated twice after Plots were irrigated twice after treatment to stimulate treatment to stimulate germination of weeds from the germination of weeds from the existing existing seedbankseedbank and to release and to release dipeptidesdipeptides from CGM from CGM

Picture by: Dr. Michael Bomford Picture by: Dr. Michael Bomford

Picture by: Dr. Michael BomfordPicture by: Dr. Michael Bomford

Methods ContinuedMethods Continued

Eight weeks after Eight weeks after treatment all weeds from treatment all weeds from a 0.1 ma 0.1 m22 area (31.6 x 31.6 area (31.6 x 31.6 cm) in the center of 19 cm) in the center of 19 plots were identified, plots were identified, counted, dried and counted, dried and weighed weighed

Regression analysis was Regression analysis was used to test for effects of used to test for effects of CGM concentration and CGM concentration and incorporation incorporation

Plots sampledPlots sampled [CGM] I vs. U[CGM] I vs. U

22 0 I 0 I

33 0 U 0 U

22 100 I 100 I

22 100 U 100 U

11 200 I 200 I

22 200 U 200 U

11 50 I 50 I

11 50 U 50 U

22 400 I 400 I

33 400 U 400 U

ResultsResults

Henbit (Henbit (LamiumLamium amplexicauleamplexicaule L.) was the dominant weed, L.) was the dominant weed,

accounting for 87% of the plants counted accounting for 87% of the plants counted

Other prominent weeds included: Other prominent weeds included:

LambsquartersLambsquarters ((ChenopodiumChenopodium album album L.), L.),

Wild garlic (Wild garlic (AlliumAllium vinealevineale L.), L.),

Dandelion (Dandelion (TaraxacumTaraxacum officinaleofficinale Weber), Weber),

Chickweed (Chickweed (StellariaStellaria mediamedia CyrillCyrill.), .),

Narrow leaved plantain (Narrow leaved plantain (PlantagoPlantago lanceolatalanceolata L.), and L.), and

Canada thistle (Canada thistle (CirsiumCirsium arvensearvense L.) L.)

Regression Analysis: Weed count at each Regression Analysis: Weed count at each

concentration of corn gluten mealconcentration of corn gluten meal

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

0 100 200 300 400

Incorporated

Unincorporated

Weeds/m2

Slopes of calculated regression lines are not significant

g/m2

Results: Incorporated vs. Results: Incorporated vs.

UnincorporatedUnincorporated

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Incorporated Unincorporated

Weeds/m2

+ S.E.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Incorporated Unincorporated

g/m2

+ S.E.

Differences significant at P < 0.05

ResultsResults

CGM rate had no effect on the survival or CGM rate had no effect on the survival or

growth of different weed speciesgrowth of different weed species

Soil incorporation of CGM reduced Soil incorporation of CGM reduced

emergence by 43%, relative to emergence by 43%, relative to

unincorporated treatments ([unincorporated treatments ([#U#U--#I#I]]/#U/#U ))

Soil incorporation of CGM reduced biomass Soil incorporation of CGM reduced biomass

production by 45%, relative to production by 45%, relative to

unincorporated treatmentsunincorporated treatments

ConclusionConclusion

CGM incorporation reduced weed emergence CGM incorporation reduced weed emergence

and growthand growth

As the concentration of CGM increased, the As the concentration of CGM increased, the

amount of weeds did not decreaseamount of weeds did not decrease

Weed control under the field conditions tested Weed control under the field conditions tested

was not sufficient to recommend CGM use by was not sufficient to recommend CGM use by

organic growers as a preorganic growers as a pre--emergent herbicide emergent herbicide

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Dr. Michael BomfordDr. Michael Bomford

Dr. Karan Dr. Karan KaulKaul

Mr. Brian Geier Mr. Brian Geier

Mr. Tony SilvernailMr. Tony Silvernail

ReferencesReferences Brown, Deborah; Brown, Deborah; GalliganGalligan, Jean. Corn Gluten Meal: A Natural Pre, Jean. Corn Gluten Meal: A Natural Pre--Emergence Emergence

Herbicide @ Herbicide @ www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h531cornglutenmeal.www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h531cornglutenmeal.htmlhtml. . Accessed on December 1, 2008.Accessed on December 1, 2008.

Christians, Nick. How to Use Corn Christians, Nick. How to Use Corn GlutenmealGlutenmeal @ @ www.hort.iastate.edu/glutenwww.hort.iastate.edu/gluten. . Accessed on November 28, 2008Accessed on November 28, 2008

Cox, Caroline. Corn Gluten MealCox, Caroline. Corn Gluten Meal--A Natural Lawn Care A Natural Lawn Care Herbicide @ Herbicide @ www.pesticide.org/pubs/alts/cgm/cornglutenmeal.htmlwww.pesticide.org/pubs/alts/cgm/cornglutenmeal.html. 2004. Accessed on . 2004. Accessed on November 20, 2008November 20, 2008

Corn Gluten Meal: A Natural Alternative For Lawn and Garden Corn Gluten Meal: A Natural Alternative For Lawn and Garden Weed Control @ Weed Control @ www.eartheasy.com/article_corn_gluten.htmwww.eartheasy.com/article_corn_gluten.htm. Accessed on December 1, 2008. Accessed on December 1, 2008

About Pesticides @ About Pesticides @ www.epa.org.gov/pesticides/about/www.epa.org.gov/pesticides/about/.. September 4, 2008. September 4, 2008. Accessed on December 1, 2008Accessed on December 1, 2008

Corn Gluten Meal @ Corn Gluten Meal @ www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_gluten_mealwww.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_gluten_meal. Accessed on . Accessed on November 19, 2008November 19, 2008

Henbit Photo. Texas A&M UniversityHenbit Photo. Texas A&M University. College Station, TX. 1 March 2009. @ . College Station, TX. 1 March 2009. @ www.peanut.tamu.edu/weeds_photo.htmwww.peanut.tamu.edu/weeds_photo.htm

LambsquartersLambsquarters Photo. Michigan State University. East Lansing, MI. 1 March Photo. Michigan State University. East Lansing, MI. 1 March 2009. @ 2009. @ www.msuweeds.comwww.msuweeds.com/.../common_lambsquarters//.../common_lambsquarters/

Chickweed Photo. MD Idea Exporting Division Extracts ProfessionaChickweed Photo. MD Idea Exporting Division Extracts Professional. 1 March l. 1 March 2009. @ 2009. @ www.mdidea.comwww.mdidea.com/.../proper/ChickweedPhoto05.jpg/.../proper/ChickweedPhoto05.jpg

Thistle Photo. Michigan State University. East Lansing, MI. 1 MThistle Photo. Michigan State University. East Lansing, MI. 1 March 2009. @ arch 2009. @ www.msuweeds.comwww.msuweeds.com/...//.../canada_thistlecanada_thistle//