Should I Stay or Should I Grow? The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

42
Should I Stay or Should I Grow? The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems Theodore M. Webster Crop Protection and Management Research Unit USDA-ARS, Tifton, GA

description

Should I Stay or Should I Grow? The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems. Theodore M. Webster Crop Protection and Management Research Unit USDA-ARS, Tifton, GA. Low-Density Polyethylene Mulch is a Great Physical Weed Control Barrier…. Low-Density Polyethylene - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Should I Stay or Should I Grow? The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Page 1: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Should I Stay or Should I Grow? The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene

mulch systems

Theodore M. WebsterCrop Protection and Management

Research Unit

USDA-ARS, Tifton, GA

Page 2: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Low-Density PolyethyleneMulch is a Great PhysicalWeed Control Barrier…

Page 3: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Low-Density PolyethyleneMulch is a Great PhysicalWeed Control Barrier…

…In the Absenceof Methyl Bromide,

Mulch Will Be aCritical Component

of WeedManagement

Systems

Page 4: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

…ButNutsedgesWill Pierce

ThisPhysicalBarrier

andInterfere

WithCrop

Growth

Page 5: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

X X X

… 40 Acre Watermelon FieldWithout Methyl Bromide Treatment

Page 6: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Hypotheses:

• Polyethylene mulch will hinder nutsedge shoot growth, tuber production, and patch expansion

• Purple and yellow nutsedge will be affected by mulches in a similar manner

• Purple and yellow nutsedge will have similar growth habits in the absence of mulches.

Page 7: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Black MulchBlack Mulch

Clear MulchClear Mulch

No-MulchNo-Mulch

Temporal Patterns of EmergenceTemporal Patterns of Emergence

• 16 Wks• 59 cm Diam.• 23 cm Deep• 1.25 mil• Drip Irrigation

Page 8: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Black Mulch Clear Mulch No Mulch

Nu

tsed

ge

Sh

oo

t E

mer

gen

ce (

No

. per

po

t)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Purple NutsedgeYellow Nutsedge

A

B

BBBB

Nutsedge Shoots/Potby mulch and species

146

15

6 2

Page 9: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Previous Studies:Nutsedge Population With and Without Black LDPE Mulch

Page 10: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Purple Nutsedge Growing Under Black LDPE – Minimal Shoot Penetration Through The Mulch(shoots growing under black mulch in previous slide)

…So we evaluated nutsedge shoot numberstrapped beneath mulch in the greenhouse study

Page 11: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Black Mulch Clear Mulch

Nu

tsed

ge

Sh

oo

t P

op

ula

tio

n B

elo

w M

ulc

h (

No

. per

po

t)

0

20

40

60

80

Purple NutsedgeYellow Nutsedge

B

C

A

C

Nutsedge Shoots/Pot Below Mulchby mulch and species

73

39

14 12

58% 92% 80% 95%

Page 12: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Soil Sieved for tubersSoil Sieved for tubers

Page 13: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Black Mulch Clear Mulch No Mulch

Nu

tsed

ge

Tu

ber

Pro

du

ctio

n (

No

. per

po

t)

0

100

200

300

400

Purple NutsedgeYellow Nutsedge

A

C

B

C

B

C

Nutsedge Tubers/Potby mulch and species

366

188179

47

Page 14: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

How does mulch affect nutsedgepatch expansion in the field?

Page 15: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Purple NutsedgePurple Nutsedge

Black PlasticBlack Plastic

Clear PlasticClear Plastic

No PlasticNo Plastic

There were differences due to mulch!

Page 16: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

12.7 cm12.7 cm12.7 cm12.7 cm

Grid System Used To Quantify Yellow Nutsedge And Purple Nutsedge

(<16 WAP) Shoot Populations

Page 17: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Grid System (12.7 cm X 12.7 cm) Used To Quantify Purple Nutsedge Shoot Populations After 8 WAP

12.712.7cmcm

Page 18: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Unable To Evaluate Purple Nutsedge In Clear Mulch:This Is The Only Plot That Survived Establishment

Page 19: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Time (weeks after planting)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Pu

rple

nu

tsed

ge

sho

ots

(#/

pat

ch)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500Non-mulchedBlack mulch

Purple Nutsedge Shoots/Patch

1548

794

3439

1858

Page 20: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Ea

stin

g (

cm

)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

16 Weeks After PlantingPurple Nutsedge

Non-Mulched Control

Page 21: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Ea

sti

ng

(c

m)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

24 Weeks After PlantingPurple Nutsedge

Non-Mulched Control

Page 22: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Ea

sti

ng

(c

m)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

32 Weeks After PlantingPurple Nutsedge

Non-Mulched Control

Page 23: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Ea

sti

ng

(c

m)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

60 Weeks After PlantingPurple Nutsedge

Non-Mulched Control

Page 24: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Eas

tin

g (

cm)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Eas

tin

g (

cm)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Eas

tin

g (

cm)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Eas

tin

g (

cm)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

16 WAP 24 WAP

32 WAP 60 WAPPurple Nutsedge

Non-Mulched Control

Page 25: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

0 100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Ea

sti

ng

(c

m)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

16 Weeks After PlantingPurple Nutsedge

Black LDPE Mulch

Page 26: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

0 100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Ea

sti

ng

(c

m)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

24 Weeks After PlantingPurple Nutsedge

Black LDPE Mulch

Page 27: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

0 100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Ea

sti

ng

(c

m)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

32 Weeks After PlantingPurple Nutsedge

Black LDPE Mulch

Page 28: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

0 100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Ea

sti

ng

(c

m)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

60 Weeks After PlantingPurple Nutsedge

Black LDPE Mulch

Page 29: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

0 100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Eas

tin

g (

cm)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

0 100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Eas

tin

g (

cm)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

0 100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Eas

tin

g (

cm)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

0 100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Eas

tin

g (

cm)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

16 WAP 24 WAP

32 WAP 60 WAPPurple Nutsedge

Black LDPE Mulch

Page 30: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

0 100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Ea

stin

g (

cm

)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Ea

stin

g (

cm

)2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

32 Weeks After Planting

Purple NutsedgeNon-mulched control

Purple NutsedgeBlack LDPE Mulch

Page 31: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

0 100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Ea

sti

ng

(c

m)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

100 200 300 400 500

Northing (cm )

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Ea

stin

g (

cm

)2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

60 Weeks After Planting

Purple NutsedgeNon-mulched control

Purple NutsedgeBlack LDPE Mulch

Page 32: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Time (weeks after planting)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Pu

rple

nu

tsed

ge

pat

ch a

rea

(m2/p

atch

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Non-mulchedBlack mulch

Purple Nutsedge Patch Area

16.1

8.1

22.1

11.6

Page 33: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Yellow Nutsedge: a different growth patternYellow Nutsedge: a different growth pattern

Black PlasticBlack Plastic

Clear PlasticClear Plastic

No PlasticNo Plastic

Page 34: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Yellow nutsedge was sensitive to cool autumn temperatures,therefore there is no data beyond 24 WAP

Page 35: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Yellow Nutsedge Shoots/Patch

Time (weeks after planting)

0 8 16 24

Yel

low

nu

tsed

ge

sho

ots

per

pat

ch

0

50

100

150

200

250

Black mulchNon-mulched controlClear mulch

208

73 & 76

36 & 39

137

Page 36: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Northing (cm)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Eas

tin

g (

cm)

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

2400

2600

2800

3000

3200

3400

3600

3800

4000

Yellow Nutsedge Yellow Nutsedge Patch Expansion:Patch Expansion:24 Weeks of growth 24 Weeks of growth from a single tuberfrom a single tuber

Patch Area: 0.18 mPatch Area: 0.18 m22

177 Yellow Nutsedge Shoots177 Yellow Nutsedge Shoots

Page 37: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Time (weeks after planting)

0 8 16 24

Nu

mb

er o

f q

uad

rats

per

pat

ch

wit

h y

ello

w n

uts

edg

e sh

oo

ts

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Black mulchNon-mulched controlClear mulch

Number of Yellow Nutsedge Quadrats/Patch

11.0 (0.18 m2)

9.3

5.3

Page 38: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

0 50 100 150 200 250

Northing (cm )

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Eas

tin

g (

cm)

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

2400

2600

2800

3000

3200

3400

3600

3800

4000

0 50 100 150 200 250

Northing (cm )

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Eas

tin

g (

cm)

2 0

6 0

1 0 0

1 4 0

1 8 0

2 2 0

2 6 0

3 0 0

3 4 0

3 8 0

4 2 0

4 6 0

5 0 0

5 4 0

5 8 0

6 2 0

24 WAPNon-mulched controls

Yellow nutsedge Purple nutsedge

0.18 m2 5.5 m2

Page 39: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Conclusions: GreenhouseConclusions: Greenhouse

• Non-mulched control: Relative to Purple Non-mulched control: Relative to Purple Nutsedge, Yellow Nutsedge produced:Nutsedge, Yellow Nutsedge produced:– 9x’s more shoots 9x’s more shoots – 7x’s more tubers 7x’s more tubers

• Mulches: Reduced Yellow Nutsedge Mulches: Reduced Yellow Nutsedge – Shoot #’s by 96%Shoot #’s by 96%– Tuber #’s by 50%Tuber #’s by 50%– Differences in purple nutsedge shoot #’s Differences in purple nutsedge shoot #’s

and tuber #’s could not be detected among and tuber #’s could not be detected among treatmentstreatments

Page 40: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Conclusions: FieldConclusions: Field

• Purple Nutsedge in Black Mulch Plots:Purple Nutsedge in Black Mulch Plots:– 2x’s MORE shoots at 32 and 60 WAP 2x’s MORE shoots at 32 and 60 WAP

compared to Non-Mulched Controlcompared to Non-Mulched Control– 2x’s MORE patch area at 32 and 60 WAP 2x’s MORE patch area at 32 and 60 WAP

compared to the Non-Mulched Controlcompared to the Non-Mulched Control

• Yellow Nutsedge in Black Mulch Plots:Yellow Nutsedge in Black Mulch Plots:– 3x’s LESS shoots at 16 and 24 WAP 3x’s LESS shoots at 16 and 24 WAP

compared to Non-Mulched Controlcompared to Non-Mulched Control– 2x’s LESS patch size (in terms of quadrat 2x’s LESS patch size (in terms of quadrat

#’s) compared to Non-Mulched Control#’s) compared to Non-Mulched Control

Page 41: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Take Home Message:Take Home Message:• Yellow Nutsedge:Yellow Nutsedge:

– Growth SUPPRESSED by black mulchGrowth SUPPRESSED by black mulch– Does not distribute itself far from the mother Does not distribute itself far from the mother

tubertuber– Confirms the predictions of a spatial model of Confirms the predictions of a spatial model of

yellow nutsedge growth: farming operations are yellow nutsedge growth: farming operations are the main cause of yellow nutsedge dispersal in the main cause of yellow nutsedge dispersal in the field (Schippers et al. 1993).the field (Schippers et al. 1993).

• Purple nutsedge:Purple nutsedge:– Growth PROMOTED by black mulchGrowth PROMOTED by black mulch– Well suited to distribute itself through its Well suited to distribute itself through its

environment.environment.

Page 42: Should I Stay or Should I Grow?  The nutsedge dilemma in polyethylene mulch systems

Acknowledgements Acknowledgements

Contact Information:

[email protected]

http://www.cpes.peachnet.edu/cpmru/

http://gaweed.com

• Eddie Sklany (Study Coordinator)• Aaron Wise• Dustin Taylor• John Bennet• Amy Davis• Stefanie Cross