ISHS Acta Horticulturae 715: VIII International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture
INNOVATIONS IN WEED MANAGEMENT IN WILD BLUEBERRY FIELDS IN MAINE |
| Author: | D.E. Yarborough |
| Keywords: | Vaccinium angustifolium |
| Abstract:
Wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) fields in Maine are infested with a variety of woody and herbaceous weeds, which reduce wild blueberry crop production, hinder harvest and reduce fruit quality. Prior to registration of the pre-emergence herbicides, terbacil, diuron and hexazinone in the 1970s and 1980s, cutting and hand-wiping or the use of herbicide rollers with 2,4-D were used to limit the growth of taller woody and herbaceous weeds. Cutting was not effective and wiping could result in injury to the blueberry plant, so other safer alternatives were needed. The initial success of these pre-emergence herbicides delayed development of alternatives but with the discovery of hexazinone in the ground water, herbicide rates were reduced. Lower herbicide rates and continuous use have led to shifts in weed populations so that pre-emergence treatments are no longer as effective. Applications of post-emergence grass herbicides are effective in suppressing grasses but would further release the woody and herbaceous weeds. A new recalculating wick-wiper was designed specifically to follow the contour of the uneven fields and dramatically reduced injury to the wild blueberry plants while increasing the efficiency of the glyphosate application. A hand-held 'hockey-stick' wiper was used effectively on smaller fields. The most recent innovations include the 'sproutless weeder', an adaptation of a hand-held brush cutter blade that injects glyphosate only when the weed is being cut, thus further increasing efficiency and reducing both herbicide use and injury to the wild blueberry crop. A non-mechanized version of this type of applicator, the 'clip clean' adapter modifies the hand-clipper to apply glyphosate. This adapter increased the effectiveness of the cutting treatment and reduced injury when compared to wiping treatments. | |
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