Articles
The effects of weed control methods in plum orchards on vegetation, yield, and fruit quality
Article number
1457_94
Pages
749 – 756
Language
English
Abstract
The plum (Prunus domestica L.) is one of the most widely grown fruit species in Bulgaria.
This is due to its high ecological adaptability and potential for multiple processing purposes.
Effective weed control in plum orchards is of great importance for tree growth and for obtaining high-quality yields.
In two consecutive seasons (2022 and 2023), a field trial comparing different weed control methods was conducted at an experimental orchard at the Fruit Growing Institute – Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
The experiment included the following treatments: 1. Untreated control; 2. Polypropylene mulch; 3. Wood chip mulch; 4. Around-stem plastic blocks; 5. Flurostar 200 (200 g L-1 Fluroxypir) – 0.90 L ha‑1 + Stratos Ultra (100 g L-1 Cycloxidim) – 2.00 L ha‑1 (herbicidal treatment applied in a tank mixture); 6. NASA 360 SL (360 g L-1 Glyphosate) – 8.00 L ha‑1. In the spring of 2022, the different mulches were applied after initial tillage, early in spring, with a diverting tiller before the weeds developed.
Herbicides were applied during the crop growth stage, at the beginning of fruit growth (BBCH 72). In the second experimental year, the total number of weeds in the untreated control increased by 44%. The polypropylene mulch and the Around-stem plastic blocks exert 100.0% control of weeds during both reporting dates, 25 and 50 days after the herbicide treatments.
On the first reporting date, the wood mulch control of grass weeds decreased slightly, and on the second reporting date, it decreased against all weeds.
High weed control was established after the application of Flurostar + Stratos Ultra in a tank mix and NASA 360 SL. The use of polypropylene mulch or Around-stem plastic blocks is a good alternative to weed control through herbicides.
In both treatments, there was a good balance between yields and the quality of the production.
This is due to its high ecological adaptability and potential for multiple processing purposes.
Effective weed control in plum orchards is of great importance for tree growth and for obtaining high-quality yields.
In two consecutive seasons (2022 and 2023), a field trial comparing different weed control methods was conducted at an experimental orchard at the Fruit Growing Institute – Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
The experiment included the following treatments: 1. Untreated control; 2. Polypropylene mulch; 3. Wood chip mulch; 4. Around-stem plastic blocks; 5. Flurostar 200 (200 g L-1 Fluroxypir) – 0.90 L ha‑1 + Stratos Ultra (100 g L-1 Cycloxidim) – 2.00 L ha‑1 (herbicidal treatment applied in a tank mixture); 6. NASA 360 SL (360 g L-1 Glyphosate) – 8.00 L ha‑1. In the spring of 2022, the different mulches were applied after initial tillage, early in spring, with a diverting tiller before the weeds developed.
Herbicides were applied during the crop growth stage, at the beginning of fruit growth (BBCH 72). In the second experimental year, the total number of weeds in the untreated control increased by 44%. The polypropylene mulch and the Around-stem plastic blocks exert 100.0% control of weeds during both reporting dates, 25 and 50 days after the herbicide treatments.
On the first reporting date, the wood mulch control of grass weeds decreased slightly, and on the second reporting date, it decreased against all weeds.
High weed control was established after the application of Flurostar + Stratos Ultra in a tank mix and NASA 360 SL. The use of polypropylene mulch or Around-stem plastic blocks is a good alternative to weed control through herbicides.
In both treatments, there was a good balance between yields and the quality of the production.
Publication
Authors
N. Neshev, M. Nesheva, M. Yanev, S. Dinova
Keywords
plums, weeds, biometry, yields
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