Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T03:28:31.321Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Potential of Rye (Secale cereale) for Weed Management in Transplant Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Reid J. Smeda
Affiliation:
Hortic., Dep., Purdue Univ., W. Lafayette, IN 47907
Stephen C. Weller
Affiliation:
Hortic., Dep., Purdue Univ., W. Lafayette, IN 47907

Abstract

Weed control in tomato production systems is difficult because few are registered. The use of rye for weed control and its influence on transplant tomato yields was investigated during 1986 and 1987 at two locations in IN to determine if cover crops can provide an alternative weed management technique. ‘Wheeler’ rye was sown in the fall of 1985 and 1986, and mowed or desiccated with glyphosate at various times before planting ‘IND 812'tomatoes. At the time of glyphosate application, rye residues reduced the growth of overwintering weeds by 93% or more compared to bare ground (no cover crop) areas. The time of desiccating rye prior to planting tomatoes affected the extent of weed suppression by rye residues. In 1986, rye treated 4 wk before planting (WBP) tomatoes provided up to 89% suppression of weed growth at 2 wk after planting (WAP) tomatoes, but no measurable weed suppression 5 WAP tomatoes. Rye treated 2 WBP tomatoes provided up to 97% weed suppression up to 5 WAP tomatoes. In 1987, weed suppression varied between locations and differed from 1986. At Lafayette, rye treated 2 and 1 WBP tomatoes provided greater than 81% suppression of weed growth up to 8 WAP tomatoes. Rye mowed and the residues placed into a plot at a known density also reduced weed growth (60%) 8 WAP tomatoes. At Vincennes, however, rye treated 2 and 1 WBP in 1987 did not reduce weed growth later than 4 WAP tomatoes compared to the unweeded, bare ground treatment. The mowed rye residues at Vincennes suppressed weed growth (96%) up to 8 WAP tomatoes. Tomato yield was correlated to weed suppression. In 1986, tomato yield in the rye treated 2 WBP tomatoes was comparable to yield in the bare ground, weeded controls. However, tomato yield in rye plots treated 4 WBP tomatoes was similar to yield in the bare ground, unweeded control. In 1987, tomato yields in all rye plots (mowed, treated 2 and 1 WBP tomatoes) were similar to tomato yields in the bare ground, weeded control at Lafayette. At Vincennes, only the mowed rye treatment yielded comparably to the bare ground, weeded control. In general, rye plots that were weeded yielded similar to or up to 28% more than a bare ground, weeded control. Tomato yields were not reduced by rye residues. Tomato yields in rye residues that provided effective suppression of weed growth (greater than 80%) for a minimum of 4 to 5 WAP tomatoes were comparable to bare ground, weeded controls.

Type
Weed Management
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. Abdul-Baki, A. A. and Teasdale, J. R. 1993. A no-tillage tomato production system using hairy vetch and subterranean clover mulches. HortSci. 28: 106108.Google Scholar
2. Barnes, J. P. and Putnam, A. R. 1983. Rye residues contribute weed suppression in no-tillage cropping systems. J. Chem. Ecol. 9: 10451057.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3. Barnes, J. P. and Putnam, A. R. 1986. Evidence for allelopathy by residues and aqueous extracts of rye (Secale cereale). Weed Sci. 34: 384390.Google Scholar
4. Barnes, J. P., Putnam, A. R., and Burke, B. A. 1986. Allelopathic activity of rye (Secale cereale L.). Pages 271286 in Putnam, A. R. and Tang, C. S., eds. The Science of Allelopathy. Wiley and Sons, N.Y. Google Scholar
5. Blevins, R. L., Cook, D., Phillips, S. H., and Phillips, R. E. 1971. Influence of no-tillage on soil moisture. Agron. J. 63: 593596.Google Scholar
6. Chase, W. R., Nair, M. G., Putnam, A. R., and Mishra, S. K. 1991. 2,2′-oxo-1,1′'-azobenzene: Microbial transformation of rye (Secale cereale L.) allelochemical in field soils by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus: III. J. Chem. Ecol. 17: 15751584.Google Scholar
7. Crutchfield, D. A., Wicks, G. A., and Burnside, O. C. 1985. Effect of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) straw mulch level on weed control. Weed Sci. 34: 110114.Google Scholar
8. deAlmeida, F. S. 1985. Effect of some winter crop mulches on the soil weed infestation. Proc. Brit. Crop Prot. Conf. Weeds, pp. 651659.Google Scholar
9. Friesen, G. H. 1979. Weed interference in transplanted tomatoes. Weed Sci. 27: 1113.Google Scholar
10. Gorski, S. F. and Wertz, M. K. 1987. Tomato(Lycopersicon esculentum) and Eastern black nightshade (Solatium ptycanthum) tolerance to acifluorfen. Weed Tech. 1: 278281.Google Scholar
11. Lanfranconi, L. E., Bellinder, R. R., and Wallace, R. W. 1992. Grain rye residues and weed control strategies in reduced tillage potatoes. Weed Technol. 6: 10211026.Google Scholar
12. Langdale, G. W., Blevins, R. L., Karlen, D. L., McCool, D. K., Nearing, M. A., Skidmore, E. L., Thomas, A. W., Tyler, D. D., and Williams, J. R. 1991. Cover crop effects on soil erosion by wind and water. Pages 1522 in Hargrove, W. L., ed. Cover Crops for Clean Water, Soil and Water Conservation Soc., Ankeny, IA.Google Scholar
13. LeBaron, H. M. 1991. Distribution and seriousness of herbicide-resistant weed infestations worldwide. Pages 2743 in Caseley, J. C., Cussans, G. W., and Atkin, R. K., eds. Herbicide Resistance in Weeds and Crops. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.Google Scholar
14. Liebl, R., Simmons, F. W., Wax, L. M., and Stoller, E. W. 1992. Effect of rye (Secale cereale) mulch on weed control and soil moisture in soybean (Glycine max). Weed Technol. 6: 838846.Google Scholar
15. Majek, B. A. 1994. Pages 219221 in Meister, R. T., ed. 1994 Weed Control Manual. Meister Publishing Co., Willoughby, OH.Google Scholar
16. Phillips, R. E., Blevins, R. L., Thomas, G. W., Frye, W. W., and Phillips, S. H. 1980. No-tillage agriculture. Science 208: 11081113.Google Scholar
17. Putnam, A. R., DeFrank, J., and Barnes, J. P. 1983. Exploitation of allelopathy for weed control in annual and perennial cropping systems. J. Chem Ecol. 9: 10011010.Google Scholar
18. Putnam, A. R. 1990. Vegetable weed control with minimal herbicide inputs. Hort Science 25: 155159.Google Scholar
19. Schilling, D. G., Jones, L. A., Worsham, A. D., Parker, C. E., and Wilson, R. F. 1986. Isolation and identification of some phytotoxic compounds from aqueous extracts of rye (Secale cereale L.). J. Agric. Food Chem. 34: 633638.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20. Schilling, D. G., Liebl, R. A., and Worsham, A. D. 1984. Rye (Secale cereale L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) mulch: The suppression of certain broadleaf weeds and the isolation and identification of phytotoxins. Pages 243271 in Thompson, A. C., ed. The Chemistry of Allelopathy. Am. Chem. Soc., Washington, DC.Google Scholar
21. Smeda, R. J., Vaughn, K. C., and Morrison, I. N. 1992. A novel pattern of herbicide cross-resistance in a trifluralin-resistant biotype of green foxtail (Setaria viridis(L.) Beauv.). Pest. Biochem. Phys. 42: 227241.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22. Teasdale, J. R., Beste, C. E., and Potts, W. E. 1991. Response of weeds to tillage and cover crop residue. Weed Sci. 39: 195199.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
23. Wagger, M. G. and Mengel, D. B. 1988. The role of nonleguminous cover crops in the efficient use of water and nitrogen. Pages 115127 in ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Cropping Strategies for Efficient Use of Water and Nitrogen. Madison, WI.Google Scholar
24. Weaver, S. E. 1984. Critical period of weed competition in three vegetable crops in relation to management practices. Weed Res. 24: 317325.Google Scholar
25. Weaver, S. E., Smits, N., and Tan, C. S. 1987. Estimating yield losses of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) caused by nightshade (Solanum spp.) interference. Weed Sci. 35: 163168.Google Scholar
26. Weaver, S. E. and Tan, C. S. 1983. Critical period of weed interference in transplanted tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum): Growth analysis. Weed Sci. 31: 476481.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
27. Weaver, S. E. and Tan, C. S. 1987. Critical period of weed interference in field-seeded tomatoes and its relation to water stress and shading. Can. J. Plant Sci. 67: 575583.Google Scholar
28. Weston, L. A. 1990. Cover crop and herbicide influence on row crop seedling establishment in no-tillage culture. Weed Sci. 38: 166171.Google Scholar
29. Worsham, A. D. 1991. Role of cover crops in weed management and water quality. Pages 141145 in Hargrove, W. L., ed. Cover Crops for Clean Water. Soil and Water Conservation Soc., Ankeny, IA.Google Scholar