Replacing Methyl Bromide in Multiple Crop Plasticulture Stanley Culpepper University of Georgia Tifton Campus

Complete pest control critical for 1st crop when growing multiple crops!

Purple and Yellow Nutsedges: Most Troublesome Weeds of Cucurbits, Fruiting Vegetables, Cole Crops and Greens, and Other Vegetables As evidenced in the 40 acre field that I showed to you, nutsedges are the major weed problems in plasticulture systems. While the plastic mulch will do an excellent job preventing the growth of most weeds, nutsedges are capable of piercing through the plastic barrier and competing with the crop for water and nutrients. Following the elimination of methyl bromide use, growers may be without tools to effectively manage nutsedges. My vegetable research focuses on nutsedge control and management. As there is a critical deadline looming, my project has taken on a very applied flavor. In addition to this, I am also evaluating nutsedge growth in plasticulture systems and searching for ways to minimize nutsedge fecundity.

MB Alternatives Require a System Fumigants Mulches Herbicides

Potential MB Alternatives (Multiple crops) MIDAS 50:50 or 98:2 (methyl iodide + pic) DMDS 79:21 (dimethyl disulfide + pic.) Telone II fb chloropicrin fb Vapam (3 WAY)

Numerous Mulch Options Relationship of the mulch cost and ability to reduce fumigant rate and cost

DMDS 60 G, Blockade DMDS 70 G, LDPE

Telone II fb Pic fb Vapam Telone II fb Vapam LDPE mulch Telone II fb Pic LDPE mulch Telone II fb Pic fb Vapam LDPE mulch V4-05, 60 DAT

Percent Purple Nutsedge Control by MB Alternative Systems Percent Purple Nutsedge Control by MB Alternative Systems. Ponder, Spring 2007. 99a 93 a Plots were 1 bed by 50 feet, evaluations are at pepper harvest.

Percent Purple Nutsedge Control by MB Alternative Systems Percent Purple Nutsedge Control by MB Alternative Systems. Ponder, Spring 2007. 99a 93 a 82 b 75b Plots were 1 bed by 50 feet, evaluations are at pepper harvest.

Percent Purple Nutsedge Control by MB Alternative Systems Percent Purple Nutsedge Control by MB Alternative Systems. Ponder, Spring 2007. 81 a 38 b Plots were 1 bed by 50 feet, evaluations are at pepper harvest.

Determine the Economics of the System 3-WAY LDPE ($885 per land acre) VS Telone + Pic High Barrier ($880 per land acre)

Potential MB Alternatives (Multiple crops) DMDS 79:21 (dimethyl disulfide + pic.) under high barrier mulch VS Telone II fb chloropicrin fb Vapam (3 WAY) under standard LDPE mulch

Percent Purple Nutsedge Control by MB Alternative Systems Percent Purple Nutsedge Control by MB Alternative Systems. Ponder, Spring 2008. 99 a 99 a 99 a 99a 99a Plots were 1 bed by 50 feet, evaluations are at pepper harvest. Soil temp 60 F.

Percent Purple Nutsedge Control by MB Alternative Systems Percent Purple Nutsedge Control by MB Alternative Systems. Ponder, Fall 2007. 98a 93ab 87 ab 85 b 70 c Plots were 1 bed by 50 feet, evaluations are at pepper harvest. Soil temp 93 F.

PEST MANGEMENT DEPENDS ON soil moisture soil temperature soil compaction

Large Crabgrass Control by MB Alternative Systems. Ponder, Spring 2008. Plots were 1 bed by 50 feet, evaluations are at pepper harvest. Soil temp 93 F.

3-WAY LDPE DMDS + Pic Blockade

Livid Amaranth Control by MB Alternative Systems. LTF, Spring 2008. Plots were 1 bed by 50 feet, evaluations are at pepper harvest. Soil temp 93 F.

Comparing MB Alternatives DMDS 3-WAY MIDAS Mulch - + - Smell - + + Nutsedge + +/- + Annual grasses - + + Broadleaf weeds - + + Application Procedure + - +

Metam Application with blades 4” apart applying metam 4” deep

Comparing MB Alternatives DMDS 3-WAY MIDAS Mulch - + - Smell - + + Nutsedge + +/- + Annual grasses - + + Broadleaf weeds - + + Application Procedure + - + Economics (cost/returns) ? + -

Herbicides Available to Compliment the Fumigant Program for Tomato Preplant: Gramoxone, Roundup, Aim, Goal PRE: Dual Mag, Devrinol, Sandea, POST: Sencor, Sandea, Matrix, Select, Poast Directed: Sencor, Envoke 5. Row Middles: Gramoxone, Envoke, Sandea, Aim, Chateau 6. POST Harvest: Gramoxone or Roundup + Aim

Yellow nutsedge plants/A after a spring pepper crop and fall cucumber crop.* *Long term study with spring pepper and fall cucumber treated with same fumigant each year. Vapam at 25 GPA and Roundup applied between crops.

Yellow nutsedge plants/A after a spring pepper crop and fall cucumber crop.* *Long term study with spring pepper and fall cucumber treated with same fumigant each year. Vapam at 25 GPA and Roundup applied between crops.

Yellow nutsedge plants/A after a spring pepper crop and fall cucumber crop.* *Long term study with spring pepper and fall cucumber treated with same fumigant each year. Vapam at 25 GPA and Roundup applied between crops.

Livid amaranth plants/A after a spring pepper crop and fall cucumber crop.* *Long term study with spring pepper and fall cucumber treated with same fumigant each year. Vapam at 25 GPA and Roundup applied between crops.

Livid amaranth plants/A after a spring pepper crop and fall cucumber crop.* *Long term study with spring pepper and fall cucumber treated with same fumigant each year. Vapam at 25 GPA and Roundup applied between crops.

Herbicides Available to Compliment the Fumigant Program for Tomato Preplant: Gramoxone, Roundup, Aim, Goal PRE: Dual Mag, Devrinol, Sandea, POST: Sencor, Sandea, Matrix, Select, Poast Directed: Sencor, Envoke 5. Row Middles: Gramoxone, Envoke, Sandea, Aim, Chateau 6. POST Harvest: Gramoxone or Roundup + Aim

Livid amaranth plants/A after a spring pepper crop and fall cucumber crop.* *Long term study with spring pepper and fall cucumber treated with same fumigant each year. Vapam at 25 GPA and Roundup applied between crops.

When Producing Multiple Crops Control weeds before and IMMEDIATELY after the crop is produced *The goal is to eliminate seed or tuber production….you are fighting the SEED BANK

Southern Valley Produce Application Help Hendrix and Dail John Mirusso On Farm Cooperators Coggins Farms Lewis Taylor Farms Southern Valley Produce Industry AmVac Arysta UPI Dow Agro Cooperators