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Fumigation before strawberry (<i>Fragaria×ananassa</i> Duchesne) planting was a common practice as they are susceptible to numerous pests. Methyl bromide, the colorless, odorless gas, was the chosen fumigant for growers until it was classified as an ozone-depleting substance and its use was gradually restricted and legally phased in 2015. Fumigant use has constraints and thus research on other preplant alternatives for soil sterilization of strawberry annual plasticulture production is necessary. This research focused on soil solarization, products including paper pellets, mustard seed meal, and corn gluten meal. Two studies were conducted at the Virginia Tech Hampton Road AREC (Agricultural Research and Extension Center), and follow-up studies at the Flanagan Farm in Virginia Beach. The first study at the AREC evaluated three-week soil solarization with and without pelleted products. The second study evaluated different rates of paper pellets, paper pellets plus mustard seed meal, mustard seed meal alone and fumigated plots. The purpose of each study was to evaluate the sterilization-mulching effects on weeds, plant health and stand count, yield and fruit parameters (as size and sweetness). A container-grown plant study determined if there was any phytotoxic effect of paper pellets and mustard seed meal on pansies (Viola tricolor). Another study evaluated the effect of paper pellets and mustard seed meal on germination of different weed species. The paper pellet and soil solarization treatments showed decreased early season weeds but season-long weed control was not provided by the same treatment. In the study one, paper pellet improved yield in the first season but not the second season. Paper pellet and mustard seed meal increased yield compared to the black plastic control in the second study. No phytotoxicity was observed on pansies in response to paper pellet and mustard seed meal rates. In the grower farm study, weed biomass was higher under the clear tarp than the black tarp perhaps due to more light transmission under the clear tarp. A new locally available paper pellet product was used at the grower farm and the plants in plots treated with this product, had lower health rating and yield compared to other treatments. / PHD / The strawberry fruit is not a typical fruit but develops from the receptacle and is well known for the bright red color, fleshy fruit and characteristic aroma. Growing strawberries is challenging as they are susceptible to soil-borne pests. Preplant fumigation was commonly accomplished by the use of methyl bromide (MB) to ensure the soil-borne pests are adequately controlled; until MB use as a fumigant was phased out by the Montreal Protocol Act. Use of fumigants require maintaining a fumigant management plan, a buffer zone between the treatment area and high population zone areas, and worker safety practices. There is a need to evaluate alternative preplant pest control strategies as soil solarization and mulching treatments that would not compromise on berry yield and quality. Two experiments were conducted at the Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Virginia Beach. One experiment conducted in 2014-15 and 2015-16 evaluated soil solarization (a method where moistened soil is covered with a clear tarp, traps solar radiation, and thereby heats up the soil), and mulching treatments (paper pellet mulch, mustard seed meal, and corn gluten meal) used alone or in combination with soil solarization and their effect on weed control, crop growth, crop yield, and fruit quality. In the second study rates of paper pellets, mustard seed meal (alone or in combination of these), and fumigated plots were evaluated to study the effect on strawberry plants. The most effective treatments from the two studies were used in an experiment at a grower’s farm. A shorter duration of soil solarization (three week) with paper pellet showed lower early weed density than black plastic control, but overall solarization did not have consistent beneficial effect on yield. Paper pellets disintegrate over time and the pellets being porous to water; they were not an effective tool for weed control. However, combination of paper pellets and mustard seed meal showed a beneficial effect on yield compared to the black plastic control treatments. The plots covered with black tarp had less weed biomass than those covered with clear tarp in the grower farm study

Effects of different weed control practices on soil quality in mediterranean crops This research approaches the question of weed control sustainability, from the point of view of soil quality maintenance and enhancing. A big choice of practices and products for weed control are available nowadays, but the actual definition of "sustainable practice" not always considers soil fertility. Soil processes timescale is wider than the productive, commercial and legislative ones. Also the definition of survey protocols is a process slower than the evolution of weed control methods. The faster reaction in the soil ecosystem after an external pressure is given by the organisms living in it, and the microbial community is finally the most effective agent in nutrient recycling processes. In this investigation, the same soil analysis protocol was applied on soil samples exposed to different weed management and control methods. Using soil quality indexes and bioindicators, soil properties variations after the different weed control treatments were compared. In particular soil carbon pool and how microbial community recycles was surveyed. A standard protocol to both find variations in long-term soil quality and survey the short-term impact of weed control practices on soil biological processes was defined. Weed management practices can interact with the nutrients recycling processes performed by the microorganisms living in the soil. These processes have a central role in maintaining soil fertility, one of the most important resources for agriculture. Three weed management practices were compared: the use of synthetic (oxyfluorfen) or natural (essential oils and aqueous extracts) herbicides and two mechanical methods (tillage and mulching). Soil fertility was monitored measuring soil physical-chemical values and elaborating soil quality indexes and bioindicators. / Efectos de diferentes prácticas de control de arvenses sobre la calidad del suelo en cultivos mediterráneos Esta investigación aborda la cuestión de la sostenibilidad del control de las plantas arvenses, desde el punto de vista del mantenimiento y mejora de la calidad del suelo. Una gran variedad de prácticas y productos para el control de las arvenses están disponibles hoy en día, pero la definición real de "práctica sostenible" no siempre considera la fertilidad del suelo. La escala de tiempo de los procesos del suelo es más amplia que los procesos productivos, comerciales y legislativos. También la definición de protocolos para la investigación es un proceso más lento que la evolución comercial de los métodos de control de malas hierbas. La reacción más rápida en el ecosistema del suelo después de una presión externa es dada por los organismos que viven en ella, y la comunidad microbiana es el agente más eficaz en los procesos de reciclaje de nutrientes. En esta investigación se aplicó el mismo protocolo de análisis de suelo en muestras de suelo expuestas a diferentes métodos de manejo y control de arvenses. Utilizando índices de calidad del suelo y bioindicadores, se compararon las variaciones de propiedades del suelo después de los diferentes tratamientos de control de arvenses. En particular se estudiaron la reserva de carbono en el suelo y la forma en que la comunidad microbiana recicla. Se definió un protocolo estándar para encontrar variaciones en la calidad del suelo a largo plazo y para analizar el impacto a corto plazo de las prácticas de control de arvenses en los procesos biológicos del suelo. Las prácticas de manejo de malas hierbas pueden interactuar con los procesos de reciclaje de nutrientes realizados por los microorganismos que viven en el suelo. Estos procesos tienen un papel central en el mantenimiento de la fertilidad del suelo, uno de los recursos más importantes para la agricultura. Se compararon las prácticas de manejo de arvenses de frutales: el uso de herbicidas sintéticos (oxyfluorfen) o naturales (aceites esenciales y extractos acuosos) y dos métodos mecánicos (labranza y mulching). Se monitoreó la fertilidad del suelo midiendo los valores físico-químicos del suelo y elaborando índices de calidad del suelo y bioindicadores. / Efectes de diferents pràctiques de control d'arvenses sobre la qualitat del sòl en cultures mediterrànies Aquesta investigació aborda la qüestió de la sostenibilitat del control de les plantes arvenses, des del punt de vista del manteniment i millora de la qualitat del sòl. Una gran varietat de pràctiques i productes per al control de les arvenses estan disponibles avui en dia, però la definició real de "pràctica sostenible" no sempre considera la fertilitat del sòl. L'escala de temps dels processos del sòl és més àmplia que els processos productius, comercials i legislatius. També la definició de protocols per a la investigació és un procés més lent que l'evolució comercial dels mètodes de control de males herbes. La reacció més ràpida en l'ecosistema del sòl després d'una pressió externa és donada pels organismes que hi viuen, i la comunitat microbiana és l'agent més eficaç en els processos de reciclatge de nutrients. En aquesta investigació es va aplicar el mateix protocol d'anàlisi de sòl en mostres de sòl exposades a diferents mètodes de maneig i control d'arvenses. Utilitzant índexs de qualitat del sòl i bioindicadors, es van comparar les variacions de propietats del sòl després dels diferents tractaments de control d'arvenses. En particular es van estudiar la reserva de carboni en el sòl i la forma en què la comunitat microbiana el recicla. Es va definir un protocol estàndard per trobar variacions en la qualitat del sòl a llarg termini i per analitzar l'impacte a curt termini de les pràctiques de control d'arvenses en els processos biològics del sòl. Les pràctiques de maneig de males herbes poden interactuar amb els processos de reciclatge de nutrients realitzats pels microorganismes que viuen a terra. Aquests processos tenen un paper central en el manteniment de la fertilitat del sòl, un dels recursos més importants per a l'agricultura. Es van comparar les pràctiques de maneig d'arvenses de fruiters: l'ús d'herbicides sintètics (oxyfluorfè) o naturals (olis essencials i extractes aquosos) i dos mètodes mecànics (conreu i mulching). Es va monitorejar la fertilitat del sòl mesurant els valors fisicoquímics del sòl i elaborant índexs de qualitat del sòl i bioindicadors. / Oddo, M. (2017). Effects of different weed control practices on soil quality in Mediterranean crops [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/90655

[Truncated abstract] With the rapid development of multiple herbicide resistant weeds in crops, it is likely that an important role now exists for new grazing management strategies in farming systems to provide an integrated approach to weed management. In this thesis we examined the general hypothesis that sowing a legume of low preference by sheep relative to the target weeds of crops would improve the control of those weeds in a grazed pasture. To test this general hypothesis, legumes of low preference by Merino sheep were identified and a series of experiments conducted to determine the effect on pasture composition when these less preferred legumes were incorporated into a grazed pasture. We found a learned response that altered forage preference by sheep was important in determining the effectiveness of grazing to reduce seed set by weeds of crops. Investigations on this aspect of the grazing behaviour of sheep were a key part of this thesis. The short-term relative preference of Merino hoggets among 15 pasture legumes, 4 grain legumes and annual ryegrass was determined by offering adjacent monocultures of each of the forage genotypes to the sheep. The relative preference of the hoggets for each of the 20 forages was determined at three phases of plant growth from estimates of the amount of forage consumed. Sheep showed a low selective preference for Vetch (Vicia sativa L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus L.), lotus (Lotus ornithopodioides L.) and snail medic (Medicago scutellata L.) cvs. Kelson and Sava at the vegetative phase of plant growth. An indoor method was also developed to test the relative preference of sheep among forages growing in pots. Using this method chickpea and snail medic, but not biserrula, were found to have a low relative preference by sheep at the vegetative phase.

[Truncated abstract] In the crop growing areas of Western Australia, two economically important weed species, Lolium rigidum Gaud. (annual ryegrass) and Raphanus raphanistrum L. (wild radish), have evolved widespread herbicide resistance to multiple chemistry groups. Consequently, grain growers in the region have adopted an integrated approach to weed management that includes many non herbicide tools, however many more are needed as these weed species become increasingly more difficult to control. This thesis examines, in a series of field trials carried out in the Western Australian crop growing area, the potential for weed seed predation of annual ryegrass and wild radish by naturally occurring granivores as a new weed management tool for grain growers . . . The study discusses the implications of these results with the view to manipulating predation of weed seed through agricultural management practices. Ants were shown to be the dominant seed predator in this environment, especially in the centre of fields. The study has identified that the ant species Melophorus turneri (Forel), Monomorium rothsteini (Forel), Pheidole hartmeyeri (Forel) and Rhytidoponera metallica (Smith) are potential biological control agents for annual ryegrass seeds while P. hartmeyeri was identified as the only species suitable for biological control of wild radish seed pods. Ants were found to be sensitive to disturbance and some to crop residue type and these effects are discussed in relation to seed removal. This study of weed seed predation in agricultural fields is the most complete in this environment and can be used to inform further work in this area. It has identified that naturally occurring granivores can be used as a weed management tool.

A large number of weed seeds in the soil persist because of seed dormancy, and depletion of the seed bank through manipulation of seed dormancy has been suggested as one of the goals in weed control. This study was designed to investigate some of the factors which control dormancy and germination in Amaranthus retroflexus seeds. Germination studies were conducted at different temperatures, and either in continuous white light or in the dark. Higher temperatures increased germination and, although light interacted with temperature, its effect on germination varied with the temperature. In an attempt to determine changes in dormancy during dry storage, two lots of seeds were stored dry at different temperatures. Loss in dormancy increased with an increase in storage temperature and duration, but the time required for maximum germination varied according to the seedlot. Seeds germinated to higher percentages at high temperatures, but storage at higher temperatures and for prolonged duration resulted in seeds gaining the ability to germinate at lower temperatures. Changes in dormancy under field conditions were also examined. Seeds were buried at different depths and for different durations and they all lost viability with time, but this loss was greater in surface-sown and shallowly buried seeds. Dormancy was broken during cold periods and induced as warmer periods progressed. The effects of chemical stimulants on dormancy and germination were investigated. The response of seeds to ethephon and nitrate were assessed at different temperatures either at continuous white light or in the dark. Germination increased with the concentration of the chemicals, and a greater response was observed at lower temperatures. The response to light varied depending on temperature / Master of Science (Hons)

LD2668 .T4 1954 S99 / Master of Science

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