Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) is a candidate to provide feedstock for the Portland General Electric power plant in Boardman, Oregon. Giant reed is a fast perennial grass, producing 23-27 metric tons ha⁻¹ of biomass and has the ability to adapt to diverse environments making it a good candidate for biomass production. This study tested postemergence and preemergence herbicides for controlling weeds in giant reed during the establishment year in which giant reed plants are more sensitive to weed competition. The greenhouse study demonstrated that among the tested herbicides, bromoxynil plus MCPA at 0.841 kg ai ha⁻¹, nicosulforun at 0.035 kg ha⁻¹, and dimethenamid-p at 0.735 kg ha⁻¹ did not injure giant reed. In a field study, preemergence application of dimethenamid-p at 0.735 kg ha⁻¹ followed by a postemergence application of 2,4-D amine at 0.560 kg ha⁻¹ and a postemergence application of bromoxynil plus MCPA at 0.841 kg ha⁻¹ did not injure giant reed. The presence of weeds in a field does not always mean that crop yield will be reduced and there are some periods during the growing season when weeds will not cause considerable yield loss. Therefore, predicting a critical period of weed control (CPWC) that includes the best time for weed control in giant reed could improve weed management in the field. The length of the CPWC could be different depending on the level of acceptable yield loss (AYL). Our results are reported for AYL of 5 and 10%. The CPWC started at 290 accumulated growing degree days (GDD) and ended at 820 for a 5% AYL, while for a 10% AYL, it started at 333 GDD and ended at 727 GDD. Based on the results, there are some herbicides which could be selected for further study for weed control in the giant reed and the estimated CPWC which could be used to inform weed management practices in giant reed production. / Graduation date: 2013
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/38098 |
Date | 06 March 2013 |
Creators | Attarian, Amir |
Contributors | Mallory-Smith, Carol |
Source Sets | Oregon State University |
Language | en_US |
Detected Language | English |
Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
Relation | Oregon Explorer |
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