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Aspects of herbicide activity and persistence under low level polyethylene covers
Author(s) -
BOND W.,
WALKER A.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1989.tb06793.x
Subject(s) - weed , biology , weed control , agronomy , polyethylene , persistence (discontinuity) , horticulture , chemistry , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering
Summary In an experiment prepared in autumn, weed numbers were not affected by covering the soil with clear perforated polyethylene. Weed growth was enhanced, however, and the fresh weight at the time of polyethylene removal in spring was more than three times greater on the covered compared with the uncovered areas. In a similar experiment prepared in spring, covering with perforated polyethylene increased weed numbers by a factor of two and weed fresh weight by a factor of seven. The performance of a number of herbicides used in carrots, in terms of percentage reduction in weed number and weed fresh weight, was similar under covers and in the open. The most effective weed control was achieved with broad‐spectrum herbicide treatments, particularly under the polyethylene, since surviving weed seedlings grew rapidly in the protected environment. When weed control was good, covering enhanced carrot yield. Measurement of the distribution of herbicide residues in the soil demonstrated that persistence was increased and movement in the soil decreased by covering with polyethylene.