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Weed control in mist-propagated Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) cuttings
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Dixon, F. L. Willoughby, I. R. |
| Copyright Year | 2006 |
| Abstract | When Sitka spruce is propagated in polytunnels, weed infestations can potentially interfere with the growth of cuttings and impact on general crop husbandry, as well as acting as a seed source to infest other parts of a nursery. Hand weeding can be carried out, but it is labour intensive. The use of herbicides might prove a cheaper option, but there are currently no products approved for Sitka spruce production in polytunnels in the UK. Hence in the work reported here, four weed species, hairy bitter-cress, annual meadow-grass, groundsel and common chickweed were grown in close proximity to Sitka spruce cuttings. The susceptibility of these species to the herbicides propyzamide, napropamide, simazine and propaquizafop (the latter on annual meadow-grass only) was assessed. Propyzamide controlled chickweed when applied preor post-weed–emergence, and annual meadow-grass when applied preand post-weed-emergence. Propaquizafop controlled annual meadow-grass when applied post-weed-emergence and prevented seeding when sprayed post-flushing. Napropamide and simazine were not effective in preventing seeding of any weed species. Although the herbicides generally did not appear to have any adverse effect on the growth of Sitka spruce cuttings, further work is needed to confirm herbicide selectivity, particularly regarding adventitious root formation. Competition from weeds did not appear to affect the early shoot growth of cuttings. Whilst these results indicate that propaquizafop, and possibly propyzamide, may have the potential for safely controlling some annual weed species, in the short term good nursery hygiene, coupled with hand weeding where necessary, remains a more practical approach than using herbicides within polyhouses. |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/documents/5429/vegetation_mgt_2006_weed_control_tHrhh6x.pdf |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
