Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
axiom in horticulture is that you can double the size of a tree during its first
3 years by keeping a vegetation-free zone of several feet around the tree.
The challenge is to minimize competition with the trees while maintain-
ing biologically diverse and active orchard floors and soil environments, as
well as minimal soil compaction and erosion. Unfortunately, there is no per-
fect strategy and no single strategy fits all situations. The vegetation man-
agement practices of a West Texas apple grower, a Louisiana mayhaw grow-
er, a British Columbia cherry grower, and a Quebec plum grower are likely to
be quite different. The strategies below will guide you in developing a sys-
tem that works for your crops and growing region.
Methods of Control
A key strategy in weed management is preventing the weeds from forming
viable seed. Whatever weed suppression practices you employ, strive to pre-
vent the weeds from setting seed. After a time, the weed pressure will di-
minish. Weed seeds can be very persistent, however. The seeds of common
purslane can survive in the soil for 20 years, while black mustard seeds can
remain viable in the soil seed bank for 40 years or more.
Thermal Weeders
Thermal weeders use heat produced by propane-fired flames, infrared radi-
ation from a red-hot metal or ceramic plate, or steam to kill or stunt un-
wanted plants. Thermal weeders work by disrupting the cells in the plants,
causing the affected plant parts to wilt and die. Although not effective
against established perennial grasses or many perennial broadleaf weeds,
these weeders are especially effective against annual weeds and young per-
ennial weed seedlings and offer a chemical-free way to manage orchard floor
vegetation without damaging the soil. Thermal weeders can be adapted for
maintaining the centers of tree rows in some orchard designs and in main-
taining the narrow bare ground strip in the “sandwich” system (see page
317 ).
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