Dry bulb onion (Allium cepa) leaves may not dry down normally and bulbs may not attain dormancy during adverse growing seasons. An effective method of artificial leaf desiccation is needed to complement mechanical harvesting and onion conditioning for storage. Desiccants were tested in 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003 on onion leaves prior to harvest, and bulb quality was evaluated after 5 months or more of storage. Carfentrazone, diquat, and paraquat desiccated onion foliage well but increased bulb rot and reduced the percentage of marketable bulbs after storage. Bromoxynil and endothall desiccated onion foliage significantly without inducing rot or reducing the percentage of marketable bulbs. Copper sulfate and pelargonic acid increased desiccation of onion foliage but were not sufficiently effective for field use. Neither reduced the percentage of marketable bulbs. If bromoxynil or endothall were labelled for onion desiccation, they could be applied 10-14 days before harvest to enhance natural leaf senescence and facilitate mechanical harvest.

No abstract

Halosulfuron is labeled for use under plastic for freshmarket tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), and has significantly improved management of yellow nutsedge. Halosulfuron is not labeled for control of grasses. There is a need to determine how halosulfuron weed control can be improved and determine its application timing flexibility. Experiments were conducted at two locations to evaluate halosulfuron, applied alone or in tank-mixes with trifluralin or oxyfluorfen, at intervals shorter than label recommendations, and to determine efficacy and crop safety in plasticulture fresh-market tomato in Kentucky, USA and in Uruguay. Halosulfuron, trifluralin, and oxyfluorfen were equally safe to plants when applied at 0 or 7 days before transplanting tomato. Yields at both locations indicated that addition of trifluralin or oxyfluorfen to halosulfuron had no negative effect on tomato plant size and total yields. Yields were less with halosulfuron applied alone than in tank mixes with trifluralin or oxyfluorfen. Trifluralin and oxyfluorfen are potential tank mix partners with halosulfuron for use under plastic mulch. It appears that halosulfuron alone or in tank mixes is safe for application at intervals shorter than current label recommendations.

La solarización es la cobertura hermética del suelo, humedecido a capacidad de campo con polietileno transparente ultravioleta (UV) durante un tiempo variable. Mediante la captura de energía solar se aumenta la temperatura del suelo, perjudicando las semillas de malezas anuales. Esta técnica fue evaluada en almácigos de cebolla con excelentes resultados por INIADIGEGRA-FAGRO en 2005-2006 en tres localidades. En 2006-2007 y 2007-2008 en INIA Las Brujas se estudió el efecto de la solarización con dos espesores de polietileno transparente ultravioleta, 35 y 80 µm, frente a un testigo no solarizado sobre la población de malezas y la calidad del plantín. El suelo se cubrió el 17/12/06 y el 3/12/07 y se registró la temperatura a 10 cm de profundidad. El 30/4/07 y 16/04/08 se sembraron almácigos del cultivar Pantanoso del Sauce-CRS de 5 m de largo con cuatro filas. Se evaluó número/m2 , peso fresco y seco de malezas, altura, diámetro, peso fresco y seco de 10 plantines, contenido de nitratos y de amonio del suelo después de solarizar y la sanidad de los plantines (mancha de hoja, Botrytis spp.). El tratamiento no solarizado presentó significativamente mayor infestación y peso seco de malezas que los solarizados y menor contenido de nitratos y de amonio. Los tratamientos solarizados presentaron mejor sanidad que los no solarizados. No se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en el control de malezas ni en la calidad del plantín entre los espesores de polietileno pero sí entre éstos y el no solarizado.

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