No abstract

Some herbicides applied to corn or soybean can carry over and injure vegetable crops grown the following year. Injury and yield effects on vegetable crops from carryover of nicosulfuron and flumetsulam 1 yr after application to corn and from carryover of imazethapyr and imazamox 1 yr after application to soybean were evaluated. Experiments were conducted at Oakes, ND, on sandy loam soils with pH 7.7 in 1994 and pH 7.3 in 1996. Nicosulfuron and flumetsulam were applied to corn, and imazethapyr was applied to soybean at a standard herbicide rate (1×) (35, 56, and 70 g ai/ha, respectively) or 2× rates in 1994 and at 1×, 2×, or 4× rates in 1996. Imazamox was also applied to soybean at 1× (35 g ai/ha), 2×, or 4× rates in 1996. Cabbage, carrot, potato, onion, acorn squash, and tomato were planted in 1995, 1997, and 1998. In 1995, residual imazethapyr delayed tomato maturity but did not reduce tomato yield. Other vegetable crops were not injured by herbicide residues. In 1997, flumetsulam carryover injured plants and reduced yields of cabbage and squash; nicosulfuron carryover injured cabbage and onion plants and reduced onion yield; and imazethapyr carryover injured cabbage, onion, and tomato plants and reduced tomato yield. Most crop injury occurred only at the 2× or 4× herbicide rates. Potato and carrot were not injured by herbicide carryover. Herbicides applied to corn or soybean in 1996 did not carry over to injure any vegetable planted in 1998. The low rate of injury to vegetable crops in this study was mostly due to adequate soil moisture and warm summer soil temperatures, which enhanced microbial degradation of these herbicides and hastened their dissipation. Low clay and moderately low soil organic matter, and slightly alkaline soil pH, also promoted dissipation of some herbicides.

No abstract

In an effort to promote commercial vegetable production in North Dakota and to determine the cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. Capitata Group) hybrids best adapted to this area, we conducted cabbage variety trials from 1993 to 1997 at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site in North Dakota. We evaluated cabbage yield and quality characteristics, and also demonstrated cabbage production to farmers in this area. Cabbage grows very well in North Dakota. Highest yields were in 1996 when temperatures in May were coolest. Lowest yields were in 1994 when May temperatures were the hottest. Hybrids with the highest yields and best appearance included `Gideon', `Bronco', and `Royal Vantage' for the fresh market, and `Fresco', `Cheers', `Bravo', and `Bronco' for the processing market. Despite differences in weather over the 5 years of the study, cabbage hybrids were fairly consistent as to yield and quality characteristics. Suitability of cabbage hybrids for coleslaw and shredded cabbage was tested through sensory evaluations in 1993. `SCB8101', `Stonehead', `Hinova', `Green Boy', and `Charmant' scored highest on these sensory evaluations in this single-year test.

Planting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) as a living mulch with onions (Allium cepa L.) reduces soil erosion and protects the onions from wind damage. It can also reduce yield and size of onion bulbs if not managed correctly. In a 4-year study at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site in North Dakota, barley was planted in the spring at the same time that onions were direct-seeded. Barley rows were planted either parallel with or perpendicular to the onion rows. Barley was killed with fluazifop-P herbicide when ≈13, 18, 23, or 30 cm tall. Onion size and yields were reduced when barley was allowed to grow taller than 18 cm before killing it. Total onion yield was usually greater when barley was planted parallel with, rather than perpendicular to, onion rows. Chemical name used: (R)-2-[4-[[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy]propanoic acid (fluazifop-P).