Effect of Herbicides on Weed Control and Growth of Pecan Trees

Abstract

Simazine (2-chloro-4,6-bis(ethylamino)-s-triazine), 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (diuron), anda,a,a-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine (trifluralin) were evaluated for weed control in pecan(Carya illinoensis(Wang.) K. Koch) orchard establishment. Maximum weed control and tree growth occurred in plots treated with diuron and simazine applied at 3.0 and 4.0 lb/A, respectively. During the second year, phytotoxic symptoms were observed in plots which had received superimposed annual treatments of diuron at 3.0 lb/A, but none appeared in simazine or trifluralin plots.

Mulch Improves Pecan Tree Growth during Orchard Establishment

“…Tree growth during orchard establishment can be increased by maintaining a weedfree area surrounding the tree (Foshee et al, 1995;Patterson et al, 1990;Patterson and Goff, 1994;Wolf and Smith, 1999). Cultivation (Foshee et al, 1997;Merwin et al, 1994;Patterson et al, 1990;Patterson and Goff, 1994;Smith et al, 1959), herbicides (Arnold and Aldrich, 1979;Foshee et al, 1997;Merwin et al, 1994;Norton and Storey, 1970;Patterson et al, 1990;Patterson and Goff, 1994;Robinson and O'Kennedy, 1978), or various mulch materials (Foshee et al, 1996;Merwin et al, 1994;Robinson and O'Kennedy, 1978) can be used to control weeds that interfere with growth. Cultivation is normally considered undesirable since it increases soil erosion, causes soil structure loss, and frequently results in tree injury.…”

Size of Vegetation Free Area Affects Nonbearing Pecan Tree Growth

“…Tree growth during orchard establishment can be increased by maintaining a vegetation-free area surrounding the tree (Foshee et al, 1995;Patterson et al, 1990;Patterson and Goff, 1994;Smith et al, 2002;Wolf and Smith, 1999). Cultivation (Foshee et al, 1997;Merwin et al, 1994;Patterson et al, 1990;Patterson and Goff, 1994;Smith et al, 1959), herbicides (Foshee et al, 1997;Merwin et al, 1994;Norton and Storey, 1970;Patterson et al, 1990;Patterson and Goff, 1994), or various mulch materials (Foshee et al, 1996;Merwin et al, 1994;Smith et al, 2000) have been used to control vegetation that interferes with growth. Cultivation is normally considered undesirable since it increases soil erosion, causes soil structure loss, and frequently results in tree injury.…”

Temporal Weed Interference with Young Pecan Trees

“…Tree growth during orchard establishment can be increased by maintaining a vegetation-free area surrounding the tree (Foshee et al, 1995;Patterson et al, 1990;Patterson and Goff, 1994;Smith et al, 2002;Wolf and Smith, 1999). Herbicides are the most common method to eliminate or reduce vegetation interference (Foshee et al, 1997;Norton and Storey, 1970;Patterson et al, 1990;Patterson and Goff, 1994) although mulches (Foshee et al, 1996;Smith et al, 2000) or cultivation (Foshee et al, 1997;Patterson et al, 1990;Patterson and Goff, 1994;Smith et al, 1959) are also effective in reducing vegetation interference.…”