Influence of Cranberry Soil Surface Characteristics on the Activity of Dichlobenil

Abstract

Field conditions associated with commercial cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) production were simulated in greenhouse studies to determine the effect of soil surface characteristics on dichlobenil activity. Sand was compared with organic matter, in the form of leaf litter, as the surface layer. A seedling bioassay using alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), a dichlobenil-sensitive plant, was employed to determine root growth response on herbicide-treated soil. When the herbicide was applied to a sand surface, root growth was greater as time after application elapsed, indicating loss of herbicide activity. Conversely, the presence of organic matter on the surface prolonged the activity of the herbicide. Composition of the surface layer was more important than the depth of the layer in determining herbicide persistence. The influence of cultural practices, such as the application of sand or the removal of surface debris, on herbicide activity should be considered when planning weed management strategies for cranberry production. Chemical name used: 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile (dichlobenil).

Probing the Mechanisms of the Yellow Vine Syndrome Development in the American Cranberry: Shade Effect

“…It also has noteworthy health benefit in fighting human cardiovascular and cancer diseases (Deyhim et al, 2007;Lipson et al, 2007;Neto, 2007;Neto et al, 2008). The production and quality of cranberries may be affected by long-term or short-term environmental stress such as water (De Moranville et al, 2009), nutrient (Torio and Eck, 1969), temperature (Forsyth and Hall, 1967), herbicides (Demoranville and Devlin, 1976;Sandler and DeMoranville, 1999), pH values (Allan et al, 1994;Davenport et al, 2003;Finn et al, 1990), salinity (Blodgett et al, 2002), and relative humidity (Forney et al, 2009). Yellow vine symptoms are often observed in cranberry bogs under natural sunlight conditions, which produces yellow color along the leaf margins, whereas the area along the vein remains green.…”