Weed Control with Hydrophobic and Hydrous Kaolin Clay Particle Mulches

Abstract

<jats:p>Three experiments were performed to determine the effect of amending the soil surface layer and mulching with hydrophobic kaolin particle on weeds and blackberry (<jats:italic>Rubus</jats:italic> subgenus <jats:italic>Rubus</jats:italic> Watson) plants. In the first study a processed kaolin material (product M-96-018, Engelhard Corporation, Iselin, N.J.), was incorporated in August into the top 3 cm of freshly roto-tilled field that had been in pasture the previous 5 years. The following spring, dry weight of weed vegetation in the control treatment was 219 g·m<jats:sup>–2</jats:sup> and was significantly higher (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.05) than the 24 g·m<jats:sup>–2</jats:sup> harvested from the treated soil. In two other studies, planting holes for blackberry transplants were either 1) pre- or postplant mulched with a 2- or 4-cm layer of 5% or 10% hydrophobic kaolin in field soil (w/w), or 2) postplant treated with a) napropamide, b) corn gluten meal, c) a product comprised of hydrous kaolin, cotton seed oil, and calcium chloride in water (KOL), d) hand weeded, or e) left untreated. Although untreated plots had 100% weed cover by the end of July, herbicide treatments, 4-cm deposition of hydrophobic kaolin particle/soil mulch, and KOL all suppressed weeds the entire establishment year. Preplant application of hydrophobic kaolin mulch and postplant application of KOL reduced blackberry growth and killed transplants, respectively. In year 2, blackberry plants produced more primocanes that were on average 10-cm taller in weed-free plots (herbicide, 4-cm kaolin soil mulch, and mechanical weeding) than in weedy plots (control and 2-cm kaolin soil mulch). In year 3, yield was significantly lower in control plots (1.5 kg/plant) than in plots that were treated with napropamide and 2- and 4-cm hydrophobic kaolin mulch, or hand weeded during the establishment year (4 kg/plant). The results showed that 4-cm hydrophobic kaolin mulch applied after planting can suppress weeds without affecting blackberry productivity. These kaolin products are excellent additions to the arsenal of tools for managing weeds in horticultural crops.</jats:p>

Method for Producing Long-cane Blackberry Plants

“…The lateral canes produced on early emerging primocanes of mature plants of 'Triple Crown' blackberry were larger and longer than canes produced on 1-year-old micropropagated 'Triple Crown' plants (F. Takeda, personal observation). Also, the TC transplants tended to produce short upright primocanes and several lateral shoots close to the ground in the first year (Takeda et al, 2005). The objective of this study was to use the RCA trellis and cane training system as described previously (Takeda and Peterson, 1999;Takeda et al, 2003aTakeda et al, , 2008 as a means to produce many long lateral canes rooted at their tips (e.g., tip layering) for production of long-cane plants of trailing 'Siskiyou' and semierect 'Triple Crown' blackberry.…”

Gas Exchange of Apple and Blackberry Leaves Treated with a Kaolin Particle Film on Adaxial, Abaxial, or Both Leaf Surfaces

“…A number of past pomological studies have investigated the impact of kaolin particle films on insect pests, disorders and diseases, canopy microclimate and environmental physiology, fruit productivity and quality, and water use efficiency (Glenn and Puterka, 2005). The research pertaining to the use of kaolin particle films in blackberry production is limited to its application as a soil amendment in weed control (Takeda et al, 2005) or to its potential use in frost protection (Agricultural Research Service, 2005).…”