Reduced Risk Vegetation Management for Strawberry

Weed competition can reduce the strawberry yields up to 90% if left uncontrolled (Pritts and Kelly, 2001). In the spring of 2005 two trials were initiated to address issues with common groundsel and other annual weeds. Common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) in particular has caused severe cropping issues in strawberries as there are no registered products that adequately control groundsel during the cropping season.

The Problem:

Groundsel poses a problem due to its ability to germinate throughout the summer months, creating several flushes of growth which escape control measures and add new seeds to the seed bank. In addition it has also been associated with increased incidence of Botrytis cinerea (grey mould). Crop rotations and mulching options are being considered as management strategies, but post dormant herbicides may still be required in some situations. Common groundsel has also been found to develop herbicide resistance to several herbicides including terbacil (Robinson et al., 2003). Trials were initiated in cooperation with Agrapoint International with the aim to assess novel and reduced risk herbicides and their efficacy on several weeds species as well as to assess crop tolerance. Once successful candidates have been identified, Horticulture Nova Scotia can pursue them as national minor use priorities with AAFC.

Project Objectives:

The identification of possible control products will speed up the registration process and will help in developing a complete data package for other screening trials in other parts of the country. The ultimate registration of another versatile and reduced risk herbicide will give producers a lot of flexibility in their management strategies. This research should act as a catalyst to get new products registered for weed control in Strawberry production. Although this work will eventually benefit Nova Scotia producers, if successful it will positively impact all strawberry producers in Canada.

Support

In addition to our cooperative work with Agrapoint International on herbicide screening trials, work has also been initiated through requests from AAFC to address other herbicide efficacy issues in strawberry. The results from these trials will be compiled and a report issued in the coming months. Furthermore, a fall application trial will begin some time in October to determine the most effective use pattern of the more successful candidate products in common groundsel control. In order to continue such work further funding must be secured in the near future.

Contacts :

Stephen Crozier Research Associate, Department of Environmental Sciences Nova Scotia Agricultural College Truro, NS, Canada B2N 5E3 Phone: 902-893-4995 Email: scrozier@nsac.ca

Glen Sampson Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences Nova Scotia Agricultural College Truro, NS, Canada B2N 5E3 Phone: 902-893-6608 Email: gsampson@nsac.ca

Last updated June 27, 2005