Blog 8 - Weeds

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Blog 8 - Weeds

Common weeds

Pecans need quite a lot of nitrogen and zinc and high amounts of water. (Chapman & Garcia, n.d.). Weeds are harmful when they start competing with the pecan trees for the nutrients available and the water supply. (Locke, 2012).

Weed control is most needed when dealing with young pecan trees. (Locke, 2012).

A study shows that the most common weeds for pecan trees in Georgia are:

Table 1 Common weed species for pecans in Georgia (Grey, Webster, Turpin, & Wells, 2014).
Winter weeds
Wild radish

Italian ryegrass
Summer weeds
Palmer amaranth

Bermudagrass
Other
Crabgrass species

Behiagrass

Florida pusley

Purslane species

Morningglory species

Curly dock

Cutleaf evening-primrose

Method of weed control

Sometimes it could actually be beneficial to establish an orchard floor to combat soil erosion. And this could already play a large role in minimizing weeds from growing as well. Since nitrogen fertilizers cost money, often pecan farmers choose to incorporate nitrogen-fixing plants, such as clover. One could even go as far as integrating agroforestry in the form of silvopasture on their pecan farm. (Locke, 2012).

Shallow tillage is another method to combat weed control. (Locke, 2012).

The most widespread method of weed control is done by means of chemical herbicides. Many pecan farmers use a year-round use of the herbicides. These are mainly endimethalin, diuron, flumioxazin, halosulfuron, simazine, indaziflam, and oryzalin. This is not always the best method however, for many weeds have developed herbicides-resistance. (Grey, Webster, Turpin, & Wells, 2014).

Bibliography


Chapman, D., & Garcia, M. (n.d.). Fertilizer and Cultural Recommendations for Pecan Trees. Retrieved from University of Arkansas: https://www.uaex.edu/publications/PDF/FSA-6131.pdf
Grey, T. L., Webster, T. M., Turpin, F. S., & Wells, L. (2014, March 10). A Survey of Weeds and Herbicides in Georgia Pecan. Retrieved from Bio One Complete: http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.1614/WT-D-13-00126.1
Locke, J. M. (2012). Weed Management in Pecans. Retrieved from The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation: https://www.noble.org/globalassets/docs/ag/pubs/soils/nf-so-12-04.pdf

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