Chemical Weed Control in Southern Hardwood Nurseries

Publisher： Society of American Foresters

ISSN： 0148-4419

Source： Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, Vol.8, Iss.1, 1984-02, pp. : 16-22

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Abstract

In the past, hardwood nurserymen often relied on fumigation with methyl bromide for weed control. Today, however, herbicides can provide cost-effective control of grasses and most annual broadleaf weeds in hardwood seedbeds. New herbicides like sethoxidim can be used to control annual and perennial grasses while germination of many broadleaf weeds can be inhibited by oryzalin, oxadiazon, or napropamide. Resistant weeds can be controlled by directed applications of glyphosate. Use of these herbicides reduces the need for fumigation, which often lowers the population of beneficial endomycorrhizal fungi. Fumigation may still be required when controlling high populations of nutsedge or when pathogens are a problem. Although use of chemicals can make control of weeds easier, the nurseryman should not rely entirely on fumigation or herbicides for weed control. If left alone to reproduce, populations of resistant weeds can quickly increase. The nurseryman should therefore adhere strictly to a comprehensive year-round weed control program that prevents introduction, reproduction, and spread of weeds. Even with these efforts, several years may be required to deplete the reservoir of weed seeds in the soil. The nurseryman who is successful will be able to produce more uniform, higher-quality seedlings at a lower cost.