Abstract:
Crops were planted into tilled strips in an established perennial ryegrass
(Lolium perenne L. 'Manhattan II'), sod covering various portions (55%, 66%,
77%) of the row width. Italian beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. 'Romano II')
biomass and yields showed a trend among sod strips with lower yields
produced in plots with a greater proportion of the row width covered with sod.
Sethoxydim and fluazifop did not suppress grass effectively when 1 cm tall
grass was not growing vigorously. In a similar trial with green beans
(Phaseolus vulgaris L. 'Oregon 43') there were no yield trends between sod
strip width and crop yield. Biomass and pod yields in plots receiving sod
suppression treatments were similar to the monoculture check. Sub-lethal rates
of the two herbicides applied after grass had grown vigorously for one month
suppressed grass effectively. Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. 'Market Prize')
head yields in sod culture plots were significantly lower than monoculture plots
regardless of suppression rate and sod strip width. Mid-September chemical
treatments did not suppress grass through the fall and dense sod growth over
the winter interfered with sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L. 'Beta') grown as a seed
crop.
