K.V. McCully1, M.J.
Melanson1 and G.L. Graham1
Parter: Bleuets NB
Blueberries
Abstract: Two trials were established in the fall of 2005 to evaluate
the control of bunchberry (Cornus canadensis L.) and crop injury with fall and
spring applications of tribenuron methyl (Spartan) in a wild blueberry field
post hand and mechanical harvest. Treatments of Spartan were applied at the
label rate one week, two weeks, three weeks, four weeks and the following
spring after harvest to the assigned blueberry plots. An untreated control plot
was included for control and injury comparisons. Visual evaluations of crop
injury and weed control were collected, along with crop yield parameters in the
fall of the sprout year and crop yield at maturity. No difference in crop
injury or weed control was noted between the harvest methods, where a fall
Spartan application to control bunchberry proved to be successful. All Spartan
applications had significant bunchberry control as compared to the untreated
areas. The fall applications showed improved weed control and crop tolerance
over the spring application at the first two ratings, with no difference noted
between fall and spring applications past the fall of the sprout year. The fall
application timing did not have a significant effect on crop yield. The
possibility of a fall application would help expand the application window for
this herbicide, eliminating the restrictive nature of the current herbicide
label. From these results, the use of Spartan post hand and mechanical harvest
is recommended and has been added to the product label by a User Requested
Minor Use Label Expansion.
1NB Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Crop Development Branch, P. O. Box 6000, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5H1
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