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| Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries |
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Abstract: With increased land clearing and reduced hexazinone use rates,
alternative herbicides for use in blueberry stand establishment should be
evaluated. A fall application of a more potent herbicide may help to control
more difficult to control weeds, such as lambkill (Kalmia angustifolia L.) and
rhodora (Rhododendron canadense L.). Additional work with the typical fall
herbicide, dicamba plus 2,4-D ester is required, as herbicide application water
volumes are reduced in commercial production, lower than the label
recommendation for this product. A trial was established near Lavillette, New
Brunswick to evaluate a fall herbicide application for lambkill and rhodora
control. Dicamba plus 2,4-D ester represents the best compromise for weed
control and crop injury evaluated in this trial. Grower movement to lower water
volumes at application may lead to increased weed control as well as increased
blueberry injury, as shown in this trial. Additional water volume work should
occur to verify this observation. Aminopyralid resulted in low injury to the
blueberry crop but also gave limited control of the weed species tested.
Imazapyr was highly effective for both lambkill and rhodora control, but also
controlled blueberries equally as well. The Group 14 products evaluated were
not effective for lambkill or rhodora control in the fall. The trial will not
be continued to the crop year as the co-operating grower is changing the
management strategy for the field area.
1NB Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Crop Development Branch, P. O. Box 6000, Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
2NB Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Regional Agri-Business Development, 1425 King Avenue Bathurst, New Brunswick E2A 1S7
3 NB Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Regional Agri-Business Development, P. O. Box 3058, Tracadie-Sheila, NB, E1X 1G5