Re: Weed control in organic systems
E. Ann Clark, Associate Professor (aclark@crop.uoguelph.ca)
Tue, 18 Nov 1997 09:59:01 EDT
Geoff: surprised that perennial weeds are such a problem. I helped
out with a study conducted in Ag Econ and Bus, involving a comparison
of organic and conventional dairy farming. My interest was the
agronomic aspects. Weeds were not perceived to be a problem by
organic producers, at all. Their rotations were dominated by
small grains (spring and winter) and forages (all types, including
hairy vetch and other winter annuals through to permanent grass
sods), with very little corn, soybeans, or other crops. Almost
everything grown was home-fed, with little in the way of either crop
sale or purchased feedstuffs.
About the only weed control that was intentionally included, apart
from strategic crop rotation and timely cultivation was the periodic
growing of fall rye in the crop rotation. The timing of growth of
rye in the spring coincides with that of quackgrass - their main
perennial weed - and is used to outcompete and suppress the quack.
Ann
ACLARK@crop.uoguelph.ca
Dr. E. Ann Clark
Associate Professor
Crop Science
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
Phone: 519-824-4120 Ext. 2508
FAX: 519 763-8933
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