Improving Pennsylvania Bittercress Weed Control Efficacy with Mulch and Herbicide in Containers

Pennsylvania bittercress ( Cardamine pensylvanica ) and other species are among the most common difficult-to-control weed in container nurseries, they have been vouched counties Florida. Preemergence herbicides can provide control, but concerns over potential resistance development, environmental issues, crop injury problems associated with herbicide use create need for alternative control methods to be explored. Previous studies shown of mulch materials controlling weeds their along preemergence has not extensively investigated. To compare effects different on a full factorial designed greenhouse study was conducted. Three treatments including no mulch, pine Pinus sp.) bark, rice Oryza sativa hulls were evaluated three treatments, water (i.e., herbicide), isoxaben, prodiamine applied at label rates. Twenty-five seeds sown surface each emergence (percent), coverage (square centimeters), seedhead number, biomass (grams) measured. The results showed that containers mulched had lowest throughout experiment. For coverage, seedhead, parameters, seeded significantly lower fewer seedheads, compared those nonmulched or bark regardless treatment. With isoxaben check, highest coverage/seedhead/biomass, whereas prodiamine, coverage/seedhead/biomass. In conclusion, applying alone better alone.