Orchard Management

EXERCISE 12

EXERCISE 12: MANAGEMENT OF WEEDS IN FRUIT ORCHARDS

Weed is an unwanted plant in a crop field. The loss of nitrogen from soil through weeds is reported to be about 150 kg/ha.

Aims:

1. To decrease competition for available recourses in fruit orchard
2. To improve fruit yield and quality

Methods of weed control are:

1. Cultural method
2. Fire: Weeds may be burnt using a flame gun.
3. Biological control: Weeds may be killed by releasing suitable parasites.
4. Smothering: Weeds may be killed by restricting their growth by covering them with suitable mulch of suitable thickness.
5. Chemical weed control: One must be very cautious in using chemicals for weed control or else the crop plants also may be damaged. One should use only selective weedicides. Weedicides may be either organic or inorganic.

Plate 12: Chemical method-application of paraquat for weed control in apricot (Plate 12.1); Death of weeds 5 days after application (Plate 12.2).

Observations to be recorded:

Observe critically the toxic effect of post emergence herbicide on different weeds and draw the inference.