In an article featured in the journal Weed Science , researchers from the University of Arkansas describe recent field studies that explore whether cultivar selection and the use of winter cover crops can make a difference in sweetpotato yields.
The team compared four sweetpotato cultivars: Heartogold, Bayou Belle 6, Beauregard 14 and Orleans. They evaluated how each cultivar performed when grown in rotation with crimson clover plus either cereal rye or winter wheat) or when planted in fallow fields. Some plots were hand-weeded while others were not.
The study led to several key findings:
“It is clear from our study that organic sweetpotato growers can improve yields when they add winter cover crops to their integrated weed management program and select top-performing cultivars,” says Isabel Werle, a member of the University of Arkansas research team. “The same findings can also benefit growers using conventional production systems since there are a limited number of registered herbicides to support weed management in sweetpotatoes.”
For more information, you can access the article “ Integrating Weed-suppressive Cultivar and Cover Crops for Weed Management in Organic Sweetpotato Production ” online at: https://doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2023.14.
About Weed Science
Weed Science is a journal of the Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit scientific society focused on weeds and their impact on the environment. The publication presents peer-reviewed original research related to all aspects of weed science, including the biology, ecology, physiology, management and control of weeds. To learn more, visit www.wssa.net .
Weed Science
Experimental study
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Integrating Weed-suppressive Cultivar and Cover Crops for Weed Management in Organic Sweetpotato Production
18-May-2023