Possibilities of weed control with herbicide Basta 150 SL in a young apple tree orchard
¹Lithuanian Institute of Horticulture, Kauno 30, LT–54333 Babtai, Kaunas distr., Lithuania;e–mail: l.buskiene@lsdi.lt
²Lithuanian Institute of Horticulture, Kauno 30, LT–54333 Babtai, Kaunas distr., Lithuania;e–mail: institutas@lsdi.lt
Abstract:
The effect of herbicide Basta 150 SL (a.i. ammonium glufosinate) on weed control in a 3–4 year–old apple tree orchard was investigated at the Lithuanian Institute of Horticulture in 2004–2005. Basta 150 SL was applied at the rates 3.0 l ha-1 and 6.0 l ha-1, standard herbicide Roundup 360 SL – at the rate 3.0 l ha-1. Herbicides were applied twice over the growing season: the first application, until beginning of flowering, the second , when weeds had grown to 10–15 cm. Control plots were not treated with herbicides. Apple tree growth, weed species composition, weed number and weed fresh weight were measured.The most effective for weed control were 6.0 l ha-1 of Basta 150 SL and 3.0 l ha-1 ofRoundup 360 SL. They killed respectively 80.4–95.3% and 84.7–87.7% of weeds. Dandelions, (Taraxacum officinale L.), the prevailing weeds , were killed successfully with both herbicides. The lowest weed fresh weight was after 6.0 l ha-1 of Basta 150 SL application – 3.2%. Phytotoxic effect of herbicide Basta 150 SL on apple trees was not observed. When herbicides were applied apple tree shoot length increased by 1.4–1.9 times. Weed fresh weight had higher impact on shoot length than the total number of weeds.
Key words:
apple trees, growth, herbicides, weed biomass, weed fresh weight