Nathan Boyd’s research on weed management in Florida cabbage is aimed at helping increase the crop’s yield and solve problems for growers.
Boyd, a University of Florida associate professor of weed science, says it can be difficult to manage weeds because of the limited use of registered herbicides due to low use of plastic mulch. Using plasticulture to manage weeds is one of the objectives of his research.
“This data has not yet been analyzed, but we do know that the plastic mulch significantly reduced weed numbers and time required to handle weeds, while increasing average head size and total yield,” says Boyd.
According to Boyd, there are some reservations when it comes to this kind of management, such as adjusting the way crops are fertilized by growers.
The species of weeds that emerge can also depend on the planting date, says Boyd.
“Early planting in good weather can speed up crop establishment and improve its ability to compete with the weeds,” says Boyd.
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