Efficacy of natural fatty acid based herbicides on mixed weed stands

Authors

  • Ivanna Crmaric Institute Earth-Nature-Environment, Haute Ecole du Paysage, d’Ingénierie et d’Architecture (hepia), University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Martina Keller Vegetable-Production Extension, Plants and Plant Products, Agroscope, Wädenswil, Switzerland
  • Jürgen Krauss Vegetable-Production Extension, Plants and Plant Products, Agroscope, Wädenswil, Switzerland
  • Nicolas Delabays Institute Earth-Nature-Environment, Haute Ecole du Paysage, d’Ingénierie et d’Architecture (hepia), University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland, Geneva, Switzerland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5073/jka.2018.458.048

Abstract

In the search for alternatives to synthetic herbicides we assessed the efficacy of 2 non-selective, natural products. The active substances were fatty acids: one herbicide containing pelargonic acid (C9) and the other containing caprylic (C8) and capric acids (C10). The aim of the study was to determine the dose required to achieve this range of efficacy (ED80) for weed stands with different canopy heights and densities. 2 trials were carried out. Weed stand height varied between 0.05 m (trial 2) and 0.25-0.35 m (trial 1). The herbicides were applied with a logsprayer on plots of 43.5 m2. Dose-response curves were calculated using green weed coverage determined by image analyses as response variable. The ED80 increased with increasing weed canopy height: from 0.9 to 1.7 of the standard dose (n) for the caprylic and capric acid containing product and from 0.7 n to 1.7 n for the pelargonic acid containing product.
In conclusion, acceptable efficacies can be achieved if the herbicides are applied on young weed stages. For larger weeds the dose, spray volume and application technology need to be further adjusted. These herbicides could be used for the stale seedbed technique, crop pre-emergence or inter-row applications. Nevertheless, the relatively high price of these natural herbicides limits their broader use.

Downloads

Published

2018-01-25

Issue

No. 458 (2018): Proceedings 28th German Conference on Weed Biology and Weed Control, February 27 - March 1, 2018, Braunschweig, Germany

Section

Session 6: Developments in herbicides

License

Creative Commons Lizenzvertrag
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attributed 4.0 International License.

You are free to:

  • Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially

Under the following terms:

  • Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use

  • No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits