The effect of mechanical weed cultivation on crop yield and quality, disease incidence and phenology in snap bean, carrot and lettuce crops.

摘要

Inter-row mechanical cultivation was proposed as a supplement to or substitute for conventional weed control methods currently used in snap bean, carrot and lettuce production. Several types of cultivators were assessed and compared. The effect of mechanical cultivation on crop yield and quality was studied by counting, weighing and grading bean pods, carrot roots and lettuce heads. The effect of mechanical cultivation on disease incidence was studied by surveying fields during the season and by determining the number and weight of diseased pods, roots and heads at harvest. The relationship between the level of Cercospora blight on carrots and potential impacts on yield was also investigated by measuring plant characteristics and the amount of force needed to separate carrot foliage from root. The effect of mechanical cultivation on the phenology of snap bean flowering was studied by determining how long it took for a plant to produce 50% of its flowers and counting how many flowers and pods a plant produced. In general, mechanical cultivation did not affect normal crop production and may be used to replace or complement conventional weed control methods. There was little variation among different cultivators within one season, but cultivator effects differed among crops and from one year to the next.