Weed Management for the Transition to Organic Vegetable Production

New Project initiated in May 2008

Researchers
Darren Robinson (Ridgetown Campus, University of Guelph) and Robert Nurse (AAFC Harrow)

This study will address the management of weeds in transitioning to organically-grown vegetable crops, specifically tomatoes, vine crops and carrots. This new research will integrate cultivation timing, tolerance to organic herbicides and the use of cover crops to suppress weeds. In addition, organic matter, cation exchange, and nutrient levels will be measured to determine how the various treatments affect soil structure and fertility. Of particular interest are phosphorus levels, which over time have been hypothesized to decrease in organic systems.

These trials will be set up as part of a long-term study, at both Ridgetown and Harrow, to follow weed dynamics and soil structural components on land which is in transition to organic production.

 

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Posted May 2008