Weed Control in Newly Planted Strawberries in Morocco

Abstract

Four herbicides and their combinations were used to control weeds in newly planted ‘Tioga’ strawberries. Treatments include: terbacil (5-chloro-3-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-6-methyl-2,4(1 H,3 H)-pyrimidinedione) at 0.24, 0.48 and 0.72 kg/ha; three rates of terbacil plus chloroxuron ( N’[4-(4-chlorophenoxy)phenyl] -N,N-dimethylurea) at 3.92 kg/ha; phenmedipham (3-[(methoxycarbonyl) amino] phenyl (3-methylphenyl) carbamate) at 1.47 kg/ha and sethoxydim (2-[1-(ethoxyimino)butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio) propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one), 0.48 kg/ha, alone and in combination with phenmedipham. Terbacil gave excellent weed control, whereas chloroxuron controlled only broadleaf weeds. The highest rate of terbacil, alone or in combination with chloroxuron, reduced strawberry yield, fruit size, and quality. Sethoxydim gave excellent control of grasses but did not control broadleaf weeds and decreased the titratable acidity and ascorbic acid content of the harvested fruit.