A potential relationship between soil disinfestation efficacy and leaf green reflectance.

Soil disinfestation with steam was evaluated as an alternative to fumigation. Following soil disinfestation, plant health has traditionally been measured using plant size and yield. Plant health can be measured in a timely manner more efficiently, more easily and non-destructively using image analysis.

Incorporating statistical strategy into image analysis to estimate effects of steam and allyl isocyanate on weed control.

Weeds are the major limitation to efficient crop production, and effective weed management is necessary to prevent yield losses due to crop-weed competition. Assessments of the relative efficacy of weed control treatments by traditional counting methods is labor intensive and expensive. More efficient methods are needed for weed control assessments.

Robotic weeders can improve weed control options for specialty crops.

Specialty crop herbicides are not a priority for the agrochemical industry, and many of these crops do not have access to effective herbicides. High-value fruit and vegetable crops represent small markets and high potential liability in the case of herbicide-induced crop damage. Meanwhile, conventional and organic specialty crop producers are experiencing labor shortages and higher manual weeding costs.

Evaluation of Steam and Soil Solarization for Control in Florida Floriculture Crops.

Steam and soil solarization were investigated for control of the root-knot nematode in 2 yr of field trials on a commercial flower farm in Florida. The objective was to determine if preplant steam treatments in combination with solarization, or solarization alone effectively controlled nematodes compared to methyl bromide (MeBr). Trials were conducted in a field with naturally occurring populations of .

Mustard and Other Cover Crop Effects Vary on Lettuce Drop Caused by Sclerotinia minor and on Weeds.

Mustard cover crops have been suggested as a potential biofumigant for managing soilborne agricultural pests and weeds. We conducted several experiments in commercial lettuce fields in the Salinas Valley, CA, to evaluate the effects of mustard cover crops on lettuce drop caused by Sclerotinia minor and on weed density and seed viability. In a long-term study, we measured the effects of white and Indian mustard cover crops on the density of S.