Acetic acid for weed control in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

J. A. Ivany

Abstract
Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) are produced in all Canadian provinces, and interest has increased in the use of non-synthetic chemicals and organic techniques to provide weed control. Acetic acid has been suggested as a chemical that could potentially provide weed control in potato production.

We examined glacial acetic acid and Ecoclear (30% acetic acid, 1.0% naptha solvent and 1.0% trimethyl benzene) for effectiveness in controlling weeds in potatoes when applied in a 30-cm-wide band over the potato row as well as their effect on potato yield components in three experiments repeated over 2 yr. The effects of time of application and volume of application were also examined.

Glacial acetic acid at 10% concentration did not injure potato foliage, but at 20 and 30% concentration it injured emerged potato foliage. A concentration of 20% acetic acid was needed to provide acceptable weed control levels of lambs-quarters, corn spurry and wild buckwheat. Marketable yield was reduced by 20 and 30% acetic acid to below the standard herbicide treatment. Sequential applications of acetic acid at concentrations of 10, 20 or 30%, applied 7-10 d apart, caused slightly greater injury and yield was 10 to 15% less than in the single application.

Ecoclear applied to emerged weeds and before potato emergence did not injure potato foliage, but when applied post-emergence it caused severe, but short lived, potato injury. Ecoclear gave greater than 80% control of lambs-quarters, corn spurry and wild radish. Potato marketable yield was comparable with that achieved with a herbicide and was reduced only in one year by Ecoclear applied post-emergence. Weed control was 18% or less when Ecoclear was applied at 200 L ha-1, 54 to 74% when applied at 400 L ha-1 and 91 to 95% when applied at 800 L ha-1 volume of application.

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Source
Canadian Journal of Plant Science (2010) 90: 537-542
DOI: 10.4141/CJPS09026 


Author  Locations and Affiliations
Crops and Livestock Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada C1A 4N6


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Posted August 2010