potential use of transplants in cool season vegetables...

Potential Use of TransplantsPotential Use of TransplantsIn Cool Season VegetablesIn Cool Season Vegetables

and and The Impacts on Weed ControlThe Impacts on Weed Control

Richard Smith, Farm AdvisorRichard Smith, Farm AdvisorUniversity of California Cooperative Extension University of California Cooperative Extension Monterey CountyMonterey County

Current SituationCurrent Situation

•• Lettuce and broccoli in the Salinas Valley are Lettuce and broccoli in the Salinas Valley are basically direct seededbasically direct seeded–– Transplanting is used early in the lettuce season and Transplanting is used early in the lettuce season and

in order to keep plantings on schedulein order to keep plantings on schedule•• However, other crops on the central coast are However, other crops on the central coast are

now transplanted:now transplanted:–– Celery Celery –– Cauliflower Cauliflower –– LeeksLeeks–– PeppersPeppers–– Fresh market tomatoesFresh market tomatoes

Why Transplant CeleryWhy Transplant Celery•• Painfully slow initial seed germination and plant Painfully slow initial seed germination and plant

growthgrowth•• Transplanting reduces early season weed Transplanting reduces early season weed

issuesissues•• Celery transplants are mowed in the nursery Celery transplants are mowed in the nursery

and are uniform in size and easy for the and are uniform in size and easy for the transplant machine to handletransplant machine to handle

•• An automatic transplanter was developed years An automatic transplanter was developed years ago that works wellago that works well

•• Conventional mechanical transplanters also Conventional mechanical transplanters also work well given current cost of laborwork well given current cost of labor

Why Transplant CeleryWhy Transplant Celery•• Even with high plant populations the Even with high plant populations the

positives favor transplanting positives favor transplanting •• Celery has excellent registered herbicides Celery has excellent registered herbicides

(i.e. Caparol, Lorox, Dual Magnum, etc) (i.e. Caparol, Lorox, Dual Magnum, etc) and other weed control options that make and other weed control options that make weed control in transplanted celery weed control in transplanted celery economical and efficienteconomical and efficient

Why Transplant CauliflowerWhy Transplant Cauliflower

•• Low plant population (13,070) makes Low plant population (13,070) makes transplanting more economically viabletransplanting more economically viable

•• Reduced weed issuesReduced weed issues•• Transplants produce acceptable qualityTransplants produce acceptable quality

Why Transplant CauliflowerWhy Transplant Cauliflower•• Cauliflower also has a Cauliflower also has a

good set of herbicides good set of herbicides (Dacthal, Prefar and Goal)(Dacthal, Prefar and Goal)

•• The planting The planting configuration allows for configuration allows for effective cultivation: effective cultivation: 1) close early cultivation 1) close early cultivation 2) can throw dirt on 2) can throw dirt on second cultivationsecond cultivationSome growers just rely Some growers just rely on cultivation on cultivation

Why is Broccoli not Transplanted?Why is Broccoli not Transplanted?

•• High plant population (52,300) makes the High plant population (52,300) makes the economics of transplanting vs direct economics of transplanting vs direct seeding more difficultseeding more difficult

•• Market demand is currently easily being Market demand is currently easily being met (no need for three crops!)met (no need for three crops!)

14.5014.50

Total CostTotal CostPer 1,000Per 1,000

8.008.00

TransplantTransplantPer 1,000Per 1,000

7587586.506.50

Total CostTotal CostPer AcrePer Acre

PlantsPlantsPer 1,000 Per 1,000

Broccoli Transplant CostsBroccoli Transplant Costs

Why is Lettuce not Transplanted?Why is Lettuce not Transplanted?

•• Moderately high plant population (26,150Moderately high plant population (26,150--31,300) makes the economics of 31,300) makes the economics of transplanting vs direct seeding difficulttransplanting vs direct seeding difficult

•• Market demand is currently being met (no Market demand is currently being met (no need for three crops?) with current need for three crops?) with current rotation patternsrotation patterns

•• Questions about the quality of Questions about the quality of transplanted head lettucetransplanted head lettuce

•• Other quality issuesOther quality issues

16.5016.5021.5021.5018.5018.50

Total CostTotal CostPer 1,000Per 1,000

--------8.008.008.008.00

TransplantTransplantPer 1,000Per 1,000

432432--------AutomatedAutomated(Grower’s Transplant)(Grower’s Transplant)

56356313.5013.50OrganicOrganic48548510.5010.50ConventionalConventional

Total CostTotal CostPer AcrePer Acre

PlantsPlantsPer 1,000 Per 1,000

SystemSystem

Lettuce Transplant CostsLettuce Transplant CostsNot including seedNot including seed

57575757Hand WeedHand Weed00148148Thin/weedThin/weed

48484848HerbicideHerbicide102102102102Fertilizer Fertilizer -- SidedressSidedress

963963788788Total Production CostsTotal Production Costs167167167167IrrigationIrrigation10102727CultivationCultivation

70707070Fertilizer Fertilizer -- PreplantPreplant509509------TransplantingTransplanting------169169SeedingSeeding

TransplantsTransplantsSeededSeededOperationOperation

Current Trends Current Trends

•• Increase in cost of laborIncrease in cost of labor•• Decrease in the availability of laborDecrease in the availability of labor•• Increased costs of inputs (water, fertilizer, Increased costs of inputs (water, fertilizer,

pesticides, etc)pesticides, etc)•• Increased cost of land rentIncreased cost of land rent•• Need to intensify the use of land to cover Need to intensify the use of land to cover

increased costsincreased costs•• New developments in technologyNew developments in technology

Availability of laborAvailability of labor AutomationAutomation

New TechnologyNew TechnologyCostlyCostlyHigh maintenanceHigh maintenance

What Will Agriculture in California What Will Agriculture in California Look Like in 10 Years Look Like in 10 Years

•• Will it be more or less as it is now?Will it be more or less as it is now?•• Will the trends we see in 2007 lead to a Will the trends we see in 2007 lead to a

shift in the economics of production shift in the economics of production which force crops to be produced is a way which force crops to be produced is a way that lends itself more to intensification that lends itself more to intensification and mechanizationand mechanization

Based on this situation we feel it is Based on this situation we feel it is important to explore new weed important to explore new weed control options in the event that control options in the event that

transplanting of broccoli and transplanting of broccoli and lettuce become more common lettuce become more common

placeplace

Weed Control Options for Weed Control Options for Transplanted BroccoliTransplanted Broccoli

•• Goal is already registered specifically for Goal is already registered specifically for pretransplant use in broccolipretransplant use in broccoli

•• Broccoli also has excellent post Broccoli also has excellent post emergence options (i.e. Goal Tender, emergence options (i.e. Goal Tender, topical fertilizer applications, grass topical fertilizer applications, grass herbicides)herbicides)

Weed Control Options for Weed Control Options for Transplanted LettuceTransplanted Lettuce

•• Currently there are no herbicides Currently there are no herbicides registered specifically for transplanted registered specifically for transplanted lettuce in Californialettuce in California

Lettuce: Seedling vs TransplantLettuce: Seedling vs Transplant

•• Lettuce is particularly sensitive to damage Lettuce is particularly sensitive to damage by herbicides in the seedling stageby herbicides in the seedling stage

•• As a result there is a very short list of As a result there is a very short list of herbicides that are safe for preemergence herbicides that are safe for preemergence use: Kerb, Prefar, Balanuse: Kerb, Prefar, Balan

Kerb Kerb KerbKerb

Prefar Prefar PrefarPrefar

Lettuce: Seedling vs TransplantLettuce: Seedling vs Transplant

Once lettuce is past the Once lettuce is past the seedling stage:seedling stage:

•• More tolerant of other More tolerant of other herbicidesherbicides

•• More tolerant of More tolerant of physical manipulationphysical manipulation

Weed Control Options for Weed Control Options for Transplanted LettuceTransplanted Lettuce

•• Herbicide options for transplanted lettuce:Herbicide options for transplanted lettuce:–– ProwlProwl–– Dual MagnumDual Magnum–– AuthorityAuthority

2006 Weed Evaluation2006 Weed Evaluationweeds/20 ftweeds/20 ft22

0123456789

10

Untreated Kerb 1.2 Dual 0.95 Prowl 1.0 Authority0.1

2006 Crop Safety Evaluation2006 Crop Safety EvaluationPhytotoxicityPhytotoxicity

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

Untreated Kerb 1.2 Dual 0.95 Prowl 1.0 Authority0.1

2006 Yield Evaluation2006 Yield EvaluationHeads per PlotHeads per Plot

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Untreated Kerb 1.2 Dual 0.95 Prowl 1.0 Authority0.1

2007 Weed Evaluation2007 Weed Evaluationweeds/20 ftweeds/20 ft22

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Untreated Kerb 1.2 Dual 0.63 Dual 0.95 Prowl 0.5 Prowl 1.0

2007 Crop Safety Evaluation2007 Crop Safety EvaluationPhytotoxicity RatingPhytotoxicity Rating

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Untreated Kerb 1.2 Dual 0.63 Dual 0.95 Prowl 0.5 Prowl 1.0

2007 Yield Evaluation2007 Yield EvaluationMean Head WeightMean Head Weight

1.2

1.25

1.3

1.35

1.4

1.45

1.5

1.55

Untreated Kerb 1.2 Dual 0.63 Dual 0.95 Prowl 0.5 Prowl 1.0

Herbicides for Transplanted Herbicides for Transplanted LettuceLettuce

•• Steve Fennimore has tested Prowl H2O at Steve Fennimore has tested Prowl H2O at rates up to 6 lbs ai/A and has seen good rates up to 6 lbs ai/A and has seen good safety safety

•• He also tested tank mixes with Prowl H2O He also tested tank mixes with Prowl H2O and Kerb and they look effectiveand Kerb and they look effective

•• Prowl was submitted to the IR4 program Prowl was submitted to the IR4 program to develop a food use tolerance for to develop a food use tolerance for transplanted lettucetransplanted lettuce

Cultivation Cultivation •• Transplants lend themselves to old and Transplants lend themselves to old and

new technologies for weed controlnew technologies for weed control•• Transplants give the crop a head start on Transplants give the crop a head start on

the weedsthe weeds•• Transplants are more resistant to physical Transplants are more resistant to physical

manipulationmanipulation•• Transplants are bigger and therefore Transplants are bigger and therefore

easier to detect and distinguish from the easier to detect and distinguish from the weeds by existing technologyweeds by existing technology

Close cultivation is not a newClose cultivation is not a newidea, but for larger operations, idea, but for larger operations, speed is a concernspeed is a concern

Precision Guidance of CultivatorsPrecision Guidance of Cultivators2” wide band vs standard 4” band2” wide band vs standard 4” band

EcoDanEcoDan

Capable of cultivating close and fastCapable of cultivating close and fast

IntraIntra--rowrow cultivationcultivationBlind Finger Blind Finger

TorsionTorsion

Split Knife Split Knife Dave Slaughter, UCDDave Slaughter, UCD

Automated Weed Control in Transplanted TomatoesAutomated Weed Control in Transplanted Tomatoes

Infrared Tomato Stem Sensor

Weed Knives

Torsion WeederTorsion WeederUsed extensively in EuropeUsed extensively in Europe

Similar to the Texas Rod WeederSimilar to the Texas Rod Weederonce popularly used in cottononce popularly used in cotton

Come in differentCome in differentSizes (7 & 9 mm)Sizes (7 & 9 mm)

Can be adjustedCan be adjustedTo different To different Widths apartWidths apart

The tines undercut The tines undercut small weeds, but small weeds, but but hit the transplant but hit the transplant at an oblique angleat an oblique angle

Line of travelLine of travel

Percent Weed ControlPercent Weed Control

0102030405060708090

Standard 7mm 9mm

aa

bbb*b*

* Different than 7mm @ P=0.10* Different than 7mm @ P=0.10

Plants Per AcrePlants Per Acrex1,000x1,000

39.439.639.8

4040.240.440.640.8

4141.2

Standard 7mm 9mm

Mean Head WeightMean Head Weightlbslbs

1.55

1.56

1.57

1.58

1.59

1.6

1.61

Standard 7mm 9mm

Prototype IntraPrototype Intra--row weederrow weeder

Garford Farm MachineryGarford Farm Machinery

* This machine is being commercialized* This machine is being commercialized* It will be dependant upon good ability* It will be dependant upon good ability

to distinguish between crop and weedsto distinguish between crop and weedswhich transplanting will facilitatewhich transplanting will facilitate

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

•• It is unclear if transplanting of lettuce will It is unclear if transplanting of lettuce will take off in the Salinas Valley, but it seems take off in the Salinas Valley, but it seems likelylikely

•• It may open the door to the use of hybrids It may open the door to the use of hybrids in order to improve uniformityin order to improve uniformity

•• If it does, it will change weed control If it does, it will change weed control practices and give growers opportunities practices and give growers opportunities to use new and more effective toolsto use new and more effective tools