Leaf characteristics, light interception and productivity of newly planted Populus deltoides cuttings under different integrated weed control schedules in an ex-agricultural site in Buenos Aires Provi

摘要

This paper shows the results from a two-year factorial field experiment with cottonwood (cv. "Stoneville 66") established to assess the feasibility of combining the use of herbicides in bands with disc-ploughing, localised fertilising and root collarshielding of cuttings against herbicides in an integrated weed control schedule. This was compared with the efficiency of the current mechanical method. Different combinations of simazine, oxyfluorfen, quizalofop-p-ethyl, glufosinate-ammonium and disc-ploughing, with or without fertilising and collar shielding, gave good weed control and increased crop competitiveness. Integrated schedules attained higher leaf area indices and height growth and lower levels of photosynthetically active radiation transmitted by crowns than the current mechanical control system. Results showed that banded applications of simazine and quizalofop-p-ethyl, combined with disc-ploughing between bands and localised fertilising were safe and speeded up poplar establishment so that rotation length was shortened by 10% compared to the current mechanical control system.