Alternatives To Preemergence Herbicides

摘要

THE California winegrape industry has taken an interest in finding alternatives to pre-emergence herbicides for several reasons, including the emergence of resistant weed populations and the potential threat they can pose to water quality. While herbicide use has increased productivity and efficiency, it is important to employ an integrated multi-tactic approach to weed management to avoid shifts toward a few problematic weed species. Environmental scientists with the state's Department of PesticideRegulation (DPR) have found preemer-gence herbicides contaminating California ground water. Growing concerns over water quality and impending legislation may make some preemergence herbicides unavailable. The state's winegrape industry has worked throughDPR's Winegrape Pest Management Alliance to increase adoption of weed management practices that protect water quality. It has also increased its support for the adoption of more sustainable viticul-tural practices in general, including alternatives to preemergence herbicides, through its Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices.