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2006
Annual Report
UC Statewide IPM Program
HIGHLIGHTS |
Manipulating weed management practices can reduce herbicide dependency
in rice
A University of California, Davis research team has found that different
rice establishment methods can keep weeds from developing, reduce herbicide
dependency, lower fuel use, and help reduce herbicide-resistant weeds in
rice.
California’s rice industry produces nearly 2 million tons of rice annually,
making it the second largest rice growing state in the nation and contributing
nearly $500 million dollars to the state's economy. For the rural Sacramento
Valley communities of Colusa, Butte, Sutter, and Yuba counties, rice is the predominant
crop. California's rice is exported to Asia, the Middle East, and Mediterranean
markets, and is distributed throughout the United States.
Weed scientist Al Fischer and Jim Hill, UC Cooperative Extension
specialist, coordinated the project. “As California rice growers
find their herbicide options dwindling because of widespread herbicide
resistance in the major weeds of rice, the need for nonchemical means of
manipulating weed management practices is imperative,” says Fischer. “Both
molinate and thiobencarb had been for years the most relevant herbicides
for grass control in rice, but due to resistance they no longer control
watergrass. Molinate registration will expire by 2008. In addition, rice
straw burning restrictions and subsequent increased straw incorporation
has increased soil weed seed banks by protecting the seeds from scavengers
like birds and rodents."
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Conservation tillage cropping systems
in the San Joaquin Valley
Tom Barcellos of T-Bar Dairy/Barcellos Farms in Porterville is a believer
in conservation tillage, and it wasn’t a hard sell. Barcellos has
been named the 2006 Conservation Tillage Farmer Innovator by the University
of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation Tillage (CT)
Workgroup at its annual conference Oct. 19 in Five Points.
Conservation tillage is a process in which growers reduce plowing. In
2001, Barcellos tried conservation tillage on 70 acres of his 1,850-acre
farm. This new process drew a lot of interest from neighboring farmers
who debated the usefulness of the method.
But, Barcellos was enthusiastic about the results he was seeing. He decided
to try 320 acres during the first trial year. “Before using conservation
tillage, I had to do a lot more double cropping in the summer. I had five
tractors making up to 10 passes through the field. Now, in the summer when
I double crop, I use one tractor. I’m saving money on fuel and labor.”
Often farmers using conservation tillage also plant cover crops underneath
the main crop or between two different crops to cover and protect the soil.
Cover crops have additional benefits according to the species planted. For
instance, legumes enrich the soil with nutrients, while plants with strong,
deep roots break up compacted soil. In the low-rainfall regime of the San
Joaquin Valley, farmers may benefit more from cover cropping in combination
with conservation tillage to maintain soil fertility, as opposed to conservation
tillage alone.
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Next article >> Helping Chinese
farmers
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