2007
Annual Report
UC Statewide IPM Program
HIGHLIGHTS |
Sub-surface
drip irrigation serves as IPM tool for processing tomatoes
UC IPM Advisor Anil Shrestha worked with colleagues from UCCE and UC
Davis and found that weed densities could be reduced by as much as 90%
in sub-surface drip irrigation compared to furrow irrigation systems.
This finding was true for both standard tillage and no-tillage tomato
beds. "We buried drip tape 10 inches below the surface in 60-inch
tomato beds. The buried drip tape resulted in bed surfaces and furrows
that were too dry for germination of weed seeds. This phenomenon could
reduce the need for herbicides," says Shrestha.
This study showed that sub-surface drip irrigation could be used as
an IPM strategy for tomato production in the Central Valley. The study
was conducted at the West Side Research and Extension Center and at the
UC Davis Russell Ranch Sustainable Agriculture Facility.
Shrestha; Tom Lanini, Plant Sciences, UC Davis; Jeff
Mitchell, UCCE, Woodland; Gene Miyao, farm advisor for Yolo
and Solano counties; and former graduate student Kipp Sutton worked
on this project.
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