Weeds can be a menace in Florida citrus. The state is home to diverse weed species and is the perfect environment for weeds to grow. Ramdas Kanissery, a weed scientist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, discusses weed management challenges in the March All In For Citrus podcast.
One of the issues compounding the challenges is that many weed species are developing tolerance to herbicides. Kanissery said that growers need to develop a weed management program that includes a suite of pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides that aim to reduce competition against citrus tree for nutrients and water and reduce the weed seed bank in the soil. That means controlling weeds before they go to seed.
Kanissery noted he has been researching different herbicide programs to optimize timing of applications and product performance. He also is studying how factors like weather can impact herbicide performance.
Given the declining state of HLB-affected citrus, growers are concerned about how herbicides might stress citrus trees. One of the key herbicides growers have relied on in citrus is glyphosate. There have been concerns about the herbicide and potential damage to citrus roots. But Kanissery said his research has not shown the herbicide does much damage to roots.
Another approach some growers are experimenting with to manage weeds is planting cover crops. Kanissery said cover crops can help reduce seed banks of problematic weeds by outcompeting them. Cover crops also bring other benefits from a soil health and fertility standpoint. In Florida’s sandy soil, cover crops can improve organic matter.
To hear more about Kanissery’s weed management research, don’t miss the March episode of All In For Citrus. The podcast is a partnership between UF/IFAS and AgNet Media.
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