Green Manure and Pendimethalin Impact on Oriental Sun‐Cured Tobacco

• Published in: Agronomy journal Vol. 106; no. 4; pp. 1225 - 1230
• Main Authors: Travlos, Ilias S., Kanatas, Panagiotis J., Tsioros, Stelios, Papastylianou, Panayiota, Papatheohari, Yolanda, Bilalis, Dimitrios
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison The American Society of Agronomy, Inc 01.07.2014; American Society of Agronomy
• Subjects: Pendimethalin
• ISSN: 0002-1962; 1435-0645
• DOI: 10.2134/agronj13.0557

Global markets for oriental sun‐cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) have increased the number of fields planted to this crop in Greece and other countries. Field experiments were conducted in 2012 and 2013 to determine the influence of pendimethalin [N‐(1‐ethylpropyl)‐3,4‐dimethyl‐2,6‐ dintrobenzenamine] application and hoeing combined with the incorporation of pea (Pisum sativum L.) and vetch (Vicia sativa L.) as green manures on weed control and tobacco growth and yield. Plant height, number of leaves and total yield of tobacco were generally higher when pendimethalin was applied compared with cultivated tobacco. The absence of weed management resulted in lower growth and tobacco yields (on average 1221 and 1303 kg ha−1 for 2012 and 2013, respectively). Foxtail [Setaria verticillata (L.) P.Beauv.], barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crus‐galli (L.) Beauv.], fat‐hen (Chenopodium album L.), red‐root pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), and goathead (Tribulus terrestris L.) were adequately controlled by pendimethalin, while hoeing partially controlled weeds such as purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.). Incorporation of legumes increased both crop growth and yield. Nicotine content increased when green manures were used compared with untreated plots (values up to 3.62 and 3.16%, respectively). The adoption of the appropriate weed management method along with green manure can result in yields up to 2221 kg ha−1. The results of this study are essential for the development of an integrated crop and weed management strategy for oriental tobacco.