Fall Flame Weeding: Targeting weed seeds before they enter the seedbank

Project Overview

ONE11-141
Project Type: Partnership
Funds awarded in 2011: $12,238.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2013
Region: Northeast
State: Maine
Project Leader:
Dr. Eric Gallandt
Email
University of Maine

Annual Reports

Information Products

Flame Weeding (Video)

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Education and Training: on-farm/ranch research
  • Pest Management: flame, weed ecology

    Proposal abstract:

    In this project we aim to test the hypothesis that fall flaming can efficiently and effectively kill weed seeds on the soil surface. While flaming is widely used to kill small weed seedlings, and field stubble burning is known to kill weed seeds, we are not aware of any research in which flaming has been used to target seeds. This idea comes from the experience of Rob Johanson, a diversified organic farmer in Maine who, while flaming potato vines in particularly weedy fields observed smoldering weed residues and reasoned that he was likely killing weed seeds. He has further observed that flamed plots generally have lower weed pressure the following year. We aim to confirm this observation with a series of on-farm experiments evaluating three flame doses and their effect on the following season’s germinable weed seedbank and early-season weed seedling densities. Laboratory studies conducted with condiment mustard (Sinapis alba), indicated that a 900C propane flame required 3 sec. or more exposure to reach mortality levels of 80%; mortality was 100% at 5 sec. of exposure (Figures 1 and 2). Field studies will include higher temperatures to reduce the required exposure time, and will evaluate the combined stresses of flaming and overwinter mortality. Results will be shared with other growers during a Field Day and a session on “Managing the Seedbank for Improved Weed Management” at the 2012 Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association Farmer to Farmer Conference. We will also produce a short video on fall flaming which will be posted to our YouTube Channel (zeroseedrain), and the national eXtension website.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    Objective: To measure weed seed mortality in response to flaming in the field.

    This project will include field experiments conducted at one farm in Maine, and another in Vermont. The on-farm studies will be conducted on a uniformly cropped weedy field following cash crop harvest. At each farm, in the fall of 2011, weeds will be flail mowed and four replicated strips will be subject to the following treatments: no flaming; flaming at 40 kg propane per ha; flaming at 80 kg per ha; and flaming at 160 kg per ha (note: a 20-40 kg rate would kill sensitive weed seedlings). In the spring of 2012, soil sampling and subsequent greenhouse germination assays will measure the weed seedbank in each treatment. Ten soil cores (6.5 cm diam by 10 cm deep) will be randomly chosen from each plot, bulked, and spread in greenhouse flats, and watered to encourage weeds to germinate. Seedlings will be removed monthly, followed by drying and crumbling of soil and re-watering (four cycles in total). To measure the contribution of fall flaming on weed management in the subsequent crop, in June of 2012 we will record weed density after the final cultivation event at each farm. Specifically, eight 0.5 sq. m quadrats will be censused in each replicate of each treatment. Weeds will be identified by species and counted.

    Propane usage will be recorded by weight using portable field scales, and will be used to estimate per ha costs for the flaming treatments. Thermocouples and a portable temperature recorder will be installed in each treatment to record the thermal dose.

    Performance Target: We expect that the germinable weed seedbank density will be inversely related to the propane flaming rate. Further, the spring seedling census data will proportionally reflect the effects of flaming on the germinable seedbank, with the lowest surviving weed density in the 160 kg per ha propane treatment, and the greatest weed density in the control treatment. Adoption of this promising management practice will depend on the expected tradeoff between faming cost and weed control benefits measured the following year.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.