Weed specialists and agents at the University of California’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program advise growers to control weeds before corn plants reach 6 to 8 inches high. At that height, weeds will begin to affect corn yields because they start to compete with the plant for nutrients, water and light. Weeds that grow later … Read more
Plant diseases are caused by pathogens, as well as directly by environmental conditions. Environmental issues such as drought, excessive moisture, air pollution or nutrient deficits or imbalances can cause plant disease. Abiotic diseases, like blossom end rot, are noninfectious, whereas biotic diseases, or those caused by a pathogen, are infectious. Cultivation practices, weather conditions and … Read more
Corn is one of the world’s major food crops, and with over 90 million acres of corn growing in almost every state, the United States is the world’s largest producer and exporter. – Push-Pull Method Yet, like so many important crops, corn has its nemesis: the stem borer moth. This pest devastates corn in stages. First … Read more
If it’s February or March, it’s likely orchardists are out among the trees, pruning. No matter the type of tree fruit, pruning in late winter helps to keep pruning injury and disease at bay – wounds will quickly heal as the tree breaks dormancy, bark will not injure as readily, and disease pressures are low … Read more
Control of weeds in lettuce requires an integrated management system, one not just about the use of herbicides. For California vegetable growers, such a system is one of the keys to their success. “Kerb is the primary herbicide used, but it is a component in the system,” said Steve Fennimore, an Extension weed specialist at … Read more