Efficacy of Selected Foliar Herbicides in Raspberry Plantations in Serbia

Abstract

Serbia is one of the leading producers of raspberries worldwide. Efficient weed control represents an integral part of maintaining perennial production systems such as raspberry plantations. Efficacy of a selection of foliar herbicides was studied in raspberry plantations in two regions of Serbia, across two years. Two field sites (Kušići and Guča) were located in the traditional raspberry growing region of Western Serbia, and the other two (Zminjak and Lipolist) in the low-lying Mačva region. Weed control was assessed using commercial products based on the following active substances: a) pyraflufen-ethyl (26.5 g a.s./l); b) glufosinate-ammonium 150 g a.s./l; c) glufosinate-ammonium 200 g a.s./l, and d) paraquat dichloride 200 g a.s./l. The trials were set up following the standardized EPPO protocol, and applications were done when weeds were in full development (beginning of May), and raspberry in the growth stages 40-97 (BBCH scale). Efficacy of the tested products was assessed against the untreated control. Pyraflufen-ethyl was shown to be highly effective in controlling broadleaf weeds (≥90%), in both single and split application, but inefficient in controlling Sorghum halepense (0-20%). Meanwhile, efficacy of glufosinate-ammonium 150 g/l and glufosinate-ammonium 200 g/l varied between the target weed species, field sites and across assessments, between 50 and 100%. Efficacy of paraquat dichloride ranged between 82.5 and 100% for broadleaf weeds, but no efficacy was observed against S. halepense. Of all the tested treatment options, the highest efficacy in weed control was observed when pyraflufen-ethyl was applied in a split application (0.8 l/ha+0.8 l/ha).