Cover Crop and Pre-Emergence Herbicide Combinations in No-Tillage Fresh Market Cucumber Production

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Abstract
A field study was conducted to determine the effect of various pre-emergence (PRE) herbicide (clomazone, ethalfluralin, and halosulfuron) combinations with or without a winter rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop on control of smooth crabgrass [Digitaria ischaemum (Schreb. ex Schweig.) Schreb. ex Muhl.] and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) in no-tillage ‘Daytona’ cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) production. Winter rye provided a significant advantage for weed control compared with the no-cover-crop production system. In the absence of herbicides, winter rye reduced redroot pigweed and smooth crabgrass densities up to 69 and 89%, respectively, compared with no winter rye at approximately 60 days after transplanting (DAT). Furthermore, the use of a winter rye cover crop increased the level of weed control achieved by herbicides at 56 DAT in two of three years for each weed species. Winter rye enhanced early marketable cucumber yields (from 2,008 to 6,100 kg·ha−1) under drought conditions in 2...