Vinegar For Pre-Seed And Post-Emergence Control Of Broadleaf Weeds

Eric N. Johnson¹, Thomas M. Wolf² and Brian C. Caldwell²

Research conducted by the USDA indicated that control of some annual and perennial weeds was attained by the application of vinegar with a 10 to 20% acetic acid concentration. It was hypothesized that vinegar may be a potential non-selective pre-seed or pre-emergence herbicide option in organic crops. Initial greenhouse studies indicated that grass weeds were more tolerant to vinegar than broadleaf weeds.

Thus, a field study was conducted at the Scott Research Farm in 2003 to investigate the efficacy of a pre-seed application of vinegar and the potential for selective broadleaf weed control in spring wheat. Vinegar (10% acetic acid concentration) was applied 3 days prior to seeding spring wheat using concentrations of 0, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 2400 L ha^-1 with a commercial standard (glyphosate @ 450 g ai ha^-1) treatment included. The same vinegar treatments were applied post-emergence to spring wheat in the 1-2 leaf stage (commercial standard of bromoxynil-MCPA @ 560 g ai ha^-1).

Vinegar applied in pre-seed application volumes of 1600 L ha^-1 or higher resulted in over 80% control of shepherd's-purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik.). Wheat exhibited significant initial injury symptoms to vinegar at post-emergence rates greater than 400 L ha^-1 but was able to recover from all application rates with very little visible injury evident 28 DAT. In-crop application volumes of greater than 800 L ha^-1 resulted in greater than 80% control of wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.) and cow cockle (Viccaria hispanica (Mill.) Rauschert ). Application volumes of = 1600 L ha^-1 were required to provide weed control comparable to the commercial standards; however wheat yields were maximized and similar to the commercial standards at application volumes of 400-800 L ha^-1.

Further evaluation of vinegar as a pre- and post-emergence herbicide is required to determine its cost-effectiveness in organic systems.

See Final Report 2004 "Efficacy of vinegar (acetic acid) as an organic herbicide" (PDF, 1.2 MB)

Source
2nd OACC Organic Research Workshop, Presented in association with the Organic Connections: Prairie Wide Organic Conference and Trade Show, November 14-16th, 2004

Author Locations & Affiliations
(1) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Scott, SK
(2) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, SK

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Research Extension Courses Consumers -------------------------- Virtual Tours Student & Job Opportunities News Articles Standards -------------------------- Market Information Events Issues Animal Welfare Strategic Plans -------------------------- Links Award-winners Site Map	Vinegar For Pre-Seed And Post-Emergence Control Of Broadleaf Weeds Eric N. Johnson¹, Thomas M. Wolf² and Brian C. Caldwell² Research conducted by the USDA indicated that control of some annual and perennial weeds was attained by the application of vinegar with a 10 to 20% acetic acid concentration. It was hypothesized that vinegar may be a potential non-selective pre-seed or pre-emergence herbicide option in organic crops. Initial greenhouse studies indicated that grass weeds were more tolerant to vinegar than broadleaf weeds. Thus, a field study was conducted at the Scott Research Farm in 2003 to investigate the efficacy of a pre-seed application of vinegar and the potential for selective broadleaf weed control in spring wheat. Vinegar (10% acetic acid concentration) was applied 3 days prior to seeding spring wheat using concentrations of 0, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 2400 L ha^-1 with a commercial standard (glyphosate @ 450 g ai ha^-1) treatment included. The same vinegar treatments were applied post-emergence to spring wheat in the 1-2 leaf stage (commercial standard of bromoxynil-MCPA @ 560 g ai ha^-1). Vinegar applied in pre-seed application volumes of 1600 L ha^-1 or higher resulted in over 80% control of shepherd's-purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik.). Wheat exhibited significant initial injury symptoms to vinegar at post-emergence rates greater than 400 L ha^-1 but was able to recover from all application rates with very little visible injury evident 28 DAT. In-crop application volumes of greater than 800 L ha^-1 resulted in greater than 80% control of wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.) and cow cockle (Viccaria hispanica (Mill.) Rauschert ). Application volumes of = 1600 L ha^-1 were required to provide weed control comparable to the commercial standards; however wheat yields were maximized and similar to the commercial standards at application volumes of 400-800 L ha^-1. Further evaluation of vinegar as a pre- and post-emergence herbicide is required to determine its cost-effectiveness in organic systems. See Final Report 2004 "Efficacy of vinegar (acetic acid) as an organic herbicide" (PDF, 1.2 MB) Source 2nd OACC Organic Research Workshop, Presented in association with the Organic Connections: Prairie Wide Organic Conference and Trade Show, November 14-16th, 2004 Author Locations & Affiliations (1) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Scott, SK (2) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, SK en français
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Vinegar For Pre-Seed And Post-Emergence Control Of Broadleaf Weeds

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