Research article Initial weed control in Douglas Fir nursery beds at Rangiora.
J. M. Balneaves
Trials at Rangiora Nursery showed that weed control in Douglas fir nursery beds can be obtained by using nitrofen as a pre- and post-emergence herbicide The following treatment gave maximum weed control, without damaging the seedlings: 1. Post-sowing/'pre-emergence application of paraquat at 0.6 kg in 225 litre water/ha. 2. Pre-emergence (as first seedlings break soil surface) spray with nitrofen at 7 kg in 225 litre water/ha. 3. Repeat of (2) above when a fresh crop of weeds have ger minated and have entered the first true-leaf stage. Nitrofen gives a good kill of most newly-germinated weeds, but does not completely eradicate Lotus spp. Rates lower than 7 kg/ha do not appear to give adequate lasting control of Fumaria spp. or Polygonum aviculare, while rates of up to 16 kg/ha had no apparent adverse effect on Douglas fir seedlings.
