Abstract
Acetic acid (CH3COOH) is produced naturally through anaerobic fermentation (vinegar) or synthesized through various industrial chemical methods. The primary components of vinegar are water and acetic acid. Acetic acid can destroy cell membranes, which then can result in plant tissue desiccation and plant death. Therefore, vinegar has the potential as a natural contact herbicide for the control of weeds in organically produced crops. Additional information is needed to determine the influence of acetic acid concentration, application volume, and adjuvants on weed control. Typically, household vinegar contains 5% acetic acid and greater acetic acid concentrations are available commercially. Field research was conducted in southeast Oklahoma (Lane, OK) to determine the effect of acetic acid concentrations, application volumes, and adjuvants on weed control efficacy. The factorial experimental design included three acetic acid concentrations (0, 5 and 20%), two sprayer application volumes (187 and 935 L/ha), three adjuvants (none, orange oil, and canola oil), and one weedy-check. The experiment was repeated twice. Visual weed cover and control ratings were collected 4 days after treatment. The experiment had very high weed densities with multiple grass and broadleaf weed species. The weedy check average weed cover percentages were 98% total weeds, 53% grass, 44% broadleaf weeds, 52% large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis (L.), 25% carpetweed (Mollugo verticillata L.), and 14% cutleaf evening primrose (Oenothera laciniata Hill). Total weed control ranged from 0% control (no acetic acid) to 74% control (20% acetic acid, 935 L/ha, & canola oil). Acetic acid was more effective in controlling broadleaf weeds than in controlling grasses. Optimum total grass and crabgrass weed control occurred with 20% acetic acid applied at 935 L/ha, resulting in weed control that ranged from 44% to 63%. Broadleaf weed control was 84% or greater for plots receiving either 10% acetic acid applied at 935 L/ha or 20% acetic acid applied at 187 or 935 L/ha. In addition, 5% acetic acid applied at 187 L/ha provided good cutleaf evening primrose control (77% to 90%). When averaged across application volumes (187 and 935 L/ha) and adjuvants (none, orange oil, and canola oil), weed control increased for all species as acetic acid concentrations increased from 5% to 20%. When averaged across acetic acid concentrations and adjuvants, weed control increased as application volumes increased from 187 to 935 L/ha. Individual comparisons among adjuvants within acetic acid concentrations and application volumes showed little or no advantage to adding either orange oil or canola oil to vinegar spray solutions.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Total weed control ranged from 0% with no acetic acid to 74% with 20% acetic acid at 935 L/ha plus canola oil.
Verbatim
e1“Total weed control ranged from 0% control (no acetic acid) to 74% control (20% acetic acid, 935 L/ha, & canola oil)”
Claim · model-written summary
Acetic acid was more effective in controlling broadleaf weeds than grasses.
Verbatim
e2“Acetic acid was more effective in controlling broadleaf weeds than in controlling grasses”
Claim · model-written summary
Optimum total grass and crabgrass control occurred with 20% acetic acid at 935 L/ha, giving 44% to 63% control.
- Taxon
- grass and crabgrasse3
- Treatment
- 20% acetic acid applied at 935 L/hae3
- Outcome
- total grass and crabgrass weed controle3
- Direction
- Optimume3
- Value
- 44% to 63%e3
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e3“Optimum total grass and crabgrass weed control occurred with 20% acetic acid applied at 935 L/ha, resulting in weed control that ranged from 44% to 63%”
Claim · model-written summary
Broadleaf weed control was 84% or greater with either 10% acetic acid at 935 L/ha or 20% acetic acid at 187 or 935 L/ha.
- Taxon
- Broadleaf weede4
- Treatment
- 10% acetic acid applied at 935 L/ha or 20% acetic acid applied at 187 or 935 L/hae4
- Outcome
- Broadleaf weed controle4
- Direction
- greatere4
- Value
- 84% or greatere4
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e4“Broadleaf weed control was 84% or greater for plots receiving either 10% acetic acid applied at 935 L/ha or 20% acetic acid applied at 187 or 935 L/ha”
Claim · model-written summary
5% acetic acid at 187 L/ha gave good control (77% to 90%) of cutleaf evening primrose.
- Taxon
- cutleaf evening primrosee5
- Treatment
- 5% acetic acid applied at 187 L/hae5
- Outcome
- controle5
- Direction
- goode5
- Value
- 77% to 90%e5
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e5“5% acetic acid applied at 187 L/ha provided good cutleaf evening primrose control (77% to 90%)”
Claim · model-written summary
Averaged across volumes and adjuvants, weed control increased for all species as acetic acid concentration rose from 5% to 20%.
- Taxon
- all speciese6
- Treatment
- acetic acid concentrations increased from 5% to 20%e6
- Outcome
- weed controle6
- Direction
- increasede6
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e6“weed control increased for all species as acetic acid concentrations increased from 5% to 20%”
Claim · model-written summary
Averaged across concentrations and adjuvants, weed control increased as application volume rose from 187 to 935 L/ha.
- Treatment
- application volumes increased from 187 to 935 L/hae7
- Outcome
- weed controle7
- Direction
- increasede7
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e7“weed control increased as application volumes increased from 187 to 935 L/ha”
Claim · model-written summary
Adding orange oil or canola oil to vinegar sprays gave little or no advantage.
- Treatment
- adding either orange oil or canola oil to vinegar spray solutionse1
- Outcome
- advantagee1
- Direction
- no_changeinferrede1
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e1“little or no advantage to adding either orange oil or canola oil to vinegar spray solutions”