2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Weed control using agricultural by-products provides an attractive and promising alternative solution to chemical herbicides. Mustard seed meal (MSM) and sunflower seed meal (SSM) are byproducts of seed oil extraction process. They release biologically active allelochemicals that can provide a resource for supplemental nutrients and weed suppression in vegetable cropping systems. Field experiment was conducted at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX to determine the phytotoxic impact of MSM and SSM on weeds and seedling establishment of direct-seeded pumpkin. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design and two different rates of seed meals (1100 kg ha^-1 and 2250 kg ha^-1) were incorporated into the soil one week before the planting of pumpkin. Plant toxicity and weed control ratings were collected during the experimental period. The results will be presented in the poster.