2016-2017 Faculty Research Grant
Robert Zdor (Biology)
Understanding the basis of soil-specific effective suppression of velvetleaf growth by mustard seed meal.
Weed management schemes have been complicated by the development of herbicide-resistant weeds and the removal of certain chemicals (such as methyl bromide) from the repertoire of possible control agents. These developments along with the desire to diversify control strategies make the use of biological agents and natural projects attractive.
This proposal builds on some promising recent findings in the Zdor lab with mustard seed meal (MSM) as a tool in the control of the weed velvetleaf. It specifically will explore the basis for why a sandy loam soil from Missouri is more conducive for velvetleaf suppression by MSM than a silt loam soil from Michigan. By manipulating the sand content of the “nonconductive” silt loam soil we hope to increase the inhibition of velvetleaf by MSM. The effects of MSM on soil bacterial levels will also be measured in an effort to ascertain the antimicrobial effects of MSM in soil and the possible compatibility of MSM with bacterial agents in weed control.