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Tigernut or ‘chufa’ (Cyperus esculentus L. var. sativus) is gaining popularity in the United States as a high energy tuber crop known for sweet and chewy taste, 40–45% gluten-free digestible carbohydrate, high dietary fiber content, healthful fatty acid profile (73% monounsaturated, 18% saturated, 9% polyunsaturated—similar to olive oil), high oleic acid, and high P, K, and vitamins C. E. Tigernut tubers were obtained from specialty crop markets in central NJ and purchased online from commercial distributors as propagules for transplants for hoop house and field production studies. Nine tigernut selections were also evaluated under NJ hoop house culture conditions for growth habit and in the field for adaptation and productivity We concluded that tigernut production is feasible in NJ based on the results of these experiments. The growth patterns of three selections (GH, MV and SK) were studied and characterized. Foliage growth was similar in the three selections. Plant height ranged from an average of 90 cm in GH to 110 cm in MV and SK; side shoot production capacity ranged from 13 shoots per propagule in GH to 20 or more in MV and SK over 14 weeks. Over 99% of tubers in MV and SK were located within the upper 5 cm of the growth media (Pro-Mix BX brand) but tubers of GH were observed at greater soil depths (~20 cm). Tubers varied from spherical (round) in shape in GH and SK to oblong (elongated) in MV. In the field the best growth and tuber yields from NG3 and T-USA selections were obtained under black or white-over-black plastic mulch in conventionally managed plots. Tubers showed high levels of Fe (168–218 ppm) and Zn (39–50 ppm) implying that they should be a good source of these essential elements in human diet. Studies also showed that the tigernut tuber cannot survive the cold winter months in the field in NJ, therefore minimizing the fear of “tigernut invasion” of agronomic fields in NJ and similar agroecosystems.

Specca Farms Pick Your Own (SFPYO) operates a 125-acre (50 ha) farm in Bordentown, Central New Jersey, USA, which attends to customers from many different ethnic regions such as Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Mediterranean region, Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean. The company produces more than 100 ethnic crops that require unique agronomic and management practices tailored to central New Jersey’s ecosystem and the unique quality of produce demanded by various ethnic nationalities. This paper reviews the ethnic crop classifications at the farm, the agronomic and crop protection practices applied to different crop groups, and the factors that guide produce marketing to meet the unique quality demanded by different ethnic nationalities.

This study compared the effect of weed control and orchard floor management (OFMA) options including organic mulch on summer annual weed interference in a newly established peach orchard. Weed interference where no preemergence (PRE) herbicides were applied, including vole damage, caused 29% peach tree mortality, reduced tree trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) 62% by the fourth year of orchard establishment, and reduced fruit yield and fruit number in 1999 by 73 and 75%, respectively, but had no effect on fruit size. Compared with a no-till or conventionally tilled orchard floor, the population of grassy weeds within the tree row was greater in killed perennial ryegrass sod (PRS) plus hard fescue residue mulch treatments but was less in killed PRS plus tall fescue residue mulch treatments. Among the no-PRE treatments, the tree row broadleaf weed populations were suppressed in killed PRS with or without the addition of fescue residue mulch to the tree row when compared with the no-till or conventionally tilled orchard floor treatments. PRE herbicide treatments strongly affected peach fruit yield and TCSA but not average fruit size. There was no effect among the killed PRS, with or without hard or tall fescue residue mulch treatments, on peach fruit yield, TCSA, or average fruit size when compared with the no-till or conventionally tilled orchard floor treatment options. All treatments with herbicide had higher yields in 1999 than those without herbicides.

The optimum weeding regime for thorny mimosa control in cassava established at 10,000 plants/ha was studied at Ibadan, Nigeria (7°22 1/2′N, 3°50 1/2′ E), a humid tropical environment. The study compared six weeding regimes, each comprising manual removal of thorny mimosa three times at different intervals within 13 wk after planting (WAP). Cassava vegetative growth recovered from thorny mimosa interference when the first weeding occurred within 5 WAP, but interference for more than 5 WAP reduced storage root yield. Allowing thorny mimosa infestation after 11 WAP had no effect on cassava growth or root yield. Manual removal of thorny mimosa at 4, 7, and 11 WAP consistently gave the highest cassava root yield.

Giant sensitiveplant interference at different population densities in cassava established at 10,000 plants ha−1 was investigated on a Ferric Luvisol in a humid tropical environment. Interference for 12 mo was compared at 0, 10,000, 20,000, 30,000, and 40,000 plants ha−1 and at natural populations (averaging 630,000 plants ha−1) in four randomized complete blocks. Results showed that the order of cassava growth parameter response to giant sensitiveplant interference for 12 mo was leaf number > height > stem girth > leaf size = petiole length. The natural population density of giant sensitiveplant reduced growth faster and more than populations of 10,000 to 40,000 plants ha−1 in cassava. All giant sensitiveplant populations from 10,000 plants ha−1 and higher reduced storage root yield in cassava 12 mo after planting. Yield reduction increased as giant sensitiveplant population increased and the highest reduction of 85% occurred in the natural population of giant sensitiveplant. Nomenclature: Cassava, ‘TMS 30572’, Manihot esculenta Crantz; giant sensitiveplant, Mimosa invisa Mart. MIMIN.

The efficacy of glyphosate applied alone or in combination with residual herbicides in full-season no-till glyphosate-resistant soybean (GRS) was investigated in New Jersey and Delaware on sandy drought-prone soils. Treatments were in a two- by two- by five-factorial arrangement laid out in three or four randomized complete blocks. The factors investigated were-two preplant glyphosate applications: preplant glyphosate applications or no preplant glyphosate applications; two herbicide treatments: 0.8 kg ae/ha glyphosate alone or 0.8 kg/ha glyphosate tank-mixed with 0.6 kg ai/ha clomazone plus 0.07 kg ai/ha imazethapyr; and herbicide application at five GRS growth stages: at cracking or one of the four times between the V1 and V7 stages. Preplant glyphosate application for the control of emerged weeds was essential for satisfactory control of common annual weeds with glyphosate alone or glyphosate combined with residual herbicides when rainfall was high (avg. 120 mm/mo), but less important when rainfall was low (avg. 72 mm/mo). Compared to glyphosate alone, glyphosate plus residual herbicides improved the control of common lambsquarters, fall panicum, and common ragweed, when applied at cracking or at the V1 stage and preceded by preplant glyphosate applications. At all stages of application, satisfactory full-season control of ivyleaf morningglory was achieved only with glyphosate plus residual herbicides. Horseweed, large crabgrass, giant foxtail, or smooth pigweed control varied from good to excellent (80 to 100%) at all stages of application of glyphosate alone or with residual herbicides. Glyphosate applied alone or with residual herbicides was safe on GRS regardless of time of application up to the V7 stage. The highest soybean yield was consistently achieved with preplant glyphosate applications followed by glyphosate alone at the V2 to V4 stages or a preplant glyphosate application followed by glyphosate plus residual herbicides applied from crop emergence to the V4 stage.

Field experiments were conducted in 1992 to 1993 and in 1995 to 1996 in Ibadan, Nigeria, to assess the effect of velvetbean and herbicides on maize (corn) and cogongrass growth and to assess regrowth of the weed 1 yr after treatment. In 1992 and 1995 cover cropping with velvetbean and imazapyr and glyphosate application reduced cogongrass density as much as the handweeded control. The smothering effect of velvetbean was equivalent to that of glyphosate at 1.8 kg/ha but was less than imazapyr even at the lowest rate of 0.5 kg/ha. Addition of adjuvant did not improve the efficacy of either herbicide. Maize grain yield was higher in velvetbeam plots than in fallow plots dominated by cogongrass. Velvetbean and herbicide effects on cogongrass 1 yr later (1993 and 1996) followed a similar trend as observed in the year of application. Annual weed density was highest in glyphosate plots, followed by imazapyr, and least in plots previously seeded to velvetbean. Maize grain yield was higher in herbicide plots (average yield of 3,170 and 1,920 kg/ha in 1993 and 1996, respectively) than in velvetbean plots (2,800 to 1,180 kg/ha in 1993 and 1996, respectively) and handweeded plots (2,890 and 723 kg/ha in 1993 and 1996, respectively). In 1996 the lowest maize yield was in handweeded plots without velvetbean, suggesting that weeding four times suppressed cogongrass density and biomass, but was not sufficient to minimize the subsequent competition from annual weeds. Uncontrolled cogongrass reduced maize yield to zero. These studies suggest that planting velvetbean for cogongrass control may be a better alternative for farmers without the resources to purchase herbicides.

Field studies were conducted under full-season conventional tillage in Delaware and New Jersey to determine the critical time to apply glyphosate with or without residual herbicides for optimum weed control in glyphosate-resistant soybean (GRS). The residual herbicides tank-mixed with glyphosate (0.84 kg/ha) were clomazone (0.55 kg/ha) and imazethapyr (0.063 kg/ha). Herbicide application was made at cracking, unifoliate, and one- to six-trifoliate stages of GRS. Weeds varied in growth stages from preemergence (PRE) at cracking to an average height of 30 cm at the six-trifoliate stage of GRS. Herbicide activity varied by year and weed species. Herbicidal action was better under high (> 125 mm/mo) than low (< 100 mm/mo) rainfall regime. Glyphosate application without residual herbicides was less effective at cracking and unifoliate than at one- to three-trifoliate leaf stages. Mixing residual herbicides with glyphosate at cracking and unifoliate stages enhanced weed control but made no difference when application was delayed until one- to three-trifoliate stages. For optimum weed control in GRS, the window of application for glyphosate alone was between the one- and three-trifoliate leaf stages, approximately 18 to 28 days after planting (DAP). If glyphosate was tank-mixed with residual herbicides, the window of application extended from cracking until the four-trifoliate stage; and weed interference until the four-trifoliate stage (approximately 32 DAP) did not depress GRS yield.

Giant sensitiveplant interference at different population densities in cassava established at 10,000 plants ha−1 was investigated on a Ferric Luvisol in a humid tropical environment. Interference for 12 mo was compared at 0, 10,000, 20,000, 30,000, and 40,000 plants ha−1 and at natural populations (averaging 630,000 plants ha−1) in four randomized complete blocks. Results showed that the order of cassava growth parameter response to giant sensitiveplant interference for 12 mo was leaf number > height > stem girth > leaf size = petiole length. The natural population density of giant sensitiveplant reduced growth faster and more than populations of 10,000 to 40,000 plants ha−1 in cassava. All giant sensitiveplant populations from 10,000 plants ha−1 and higher reduced storage root yield in cassava 12 mo after planting. Yield reduction increased as giant sensitiveplant population increased and the highest reduction of 85% occurred in the natural population of giant sensitiveplant.

The role of preplant glyphosate applications and residual herbicides in the efficacy of glyphosate for weed management in double-crop no-till glyphosate-resistant soybean (GRS) was investigated in the coastal plains of Mid-Atlantic United States. The experiment had a two- by two- by five-factorial treatment structure laid out in three or four randomized complete blocks at research centers in Delaware and New Jersey. The factors investigated were preplant weed management: preplant or no preplant glyphosate applications; postemergence (POST) herbicide treatments: 0.8 kg ae/ha glyphosate alone or 0.8 kg/ha glyphosate tank-mixed with 0.6 kg ai/ha clomazone plus 0.07 kg ai/ha imazethapyr; and GRS growth stage at herbicide application which ranged from cracking, 5 to 8 d after planting, (DAP) to the V6 stage (35 DAP). Preplant glyphosate applications did not influence the efficacy of POST glyphosate applications alone or with the residual herbicides. Glyphosate alone or with clomazone plus imazethapyr provided excellent control of horseweed and fall panicum irrespective of the time of herbicide application from GRS at cracking to the V6 stage. With other weed species, residual herbicide influence varied with year, weed species, and GRS growth stage at herbicide application. Generally, glyphosate alone was most effective when applied at the V2 to V6 stages (16 to 35 DAP). A tank-mix of glyphosate with clomazone plus imazethapyr extended this window to include applications at GRS cracking and the V1 stage. Herbicide treatments were safe on GRS at all stages of application up to the V6 stage (35 DAP).