The Control of Weeds in Pineapple Fields with CMU

Abstract

Costs of pineapple production in Puerto Rico are very high. Hand-hoeing of plantations is one of the items which contributes most to increase production expenses. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effectiveness and safeness of CMU for controlling weeds in pineapple fields economically. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Application of CMU at rates of 2, 4, and 6 pounds per acre significantly reduced the weed stand as compared to the control for a 3-month period in both experiments. 2. All CMU concentrations were equally effective in controlling weeds for about a 3-month period in both experiments. 3. No injury resulted from the application of CMU at the various concentrations used 1 month or 6 months after planting the pineapples. Repetition of CMU treatments to plots in the second experiment was not detrimental to the plants.