Critical period of weeds on transplant tomatoes

Abstract

Two simultaneous field experiments were conducted at the Fortuna Research and Development Center in 1983-84 to determine the critical period of weed competition in transplanted tomato. In the first experiment, all weeds were allowed to grow and then handweeded at intervals of 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 days after transplanting. In the second experiment, plots were handweeded after transplanting, and weeds were allowed to grow for intervals of 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 days after transplanting. Two checks were included in both experiments: no weeds allowed the entire crop cycle; and weeds allowed to grow throughout the cycle. On the basis of results of this study, the critical period of weed competition in transplanted Duke tomatoes in Puerto Rico falls between 24 and 36 days after transplanting.