Effects of caneburning herbicides on red raspberry in the Pacific Northwest

Yushan Duan

Primocane management in red raspberry using herbicides to increase berry production has been practiced for more than forty years in the Pacific Northwest. Given the changes in cultivars, herbicides, and machine harvesters since its development during the 1970s, a study was initiated in 2010 to determine whether caneburning of current Pacific Northwest raspberry cultivars still is a useful practice. The first trial was conducted on commercial fields using red raspberry cultivars 'Meeker', 'Coho' and 'Cascade Bounty', while the second trial was conducted on a research field at the Washington State University Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center near Mount Vernon, WA using 'Meeker' and 'Cascade Bounty'. Caneburning with oxyfluorfen and carfentrazone was evaluated in both trials, while terbacil with and without caneburning was evaluated in the first trial. All caneburning treatments successfully eliminated the first flush of primocanes and suppressed primocane regrowth of all cultivars in the early season. Oxyfluorfen suppressed 'Meeker' primocane regrowth about 14 days longer than did carfentrzone in both trials. Oxyfluorfen also suppressed 'Cascade Bounty' primocane regrowth 14 days longer than did carfentrzone in the first year in both trials and 46 days longer in the second year in the second trial. Most caneburned raspberry growth rates were similar to non-caneburned raspberry by about 80 days after treatment in both trials, except 'Cascade Bounty' growth rate was suppressed by caneburning until about 119 days after treatment on the second trial. Two-year average yield of 'Meeker' was increased 27 to 31% by caneburning in the first trial and 33 to 40% in the second year of the second trial. 'Coho' yield was not increased by caneburning and 'Cascade Bounty' yield was not increased by caneburning in either trial. Caneburning reduced time spent on dormant-season training of 'Meeker' by about 45 hr/ha/person. Weed control provided by caneburning herbicide alone ranged from 73 to 88% until early Jun. when weed pressure was high, while weed control exceeded 96% in late Aug. when weed pressure was low. Terbacil with or without caneburning herbicides provided over 89% weed control in late Aug. regardless of weed pressure.

Effects of caneburning herbicides on red raspberry in the Pacific Northwest

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