Weed Population and Income of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) Affected By Vinegar Application

The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of integrated weed management treatments on weed population, biological yield and income of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). The field experiment was conducted at the field of Ardebil Agricultural Research Center, Ardebil Iran in 2011. This study was arranged based on randomized complete block design with eight treatments and three replications. The experimental treatments were different integrated weed management strategies including chemical - mechanical, natural - mechanical – cultural, culturalmechanical– natural, natural–mechanical, cultural-chemical– mechanical, cultural–mechanical, hand weeding and weed infested treatment during entire growing season. Results showed that weed management treatments had significant effect on weed population and biological yield of potato. The biological yield of potato per unite area at chemical – mechanical, cultural – chemical-mechanical and culturalmechanical managements were not significantly different with hand weeding treatment. In comparison with weedinfested treatment, the natural-mechanical-cultural and cultural- chemical-mechanical managements showed the highest reduction percentage (13.3%) in weed species population. The highest net income was observed in cultural - mechanical and cultural - chemical-mechanical managements. The cultural weed management increased the potato biological yield and income. The weed management treatment that began with cultural weed management had the highest net income. Application of common vinegar for weed management in potato should be integrated with mulch application and used at the end of the potato growth season.