Weed Management in Cabbage

Proper weed management is crucial in cabbage cultivation to prevent weed competition, optimize crop growth and yield, and ensure the overall health and quality of the cabbage plants.
Uncontrolled weeds compete with the crop of interest for growth factors like nutrients, moisture, and space, and may completely suppress the crop leading to low or no yields. They also harbor destructive crop pests and diseases.
Cabbage crop does not compete well with weeds and is easily overwhelmed by their attack.

Common weeds in cabbage include:

BENEFITS OF TIMELY WEED CONTROL

• It eliminates competition for light, nutrients and moisture, giving the crop the opportunity to establish well.
• It protects the palatability and nutritional potential of the crop.
• Young weeds are easier to control, e.g., they absorb and translocate herbicides better
• It substantially curtails opportunities for pests’ establishment in the crop.
• It helps in protecting the yield potential of the crop
• Weeding can be less effective in times of drought stress, which mostly occurs at later dates of the season.

IMPORTANCE OF WEED CONTROL
Weed management is of great importance because;

• Weeds directly compete with the crop for growth factors like nutrients, space, and water, thus reducing the overall yield quality and quantity.
• Weeds cause severe harvesting problems, especially those that occur late in the crop season.
• They are alternative hosts of pests and diseases whose effect on the crop cause huge losses.
• Some weeds are parasitic while others are harmful/poisonous to humans and livestock.

MANAGEMENT
Proper weed control is very essential for improved quality and quantity produce. Various methods are used to control weeds in cabbage crop, which include the following;

Chemical Control
This method involves the use of herbicides and is highly preferred because;

• It is fast and easy.
• There is no mechanical damage to the crop.
• It is cost effective.

The following herbicides are recommended for use in controlling weeds in a cabbage field;

• CATAPULT 480 SL
  Is a non-selective Post emergence herbicide which controls Annual and perennial grasses and broad leaved weeds. Use CATAPULT 480 SL during Cabbage Land Preparation to clear all weeds.
  Rate of Use: 2.0Litres per Hectare (200ml in 20L)
• WEMBE 200 SL
  Is a non-selective Post emergence herbicide which controls Annual and perennial grasses and broad leaved weeds. Use WEMBE 200 SL during Cabbage Land Preparation to clear all weeds including more resilient or challenging weeds.
  Rate of use: 3.0Litres per Hectare (300ml in 20L)
• COMMANDER 240 EC
  Is a selective Pre emergence or Pre transplant herbicide (2 days on well drained bed before transplanting) to control Annual grasses and broad leaved weeds.
  Rate of Use: 1.0Litres per Hectare (50ml in 20L)

Note: All herbicides should be mixed with Integra 3ml in 20Litres of water during spraying. This is a sticker, spreader and penetrant which improves the efficacy of the chemical.

Other methods of Weed Management in Cabbage are:

Cultural methods;

They include the following;

• Use of clean seeds, i.e., those that are free from weed seeds.
• Planting early maturing cabbage varieties.
• Using irrigation water that is free from weed seeds.
• Hand pulling/uprooting the weeds.
• Early planting.
• Mulching.
• Crop rotation.
• Adopting a closer row spacing.

Mechanical Control

This involves the use of tools and equipment like jembes, hoes, pangas, ploughs, among others, in weed control. It should be done carefully in order to prevent mechanical damages to the crop.

Tips!

• Herbicides should be diluted with clean water.
• An integrated weed management strategy is highly encouraged.
• Delayed weeding can cause up to 100% crop loss.
• Chemical control is more cost effective compared to other methods.