Event Title

Comparison Of Distiller's Grain and Corn Gluten Concentrations on the Germination Of Common Weeds: Common Mallow (Malva neglecta), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), and Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum)

Presenter Information

Mark Saxhaug, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Brandon Bragg, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU Ballroom

Start Date

28-4-2009 10:00 AM

End Date

28-4-2009 12:00 PM

Student's Major

Biological Sciences

Student's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Mentor's Name

Beth Proctor

Mentor's Department

Biological Sciences

Mentor's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Description

Ethanol production from com produces distiller's grain (DG) as a byproduct. Com gluten (CG) is a byproduct of the com wet mill process and has been patented (1991) and marketed as an organic preemergent herbicide (Christians, Iowa State University). This project compared the effects of different concentrations of CG and DG on the germination of three common lawn weeds (Flower & Garden Magazine, 1993): Common Mallow (Malva neglecta), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), and Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum). All sampling trays were filled with equal masses of potting soil and grown in a greenhouse under controlled temperature and light cycles. Each herbicide was applied to three trays at different concentrations (one, two, or five times the recommended amount). Each tray was separated into three equal sections and a different type of seed planted in each section one week after applying the CG and DG. The controls included three trays that had seeds planted but no CG or DG applied. The hypothesis tested stated that DG is as effective as CG in reducing the germination of these three common lawn weeds. The effectiveness of each herbicide was determined by calculating the percentage of seeds that germinated in a plot and comparing it with other plots.