Glyphosate is a relatively slow-acting herbicide and weed injury symptoms can take up to a week to appear and longer for complete plant death to occur. Therefore, growers could apply glyphosate to their crop within the critical period but still experience yield loss due to the slow-acting nature of the herbicide. If this is the case then the addition of another, faster-acting POST corn herbicide to glyphosate, applied as a tankmix, may increase the speed of weed control and decrease potential yield loss. The object of this study was to determine if the addition of a POST herbicide to glyphosate would improve the speed of activity and overall weed control thereby increasing glyphosate-resistant corn yield. Crop tolerance to the various POST tankmixes was also evaluated. Weed control must be implemented effectively without negatively affecting vine growth for successful establishment of grapevines in the Upper Midwest. Weed interference reduces grapevine vigor through competition for nutrients, space and water. Ineffective weed control after transplanting may delay establishment, flowering, and fruit production .

Successful weed control after transplanting and during establishment can result in a quicker return on investment by influencing the interval before a vineyard becomes profitable. Organic and synthetic mulches have been utilized for weed control for many years and in many cropping and ornamental situations -. Organic mulches have also been considered for vineyard weed control in the Eastern United States . However, mulch effectiveness as a weed control agent and its effects on vine growth have not been assessed in emerging viticulture regions such as North Dakota. Mulches not only act to suppress weeds, cannabis grow setup but may improve soil conditions by increasing soil water content, reducing soil erosion, and decreasing soil compaction . However, mulches may also alter the microclimate, soil properties, physiology, and phenology in plants These alterations in vine physiology could result in deleterious consequences for North Dakota vineyards. Synthetic mulches serve as an alternative to organic mulches as weed suppressants, however, their effect on soil conditions may vary. Soil temperatures and moisture contents recorded biweekly for one year under landscape fabrics varied more than those recorded under organic mulches . Glover et al. compared conventional, integrated, and organic apple production systems on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties . The authors stated that the organic method, which consisted of one year of bark mulch followed by two years of landscape fabric, resulted in lower soil bulk densities and generally improved biological soil properties compared to the conventional or herbicide weed control method.

Soil quality factors measured were slightly better in the integrated method, which consisted of one year of bark mulch followed by yearly herbicide applications. However, this would require the additional cost of the yearly applications. The objectives of this study were to compare organic and synthetic mulch efficacy to the standard herbicide weed control method used for the region and to determine how vine growth and winter hardiness after transplanting were influenced by weed control methods. An experimental vineyard was established at a North Dakota Experiment Station research site in Richland County, ND on July 25, 2007. The trial was planted on a Matador-Delamere-Wyndmere fine sandy loam . The experimental vineyard was arranged as a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement and three replications. Main-plots were randomized within each replication and consisted of four in-row weed control methods  that spanned eight vines and covered an area of 9.6 m by 1.2 m. Sub-plots were randomized within each main-plot and consisted of one non-grafted cold-climate, V. riparia derived, hybrid grape cultivar  and three non-grafted cold-climate, V. riparia derived, advanced selections from two breeding programs . Experimental units consisted of two adjacent vines of a single randomly assigned cultivar. Plants were grown one year in 11.4 L containers prior to transplanting. Transplanted vines were kept clean cultivated and watered twice after transplanting. No additional irrigation was provided for the remainder of the experiment. Vines were trellised on a high cordon system. Vineyard rows were established in a north to south orientation. Plants were spaced 2.4 m apart in rows spaced 3.1 m apart. Row middles were maintained as bare ground with a combination of tillage and spot applications of glyphosate at 0.87 kg ae/ha for perennial weeds .