APPLICATION OF SAND FOR INHIBITION OF SWAMP DODDER (CUSCUTA-GRONOVII)SEEDLING EMERGENCE AND SURVIVAL ON CRANBERRY (VACCINIUM-MACROCARPON) BOGS

Dodder is a serious parasitic weed of cranberry bogs. Investigations w ere undertaken to determine if applications of sand to cranberry bogs might be useful as a control strategy for dodder. Sand is regularly ap plied to bogs as a cultural practice. In greenhouse studies, applicati ons of sand reduced the seedling emergence, but did not affect surviva l time of dodder seedlings. At least 2.5 cm of sand was needed to redu ce the emergence of dodder seedlings. Sanding may be used as part of a program consisting of combinations of multiple management methods dir ected toward the control of dodder. In addition, potential exists for using sand as a nonchemical means for obtaining some control, should p resent herbicidal control methods become unavailable.