- Overview:
- Two snap bean plots will be established. One will be weeded for the first 4 weeks and the other for the first 8 weeks.
- Feel free to add compost or manure to the soil prior to planting.
- Do NOT use any mulch.
- Irrigate so plants get a minimum of 1 inch of water each week.
- Insects visiting the plots will be collected on a sticky card.
- Time it take to weed and yield will be recorded.
- Continue to record the observations even though you think the experiment may have failed.
If you have any question or if you want to volunteer to conduct this experiment, please contact Farah Heraux: farah_heraux@entm.purdue.edu
or Call: 765-494-1422
Time Line:
| Week 1 - Plant bean seeds. |
| Week 2 - Count and record the number of plants per plot. Thin bean plants. Weed both plots and record time. Place a sticky card in the crop row. |
| Week 3 - Remove the sticky card. |
| Week 4 - Weed both plots and record time. Place a sticky card in the crop row. |
| Week 5 - Remove the sticky card. |
| Week 6 - Weed only plot to be weeded for 8 weeks and record time. |
| Week 8 - Weed only plot to be weeded for 8 weeks and record time. Place a sticky card in the crop row. |
| Week 9 - Remove the sticky card. Record yields. |
Planting
Applying the Treatment
- Choose treatments for each plot. Toss a coin to determine which plots will be weeded for 4 weeks and which plot will be weeded for 8 weeks.
- Pull the weeds by hand every other week (Do not use a hoe)and record the time it takes you to remove the weeds from the plot.
- Keep weed free 1 foot on each side of the plant row.
- Weed one plot for the first 4 weeks after planting.
- Weed the second plot up to 8 weeks after planting.
Placing and Collecting the Sticky Cards
- At week 2,4 and 8, place the sticky card provided at the center of the row of beans, one inch above the plant canopy.
- Staple the sticky card on a 24" tall wooden stake. Make sure that the card will not fall onto the ground.
- Leave the card for one week (7 days) in the garden. Place it in a transparent plastic sandwich bag (I need to see through the plastic to identify the insects), indicate the week it was placed in your garden and ship it to: Farah Heraux 1158 Smith Hall, West Lafayette, IN 47907
- Record date planted and weeded.
- Record time it takes to weed each plot (IMPORTANT).
- Keep track and record the time it takes you to weed the plots.
- Measure yield in each plot 9 weeks after planting. Harvest all beans in both plots 9 weeks after planting. Weigh beans to the nearest ounce with the scale. Please contact us if you cannot find a scale.
- Be sure to calibrate the scale before weighing the beans. Just place a 1 lb bag of rice on the scale and adjust the setting to make sure it reads 1 lb. Please contact us if you cannot find a scale.
Information to be Collected:
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