Weed Problems Faced by Hazelnut Growers in Düzce, Türkiye

Abstract

This study was aimed to determine the weed problem, the knowledge, experience and competence of the growers in solving the issues of controlling weeds in Düzce, which is an important region of Türkiye for hazelnut production. Within the scope of the study, 30 questions were asked to a total of 100 hazelnut growers in Düzce in 2021-2022. According to the survey results, it has been understood that 53% of the growers have an education level of high school or above, 52% of them produce hazelnuts because it is a habit inherited from family, and 34% of them do it to earn their living. It was determined that 84% of growers consider weeds to be an important problem; 80% of them used cutting and 9% used chemical methods for weed control. Apart from hazelnut cultivation, 40% of the growers declared that they earned additional income by working in industry and commerce, 17% in public institutions, and the majority of them (65%) declared that they did not grow any agricultural product other than hazelnuts. Growers have reported 45 different weed species that are trouble in the hazelnut orchards. Among these weeds; downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.), annual meadow grass (Poa annua L.), common self-heal (Prunella vulgaris L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), common nipplewort (Lapsana communis L.), ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.), red sorrel (Rumex acetosella L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), holy bramble (Rubus sanctus Schreb), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.), wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.), and meadow soft grass (Holcus lanatus L.) were stated the most common species. In addition, growers stated that they solved the weed problem to a certain extent with the chemical control they applied against the existing weeds, but they could not achieve sufficient success in the controlling of holy bramble, ferns, field bindweed, nettles and Bermuda grass.