256 Effect of Field Applications of Nonselective Postemergence Herbicides on Tulip, Narcissus, and Bulbous Iris

Abstract

Tulip, narcissus, and bulbous iris are grown on about 1600 acres annually in western Washington. These bulb crops are poor competitors with winter annual weeds that continually germinate from September through July in the mild maritime climate of this region. Because they do not adequately control emerged weeds but can injure bulb crop foliage, herbicides are applied in the fall. Unfortunately, fall-applied herbicides lack the soil persistence necessary for season-long weed control. If nonselective herbicides could safely be applied after emergence of bulb foliage, emerged weeds would be killed and the application of residual herbicides delayed until spring, thus lengthening the period of weed control through bulb harvest. Glyphosate was tested for selectivity at three postemergence timings (early, middle, and late) on four cultivars each of tulip and iris and three narcissus cultivars. Middle and late glyphosate treatments caused severe injury to tulip foliage and flowers and reduced bulb count and weight, but early glyphosate did not significantly injure most varieties. Narcissus and iris were more tolerant to glyphosate than tulip, but these species also were most tolerant when glyphosate was applied early. In a separate study on iris, carfentrazone, paraquat, and glufosinate were applied postemergence at the same three timings. Glufosinate initially caused moderate injury to foliage (about 20%), but plants quickly recovered. Injury from carfentrazone and paraquat was much more severe (more than 50%), although plant recovery from carfentrazone damage was greater than from paraquat. Bulb yield was not adversely affected by either glufosinate or carfentrazone if applied early. Paraquat at all timings significantly reduced total bulb count and weight.