Control of Persian Darnel (Lolium persicum) and Other Grasses with Clethodim

Abstract

The response of Persian darnel, green foxtail, wild oat, and volunteer cereals to clethodim applied at two growth stages, and the effect of these treatments on flax yield and quality were determined in a series of field experiments in which each weed species was evaluated separately. Clethodim applied at 45 g/ha provided excellent control of Persian darnel, green foxtail, wild oat, and volunteer wheat and barley. Sethoxydim applied at 150 g/ha provided excellent control of Persian darnel, green foxtail, wild oat, and volunteer barley. Rax was tolerant at five times the recommended rate of application and was unaffected by plant growth stage at time of application. When applied at an early (2- to 3-leaf) stage, control of Persian darnel, green foxtail, wild oat, and volunteer wheat and barley was excellent at 20 g/ha. Except for Persian darnel, weed control as determined by reduction in plant dry weight, was negatively affected by growth stage at time of application. Although visible control and reduction in plant dry weight were somewhat less when clethodim was applied at the 4-to 5-leaf stage, control of each weed species was acceptable. When weight of water in plant tissue (fresh weight – dry weight) was used as a measure of living plant tissue, wild oat and volunteer barley control were unaffected by growth stage at time of application.