Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) Response to Selected Foliar- and Soil-Applied Sulfonylurea Herbicides

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at six locations across the U.S. in 1995 and at two locations in 1996 to determine the yield and grade of slicer type cucumber after treatment with sulfonylurea herbicides. In 1995, thifensulfuron, bensulfuron, or 2,4-D amine was applied postemergence (POST) to cucumber at the initiation of vines. Thifensulfuron and bensulfuron were applied at concentrations between 0 and 2.24 g ai/ha, and 2,4-D amine was applied at 0 to 28 g/ha. Only thifensulfuron applied at 2.24 g/ha (51% of the maximum use rate in soybean) reduced yield of No. 1 cucumber. In 1996, chlorimuron and metsulfuron were applied preplant incorporated (PPI) at rates between 0 and 2.24 g/ha, and atrazine was applied at 0 to 1,120 g/ha. The herbicides were incorporated to a depth of 7.6 cm prior to planting cucumber. Only atrazine applied at ≥ 560 g/ha reduced yield of No. 1 and No. 2 grades of cucumber. The results led us to conclude that these sulfonylurea herbicides, at the low rates used in this research, do not adversely affect yield or grade of field-grown cucumber.