Effects of Oxyfluorfen as a Pretransplant Treatment on Weed Control and Cabbage Yield

Abstract

Abstract Treatments of oxyfluorfen at 0.43 kg·ha−1 as a pretransplant (PT) treatment, followed by several sequential postemergence grass herbicides as post-over-the-top (POT) treatments, provided excellent broadleaf and grass control in transplanted cabbage (Brassica oleracia var capitata L.). These herbicides included sethoxydim, fluazifop-butyl, and haloxyfop-methyl. Oxyfluorfen treatments alone gave 86% to 89% control of grass species. Broadleaf weeds were controlled effectively with oxyfluorfen treatments. Cabbage had acceptable tolerance to oxyfluorfen at 0.43 and 0.56 kg·ha−1 when applied as a PT treatment either alone or with grass herbicides. Increased injury to cabbage was noted with the high rate of oxyfluorfen. Yield and quality of cabbages were not reduced by oxyfluorfen applied pretransplant. Yields of marketable cabbage obtained with the treatments of oxyfluorfen as PT treatment followed by sequential grass herbicides as POT treatment, ranged from 24.3 to 27.1t·ha−1 in 1983 and 35.7 to 39.0 t·ha−1 in 1985. Chemical names used: 2-chloro-l-(3-ethoxy-4-nitrophenoxy)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (oxyfluorfen); 2-[l-(ethoxyi-mino)butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-l-one (sethoxydim); (±)-2-[4-[[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy]propanoic acid (fluazifop-butyl); and 2-[4-[[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy] propanoic acid (haloxyfop-methyl).