Evaluating Zidua Herbicide in a Sweet Corn Weed Management Program

Abstract

Materials and Methods The trial was conducted on a Fruitfield coarse sand soil with 1.5 percent organic matter and soil pH of 6.0 (buffer pH of 7.0). Previous crop was soybean. Spring tillage included chisel plowing and disking in preparation for planting. Except for herbicide treatments, normal cultural practices were followed for fertilization, irrigation, and pest control. Seed of BC 0805 sweet corn was planted in rows 30 in. apart on May 10 at 27,700 seeds/acre. Trial design was a randomized complete block with three replications. A herbicide plot consisted of 6 rows 20 ft in length. Herbicide treatments were applied with a CO2 small plot sprayer with 4-nozzle boom calibrated to apply 20 gpa at 20 psi. Herbicide treatments are described in Table 1. Crop preemergence (PRE) treatments were applied on May 14 to a dry soil surface and were incorporated by 0.8 in. of rainfall on May 19. Early post (EPOST) treatments were applied on May 29 when sweet corn was at the V3 growth stage and soil surface was moist. Post (POST) herbicide treatments were applied on June 13 to sweet corn at the V5 growth stage. Weed counts were taken on June 19 and July 3 to determine effectiveness of PRE, EPOST, and POST herbicide treatments on weeds. Harvest data were taken from center rows on August 2 to determine effects of herbicide treatment on sweet corn yield. Results and Discussion Sweet corn, cultivar BC 0805, was planted on May 10 and PRE treatments applied May 14 to a weed-free soil surface. None of the PRE treatments affected sweet corn emergence and a good uniform stand was established. Above average rainfall in May contributed to strong weed pressure.