Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) Control in Early and Late-Planted Processing Tomatoes

Abstract

Field bindweed is a deep-rooted and drought-tolerant perennial that can be difficult to control once it has become established in specialty crops. Field studies were conducted in 2013 and 2014 to evaluate the efficacy of currently registered preplant (PP), PPI, PRE, and POST herbicides for field bindweed management in both early and late-planted processing tomatoes. Results show that bindweed cover in PPI/PRE programs (trifluralin, alone or in combination with rimsulfuron;S-metolachlor; or sulfentrazone) was reduced > 50% in early planted tomatoes, relative to the no PPI/PRE herbicide treatment (0 to 31% cover at up to 6 wk after transplanting [WAT]). Similar trends were observed with respect to field bindweed density. PP applications of glyphosate to emerged bindweed in late-planted tomatoes, coupled with PPI/PRE herbicide applications, reduced weed cover (1 to 13% at up to 6 WAT) by more than one-half when compared with plots treated with residual herbicides alone (1 to 43% at up to 6 WAT); perennial vine density was also reduced > 50%. PP herbicide burndown applications and the use of residual products can significantly improve the suppression of field bindweed in processing tomato systems. The emergence and vigor of bindweed vines may differ with respect to the timing of transplant operations and should be considered when developing management strategies