Abstract
This study was conducted to establish a weed management system based on the sequential application of pre-emergence (PRE) and post-emergence (POST) herbicides for soybean production in Primorsky krai. Field experiments were conducted for two years in a field located in Bogatyrka, Primorsky krai, Russia (N43°49′, E131°36′). No herbicide application resulted in significant soybean yield loss, 0.03–0.3 t ha−1, which is more than 91.6% yield loss compared with that of the weed-free plot. The PRE application of acetochlor showed good weed control efficacy (greater than 90% weed control) with acceptable soybean safety (less than 10% soybean damage), while the other PRE herbicides performed poorly in terms of weed control. The POST application of bentazon + acifluorfen, bentazon, and imazamox at 30 days after soybean sowing (DAS) showed good weed control efficacy with good soybean safety. Neither the PRE nor POST application alone showed a sufficient soybean yield protection, resulting in much lower soybean yield than the weed-free plot. The sequential application of acetochlor (PRE), followed by either bentazon + acifluorfen (POST) at 30 DAS in 2012 or bentazon + imazamox (POST) at 60 DAS in 2013 showed the best performance in soybean yields, 1.7 t and 1.9 t ha−1, respectively, provided with 724.5 US$ and 1155.6 US$ ha−1 of economic returns. For alternative PRE herbicides of acetochlor, which is now banned, our tests of the sequential application of S-metolachlor with other POST herbicides and the sole application of other PRE herbicides revealed that S-metolachlor and clomazone could also be considered. Our results thus demonstrate that the sequential applications of PRE and POST herbicides should be incorporated into the weed management system for soybean production in Primorsky krai, Russia.
Highlights
Effective weed management in soybean (Glycine max L.) cultivation is essential to protect soybean growth and yield from weed competition during the growing seasons
In the soybean fields in Bogatyrka, five PRE herbicides were tested to evaluate the performance of PRE herbicides in weed control efficacy and soybean yield protection
Acetochlor caused some growth damage at earlier times after its application, the damage diminished with soybean growth even when applied at double its recommended dose
Summary
Effective weed management in soybean (Glycine max L.) cultivation is essential to protect soybean growth and yield from weed competition during the growing seasons. Agronomy 2020, 10, 1823 interference because the seeds are sown with wide spacing to develop branches and to allow the canopy to expand fully during the late growth stage [1,2,3]. The late canopy closure allows weeds to be established more in soybean than in other crops [4,5,6]. To effectively manage weed infestations in soybean, various weed management methods, including herbicide application, tillage practices, and crop rotation, are used in combination [7]. Herbicide use has generally been incorporated into weed management practices regardless of region
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
