Influence of Adjuvants on Itchgrass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis) Control in Corn (Zea mays) with Nicosulfuron and Primisulfuron1

Abstract

In field experiments, nicosulfuron at 35 g ai/ha controlled itchgrass in corn 28 d after treatment better than primisulfuron at 39 g ai/ha (80 vs. 44%). Control with both herbicides was greater when applied to six-leaf itchgrass than to 10-leaf and with the addition of nonionic surfactant than with an organosilicone surfactant and methylated seed oil blend. Weed control for nicosulfuron plus nonionic surfactant resulted in corn yield approximately 1.5 times that of primisulfuron plus nonionic surfactant and 1.6 times that of nicosulfuron plus an organosilicone surfactant and methylated seed oil blend. When primisulfuron was applied with organosilicone surfactant and methylated seed oil rather than nonionic surfactant, corn yield was reduced by 25%. For nicosulfuron with nonionic surfactant, corn yield averaged approximately twice that of the nontreated check. In other field experiments, itchgrass control 28 d after treatment with nicosulfuron was enhanced with addition of an organosilicone and nonionic surfactant blend or methylated seed oil (83 and 78%, respectively) compared with nonionic surfactant (69%). Nicosulfuron was less effective when applied with crop oil concentrate or organosilicone surfactants compared with nonionic surfactant.Nomenclature: Nicosulfuron, 2-[[[[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)amino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]-N,N-dimethyl-3-pyridinecarboxamide; primisulfuron, 2-[[[[[4,6-bis(difluoromethoxy)-2-pyrimidinyl]amino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]benzoic acid; itchgrass, Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Lour.) W. Clayton #3 ROOEX; corn, Zea mays L. ‘DeKalb 689’.Additional index words: Crop oil concentrate, methylated seed oil, nonionic surfactant, organosilicone surfactant, ROOEX.Abbreviations: DAT, days after treatment; POST, postemergence; PRE, preemergence.