Interaction between Preemergence Ethofumesate and Postemergence Glyphosate

Abstract

Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to determine whether PRE-applied ethofumesate increased POST spray retention and weed control with glyphosate. In greenhouse studies, ethofumesate was applied PRE at rates from 0 to 224 g ai ha−1followed by POST treatment with either water or glyphosate (840 g ae ha−1) to which a red dye had been added. Plants were immediately washed and spray retention determined spectrophotometrically. Common lambsquarters retained more glyphosate solution compared to water, regardless of PRE ethofumesate rate. Increasing the rate of PRE ethofumesate increased the POST spray retention of both water and glyphosate. PRE application of ethofumesate increased POST spray retention of water by 114% and glyphosate solution by 18% compared to no ethofumesate treatment as determined by nonlinear regression. Ethofumesate rates of 90 g ha−1increased POST spray retention to at least 95% of the total observed response. In field studies, common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, and hairy nightshade densities were all reduced by ethofumesate, although the duration of ethofumesate effect varied by species and ethofumesate application timing. PRE ethofumesate had no significant effect on hairy nightshade density until after POST glyphosate was applied, whereas common lambsquarters densities were most affected by PRE ethofumesate early in the season. Late-season redroot pigweed density was reduced by ethofumesate regardless of application timing.