Optimizing herbicide selection for pre-emergence control of itchgrass and cypressvine morningglory in sugarcane

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of herbicides in association to control Rottboellia exaltata and Ipomoea quamoclit during pre-emergence while also to evaluate the potential impact on the sugarcane. The experimental design employed a randomized block with seven treatments and four replications. The treatments were: 1 – no herbicide application; 2 – indaziflam + sulfentrazone; 3 – indaziflam + diclosulam; 4 – indaziflam + tebuthiuron; 5 – flumioxazin + diclosulam, 6 – flumioxazin + pyroxasulfone and 7 – clomazone + sulfentrazone. The evaluated parameters were: percentage of weeds control, green coverage percentage (Canopeo® system), weed biomass (g m−2), itchgrass height, and sugarcane tiller. Several herbicide associations have been proven effective alternatives for managing itchgrass and cypressvine morningglory. The most successful treatments for itchgrass control were indaziflam + tebuthiuron (100%) and indaziflam + diclosulam (97%), whereas for cypressvine morningglory, the betters were indaziflam + sulfentrazone (97%), indaziflam + diclosulam (98%), indaziflam + tebuthiuron (97%), flumioxazin + diclosulam (94%), and clomazone + sulfentrazone (96%). All treatments reduced the weed biomass, with indaziflam + tebuthiuron being the safest option for protecting sugarcane.