Phytotoxicity of four herbicides in different synthetic soils

Abstract

The relative phytotoxicity of four soil-applied herbicides, benzthiazuron, cycloate, delachlor, and pyrazon, used for sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), was tested on a dilution series of peat, Newe Ya’ar clay soil and Hamadia calcareous clay soil mixed with sand, and of Newe Ya’ar clay soil mixed with lime. The phytotoxicity was assessed with oats (Avena sativa L. cv. Mulga). Cycloate was the most potent herbicide of the four, except in soils with high organic matter ( ⩾11%), where delachlor was more active. Benzthiazuron was the least phytotoxic herbicide in the peat + sand mixtures, but it was more active than pyrazon in lighter soils of the Newe Ya’ar series. The addition of sand to the peat and the soils increased the phytotoxicity of all herbicides. The addition of lime to Newe Ya’ar clay soil decreased the phytotoxicity of benzthiazuron and pyrazon but not of delachlor.