Transplanted Onion Response to Previously Applied Residual Herbicides

Abstract

Field trials were conducted in 2003/2004 and 2005/2006 at Reidsville, Georgia, to evaluate the effects of previously applied residual herbicides on onion growth and bulb production. Before transplanting onion, preplant applications of imazapic at 18 and 36 g ai/ha, diclosulam at 7 and 14 g ai/ha, pyrithiobac at 27 and 54 g ai/ha, trifloxysulfuron at 6.6 and 13.2 g ai/ha, diuron at 224 and 448 g ai/ha, and cloransulam at 22 g ai/ha were made. An untreated control was included for comparison. Trifloxysulfuron at 13.2 g/ha, diclosulam at 14 g/ha, pyrithiobac at 54 g/ha, and cloransulam at 22 g/ha injured onion 26, 73, 86, and 86% in 2003/2004, respectively, and 13 to 44% injury in 2005/2006. These same herbicides also reduced yield. Imazapic and diuron injured transplanted onion 6% during both seasons but did not reduce yield. This research suggests imazapic and diuron restrictions could possibly be reduced. However, the onion rotational restrictions for diclosulam, pyrithiobac, trifloxysulfuron, and cloransulam are accurate.