Weed control with selected herbicides in acetolactate synthase-resistant sorghum

Abstract

The recent development of grain sorghum hybrids with resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides has allowed for the use of several post-emergence applied (POST) ALS-inhibitors to control weeds in the crop. Field experiments were conducted at four sites in Kansas in 2008 to evaluate the efficacy of nicosulfuron and nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron applied alone or in combination with dicamba, metsulfuron methyl, and atrazine. All POST treatments slightly injured sorghum 2 weeks after treatment (WAT) at Garden City and Hesston, whereas at Hays and Manhattan, only treatments that included dicamba caused injury. Nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron applied alone provided 41, 83, 74, and 93% control of grasses 4 WAT at Garden City, Hays, Hesston, and Manhattan, respectively. However, to obtain the highest level broadleaf weed control, nicosulfuron or nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron need to be applied with other broadleaf herbicides. POST treatment of nicosulfuron + metsulfuron methyl + dicamba + atrazine provided 90% or greater control of all broadleaf weeds at sorghum flowering. Sorghum grain yield was greater following all herbicide treatments compared with the weedy check. The POST treatment that provided the highest yield at Garden City was nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron + atrazine, whereas in Hesston and Manhattan, nicosulfuron + metsulfuron methyl + dicamba + atrazine provided the highest yields. This research showed that many grasses can be effectively controlled with POST applications of nicosulfuron or nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron in ALS-resistant sorghum. The research also indicated that broadleaf weed control is greater when nicosulfuron or nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron are applied with other broadleaf-control herbicides such as dicamba, metsulfuron methyl, and atrazine.