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Significance of Atrazine as a Tank-Mix Partner with Tembotrione

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Martin M. Williams II*
Affiliation:
Global Change and Photosynthesis Research, U.S. Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), University of Illinois, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801
Rick A. Boydston
Affiliation:
Vegetable and Forage Crops Research, USDA-ARS, 24106 N. Bunn Road, Prosser, WA 99350
R. Ed Peachey
Affiliation:
Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, 4017 Ag and Life Sciences Bldg., Corvallis, OR 97331
Darren Robinson
Affiliation:
University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, Ridgetown, ON, Canada NOP 2CO
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: mmwillms@illinois.edu

Abstract

Manufacturers of several POST corn herbicides recommend tank-mixing their herbicides with atrazine to improve performance; however, future regulatory changes may place greater restrictions on atrazine use and limit its availability to growers. Our research objectives were to quantify the effects of tank-mixing atrazine with tembotrione compared to tembotrione alone on (1) weed control, (2) variability in weed control, and (3) sweet corn yield components and yield variability. Field studies were conducted for 2 yr each in Illinois, Oregon, Washington, and Ontario, Canada. Tembotrione at 31 g ha−1 was applied alone and with atrazine at 370 g ha−1 POST at the four- to five-collar stage of corn. The predominant weed species observed in the experiment were common to corn production, including large crabgrass, wild-proso millet, common lambsquarters, and velvetleaf. For nearly every weed species and species group, the addition of atrazine improved tembotrione performance by increasing mean levels of weed control 3 to 45% at 2 wk after treatment. Adding atrazine reduced variation (i.e., standard deviation) in control of the weed community by 45%. Sweet corn ear number and ear mass were 9 and 13% higher, respectively, and less variable when atrazine was applied with tembotrione, compared to tembotrione alone. Additional restrictions or the complete loss of atrazine for use in corn will necessitate major changes in sweet corn weed management systems.

Los fabricantes de varios herbicidas post-emergentes para el maíz recomiendan mezclarlos con atrazina para mejorar su eficacia; sin embargo, futuros cambios regulatorios quizá den lugar a mayores restricciones en el uso de atrazina y limite su disponibilidad para los agricultores. Los objetivos de esta investigación fueron cuantificar los efectos de mezclar atrazina con tembotrione comparado con el tembotrione aplicado solo en: 1) control de malezas, 2) la variabilidad en el control de malezas y 3) los componentes y variabilidad del rendimiento del maíz dulce. Durante dos años se llevaron a cabo estudios de campo, en Illinois, Oregon, Washington, y Ontario, Canadá. Se aplicó tembotrione solo a 31 g ha−1 y mezclado con atrazina a 370 g ha−1 en post-emergencia en la etapa de cuatro a cinco hojas del maíz. Las especies predominantes de maleza observadas en el experimento son comunes a la producción de maíz e incluyen Digitaria sanguinalis, Panicum miliaceum, Chenopodium album y Abutilon theophrasti. Para casi cada especie de maleza y grupo de especies, la adición de atrazina mejoró la eficacia del tembotrione, ya que incrementó los niveles medios de control de 3 a 45% a las dos semanas después de la aplicación. La adición de atrazina redujo la variación (desviación estándar) en el control de la comunidad de malezas en 45%. El número de mazorcas y el peso del maíz dulce fue 9 y 13% más alto, respectivamente, y hubo menor variabilidad cuando se aplicó atrazina con tembotrione, comparado con tembotrione aplicado solo. Mayores restricciones o la prohibición del uso de atrazina en el cultivo de maíz provocará la necesidad de un gran cambio en los sistemas de manejo de malezas en el maíz dulce.

Type
Weed Management—Major Crops
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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