Weed management in transplanted bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) with pretransplant tank mixes of sulfentrazone, s-metolachlor, and dimethenamid-p

Abstract

Pepper growers currently have limited access to many effective broadleaf herbicides. Field trials were conducted over a 3-year period in Ontario to study the effect of tank mixtures of sulfentrazone (100 or 200 g·ha -1 a.i.) with either s-metolachlor (1200 or 2400 g·ha -1 a.i.) or dimethenamid-p (750 or 1500 g·ha-1 a.i.) on transplanted bell pepper. Under weed-free conditions, there was no visual injury or reduction in plant height, fruit number, fruit size, or marketable yield of transplanted pepper with pretransplant applications of sulfentrazone applied in tank mixtures with s-metolachlor or dimethenamid-p. The tank mixture of sulfentrazone + s-metolachlor gave greater than 85% control of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) and eastern black nightshade (Solanum ptycanthum), but only 70% to 76% control of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti), common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), and common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album). The combination of sulfentrazone + dimethenamid-p provided good to excellent control of all weed species except velvetleaf. Based on this study, sulfentrazone and dimethenamid-p have potential for minor use registration in pepper.