Reduced herbicide antagonism of grass weed control through spray application technique

Abstract

Dicamba and 2,4-D tolerance traits were introduced to soybean and cotton, allowing for over the top applications of these herbicides. Avoiding antagonism of glyphosate and clethodim by dicamba or 2,4-D is necessary to achieve optimum weed control. Three field studies were conducted in fallow fields with broadleaf signalgrass (Urochloa platyphylla) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum) pressure. A tractor-mounted dual boom sprayer was modified to spray one of three application methods: (1) two herbicides tanked-mixed (TMX); (2) two herbicides in separate tanks mixed in the boom line (MIL); and (3) two herbicides in separate tanks applied through separate booms simultaneously (SPB). One study compared the three application methods with sethoxydim applied with bentazon, the second compared clethodim applied with dicamba or 2,4-D, and the third compared glyphosate applied with dicamba or 2,4-D. In most cases over all three trials, there was a 7 15% increase in efficacy when using the SPB application method. Antagonism of all the herbicide combinations above was observed when applied using the TMX and MIL methods. In some cases, antagonism was avoided when using the SPB method. The separate boom application method increased efficacy, which allowed herbicides to be used more effectively, resulting in improved economic and environmental sustainability of herbicide applications.