Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #156795
Title: EFFECT OF HERBICIDE APPLICATION METHOD ON WEED MANAGEMENT AND CROP INJURY IN TRANSPLANTED CANTALOUPE (CUCUMIS MELO) PRODUCTION

Author
item Johnson, Wiley - Carroll
item MULLINIX, JR, BENJAMIN - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Submitted to: Weed Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2004
Publication Date: 2/13/2005
Citation: Johnson, III, W.C., Mullinix, Jr., B.G. 2005. Effect of herbicide application method on weed management and crop injury in transplanted cantaloupe Cucumis melo) production. Weed Technology. 19:108-112.

Interpretive Summary: A significant portion of the cucurbit crop acreage in Georgia are hybrid transplants on polyethylene covered seedbeds. Methods to apply herbicides in this production system are diverse and many questions exist regarding the optimum method for acceptable weed control and minimal crop injury. Field trials were conducted at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton, GA from 2000 to 2003 to study the effects of herbicide placement on weed control and cantaloupe injury in a production system of hybrid transplants on polyethylene covered seedbeds. Herbicides evaluated were halosulfuron (Sandea7) (0.032 lb ai/A), sulfentrazone (Spartan7) (0.13 and 0.25 lb ai/A), clomazone (Command7) (0.5 lb ai/A), and a nontreated control. Methods of herbicide application were preplant incorporated under the polyethylene mulch before transplanting (PPI), post-transplanting over-the-top (POST-OTT), and post-transplanting-directed onto the shoulders of polyethylene covered seedbeds (POST-DIR). Across all herbicide treatments, PPI and POST-DIR applications were the least injurious, with POST-OTT applications the most injurious. In general, sulfentrazone (0.25 lb ai/A) was the most injurious herbicide and halosulfuron the least injurious, regardless of herbicide placement. Halosulfuron effectively controlled yellow nutsedge and provided versatility in methods of application, with minimal injury potential to transplanted cantaloupe.

Technical Abstract: Field trials were conducted at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton, GA from 2000 to 2003 to study the effects of herbicide placement on weed control and cantaloupe injury in a production system of hybrid transplants on polyethylene covered seedbeds. Herbicides evaluated were halosulfuron (0.036 kg ai/ha), sulfentrazone (0.14 and 0.28 kg ai/ha), clomazone (0.6 kg ai/ha), and a nontreated control. Methods of herbicide application were preplant incorporated under the polyethylene mulch before transplanting (PPI), post-transplanting over-the-top (POST-OTT), and post-transplanting-directed onto the shoulders of polyethylene covered seedbeds (POST-DIR). Across all herbicide treatments, PPI and POST-DIR applications were the least injurious, with POST-OTT applications the most injurious. In general, sulfentrazone (0.28 kg ai/ha) was the most injurious herbicide and halosulfuron the least injurious, regardless of herbicide placement. Halosulfuron effectively controlled yellow nutsedge and provided versatility in methods of application, with minimal injury potential to transplanted cantaloupe.