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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #168637
Title: HALOSULFURON HAS A VARIABLE EFFECT ON CUCURBIT GROWTH AND YIELD

Author
item Webster, Theodore
item CULPEPPER, A - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/2/2004
Publication Date: 6/1/2005
Citation: Webster, T.M., Culpepper, A.S. 2005. Halosulfuron has a variable effect on cucurbit growth and yield. HortScience. 40(3):707-710.

Interpretive Summary: Yellow and purple nutsedge are among the most troublesome weeds of vegetables in Georgia and the southern US. The impending elimination of methyl bromide in 2005 will soon leave vegetable growers without a valuable tool for pest management, with limited options for suppression of nutsedge growth. Previous research indicates that halosulfuron controlled yellow and purple nutsedge, impeded nutsedge tuber production, and reduced nutsedge tuber viability. Previous studies found halosulfuron application method affected cucurbit crop injury. Halosulfuron-PRE (applied to the soil surface prior to laying mulch) delayed fruit production relative to the nontreated control. However, application of halosulfuron-PRE and halosulfuron-Drip (applied through drip irrigation) did not reduce squash yield at the conclusion of the season relative to the control. Cucumbers have tolerance to halosulfuron, making it a potential methyl bromide replacement for nutsedge control. In an effort to minimize inputs, growers have opted to leave mulched beds in place for multiple crops. This can increase the difficulty in managing pests, as many of the fumigant treatments (including methyl bromide) require application prior to installation of polyethylene mulch. The option of halosulfuron application through the drip irrigation could be a beneficial means of controlling nutsedge in the second and third crop in existing polyethylene mulched beds. Additional research is needed to fully evaluate this method of application.

Technical Abstract: Halosulfuron is a potential alternative to methyl bromide for managing nutsedges in vegetable crops. Field studies evaluated crop sensitivity to halosulfuron in a squash-cucumber rotation from 2000 to 2002. Treatment applications included halosulfuron to the soil surface prior to laying mulch (halosulfuron-PRE), halosulfuron applied through drip irrigation (halosulfuron-Drip) after laying mulch, metham applied through drip irrigation after laying mulch, a nontreated control with mulch, and nontreated control without mulch. Each treatment was applied to direct seeded and transplanted zucchini squash. Halosulfuron treatments reduced squash plant diameter relative to metham, however plant diameters in halosulfuron-PRE and halosulfuron-Drip (transplant) treatments were not different from the nontreated control. Halosulfuron-PRE delayed squash fruit production relative to the mulched nontreated control. However, application of halosulfuron-PRE and halosulfuron-Drip did not reduce squash yield at the conclusion of the season, relative to the control. Cucumbers were transplanted and direct seeded into previous squash plots and received either an application of halosulfuron-Drip, or were not treated. Differences in cucumber yields were not detected with second crop treatments. Cucumbers have tolerance to halosulfuron, making it a potential methyl bromide replacement for nutsedge control. Suppression of early season squash growth by halosulfuron may hinder the adoption of halosulfuron as a methyl bromide alternative for squash.