VOLUNTEER POTATO CONTROL IN SWEET CORN WITH ATRAZINE AND MESOTRIONE COMBINATIONS.

Authors: Boydston, Rick; Spellman, Dallas

Submitted to: Western Society of Weed Science Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2005
Publication Date: 7/1/2006
Citation: Boydston, R.A., Spellman, D.E. 2006. Volunteer potato control in sweet corn with atrazine and mesotrione combinations. Proc. Western Soc. of Weed Sci. 59:71.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Mesotrione applied postemergence (POST) to volunteer potato, reduces new tuber production more than other POST applied herbicides. Increased control of some broadleaf weeds has been reported with atrazine and mesotrione combinations versus either herbicide applied alone. Studies were conducted in 2004 and 2005 to evaluate volunteer potato control and new tuber production in sweet corn with atrazine and mesotrione combinations applied POST. Atrazine at 0, 0.28, 0.56, and 1.1 kg ai/ha and mesotrione at 0, 0.035, 0.07, and 0.1 kg/ha were applied in all possible combinations in a factorial arrangement of treatments when volunteer potato ranged from 5 to 12 cm tall. Atrazine applied POST provided fair to good control of volunteer potatoes and control increased as rate increased from 0.28 to 1.1 kg/ha. Mesotrione applied POST provided excellent control of volunteer potato at all rates tested. Potatoes treated with atrazine alone at 0.28 or 0.56 kg/ha averaged 3.3 and 1.9 tubers per plant, respectively, which could lead to volunteer potato problems in the next crop. Mesotrione applied alone at all rates, atrazine at 1.1 kg/ha, or mesotrione plus atrazine combinations reduced the number of new tubers produced to ' 1.1 per plant compared to 11 tubers per plant in nontreated checks. Sweet corn yield was not affected by herbicide treatment in 2004. In 2005, sweet corn yield was equal to hand weeded checks with all herbicide treatments except where atrazine was used alone at 0.28 or 0.56 kg/ha.