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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #296264
Title: Preemergence weed control in watermelon - Lane

Author
item SHREFLER, JAMES - Oklahoma State University
item Webber Iii, Charles
item BRANDENBERGER, LYNN - Oklahoma State University
item GOODSON, TONY - Oklahoma State University
item ROBERTS, WARREN - Oklahoma State University
item TAYLOR, MERRITT - Oklahoma State University

Submitted to: Experiment Station Bulletins
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2012
Publication Date: 6/1/2012
Citation: Shrefler, J., Webber III, C.L., Brandenberger, L., Goodson, T., Roberts, W., Taylor, M. 2012. Preemergence weed control in watermelon - Lane. 2011 Weed Control Reports. Oklahoma State Univeristy, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture. Stillwater, OK. MP-162. p. 17-19.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Watermelon is a major vegetable crop in Oklahoma. Weed control on this crop is crucial for commercial growers particularly as labor costs increase and availability of hoeing crews decrease. Weed infested fields can be a source of pest problems including insect and disease, in addition to the obvious loss of yield and additional harvest cost. The objectives of this study were to determine the crop safety and effectiveness of herbicides that have not previously been labeled for use in transplanted watermelon. Treatments in this study included Reflex (fomesafen: 0.1875, 0.25, 0.375, and 0.5 lb ai/a), Sandea (halosulfuron: 0.024 lb ai/a), and Lorox (linuron: 0.05 lb ai/a) alone and combinations of Reflex and Sandea for a total of eight treatments, plus weeded and unweeded checks. Crop data that were collected included vine stunting, crop vigor, vine length, and fruit yield. Treatments did not result in differences in either vine length or crop vigor. There were no signs of crop phytotoxicity, therefore no injury evaluations were collected. Very high yields were obtained in this trial, indicating that the herbicides were not detrimental to the crop under these conditions. Based upon these results, the authors see no indication that these herbicides pose an injury hazard to transplanted watermelon when used as reported in this trial.