Location: Sugarbeet Research
Project Number: 3060-21000-045-045-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2026
End Date: Jul 31, 2027
Objective:
Determine how soil moisture regimes and drought conditions influence the in-season persistence and dissipation of Group 15 herbicides in sugarbeet soils across major production regions. This project will quantify the effects of soil type, moisture availability, and microbial activity on herbicide half-life and relate those responses to weed management outcomes in sugarbeet production.
Approach:
We will conduct greenhouse studies using representative sugarbeet soils from major production regions. Greenhouse experiments will compare herbicide dissipation under contrasting moisture regimes across soils differing in texture, organic matter, and biological activity. Soil sampling over time will be used to estimate herbicide DT50 values, and microbial community profiling will help identify treatment-related shifts in soil biology. Data will be analyzed to develop predictive relationships between soil moisture, soil properties, and herbicide persistence that can support more precise and sustainable weed management recommendations.