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Title: Sandea use with watermelon Lane, Oklahoma, 2002: Sandea use with watermelon grown on plastic mulch

Author
item SHREFLER, J.W. - OSU, LANE,OK
item BRANDENBERGER, L. - OSU, STILLWATER, OK
item Webber Iii, Charles

Submitted to: Oklahoma Agriculture Experiment Station Departmental Publication
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/22/2004
Publication Date: 2/2/2004
Citation: Shrefler, J., Brandenberger, L., Webber III, C.L. 2004. Sandea use with watermelon Lane, Oklahoma, 2002: Sandea use with watermelon grown on plastic mulch. In: Brandenberger, L., Wells, L., editors. 2003 Vegetable Weed Control Studies. Oklahoma State University, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. Stillwater, OK. MP-162. p. 41-42.

Interpretive Summary: Herbicides to be successful in crop production must control weeds and be safe for use in specific crops over a wide range of production systems. New herbicides need to be successfully integrated into current production methods, including the use of plastic mulches. Halosulfuron-methyl is a newly registered watermelon (Citrullus lunatus) herbicide in Oklahoma, but not yet registered for use on transplanted melons grown with plastic mulch. This research was conducted to evaluate the crop safety of halosulfuron-methyl when used with transplanted watermelons grown with plastic mulch. Experimental treatments included an untreated weedy-check (no weed control), pre-transplant herbicide treatments applied prior to the plastic mulch, and post-transplant herbicide treatments applied after the plastic mulch was applied. The pre-transplanted herbicide applications were also applied before (May 7) or after (May 10) receiving a 0.5 inch overhead irrigation (May 9). All herbicide treatments were also applied at two different rates, 0.024 or 0.032 lb ai/a. On May 10, 2002, watermelon cv. 'Legacy' was transplanted 3 ft apart down the center of 3 ft wide beds covered with black plastic mulch with bed centers 12 ft apart. All herbicides were applied with a CO2-pressurized four-nozzle hand-boom with 8002 flat fan nozzles spaced 19 inch apart and calibrated to deliver 30 gpa. Data collected included stem length in early June and marketable fruit data (quality, mean fruit weight, and yield) at harvest (August 5). No significant differences were detected among treatments for stem length or fruit yield, yet there was a tendency for reduced stem length for those treatments receiving halosulfuron-methyl prior to putting down the mulch. However, the greatest yields were obtained when halosulfuron-methyl was at the highest rate (0.032 lb ai/a). The data suggests that halosulfuron-methyl is safe to apply before the plastic mulch is placed on the beds and the watermelons are transplanted or after the plastic mulch is on the bed and the watermelon plants are transplanted.

Technical Abstract: Successfully production of cucurbits requires the availability of efficacious weed control measures that are not injurious to the crop. New herbicides need to be successfully integrated into current production methods, including the use of plastic mulches. Halosulfuron-methyl is a newly registered watermelon (Citrullus lunatus) herbicide in Oklahoma, but not yet registered for use on transplanted melons grown with plastic mulch. This research was conducted to evaluate the crop safety of halosulfuron-methyl when used with transplanted watermelons grown with plastic mulch. Experimental treatments included an untreated weedy-check (no weed control), pre-transplant herbicide treatments applied prior to the plastic mulch, and post-transplant herbicide treatments applied after the plastic mulch was applied. The pre-transplanted herbicide applications were also applied before (May 7) or after (May 10) receiving a 0.5 inch overhead irrigation (May 9). All herbicide treatments were also applied at two different rates, 0.024 or 0.032 lb ai/a. On May 10, 2002, watermelon cv. 'Legacy' was transplanted 3 ft apart down the center of 3 ft wide beds covered with black plastic mulch with bed centers 12 ft apart. All herbicides were applied with a CO2-pressurized four-nozzle hand-boom with 8002 flat fan nozzles spaced 19 inch apart and calibrated to deliver 30 gpa. Data collected included stem length in early June and marketable fruit data (quality, mean fruit weight, and yield) at harvest (August 5). No significant differences were detected among treatments for stem length or fruit yield, yet there was a tendency for reduced stem length for those treatments receiving halosulfuron-methyl prior to putting down the mulch. However, the greatest yields were obtained when halosulfuron-methyl was at the highest rate (0.032 lb ai/a). This research demonstrated potential safe use of halosulfuron-methyl on watermelons grown with plastic mulch.