Time of Day Effects on Peanut Herbicide Efficacy

Abstract

Recent research on the effects of time of d (TOD) when glufosinate is applied to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and several protoporphyrinogen-inhibiting herbicides in soybean (Glycine max L.) has growers concerned about potential TOD effects on peanut weed control. Consequently, research was conducted in 2015, 2016, and 2017 to determine if TOD influences the performance of peanut herbicides acifluorfen, bentazon, imazapic, lactofen, paraquat, and 2,4-DB. Both non- (bare-ground) and in-crop (peanut) studies were conducted. For non-crop, paraquat plus bentazon plus acifluorfen plus S-metolachlor, imazapic plus S-metolachlor plus 2,4-DB, and lactofen plus S-metolachlor plus 2,4-DB were applied to Palmer amaranth and a non-uniform mixture of annual grasses including Urochloa texana (Buckley), Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.), Eleusine indica (L.), Digitaria spp. at 7:00, 12:00, 17:00, and 22:00 hr. For in-crop studies, two peanut weed control programs were used and herbicide programs were applied at the same TOD. Herbicides were paraquat plus acifluorfen plus bentazon plus S-metolachlor (EPOST) followed by imazapic plus S-metolachlor plus 2,4-DB, or lactofen plus S-metolachlor plus 2,4-DB (POST). For the non-crop studies, a significant interaction between TOD and herbicide program was observed for the 7 d after treatment (DAT) rating of Palmer amaranth control. Control was reduced with imazapic applied at 22:00 hr. At 14 DAT, there was no TOD effect and control was reduced with all imazapic treatments due to ALS resistance. There was no interaction between TOD and herbicide program for annual grass control. Annual grass control was unacceptable (<50%) with lactofen. For in-crop studies, there was no interaction between TOD or herbicide program. Peanut injury was lower at 7:00 hr and 22:00 hr when compared to other timings. Lactofen was more injurious to peanut than imazapic. Palmer amaranth control was not influenced by timing or herbicide program. A reduction in sicklepod control was observed at the 22:00 hr timing and with lactofen. While TOD influenced peanut injury and weed control, peanut yield was not affected.