William N. Kline

Control of tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum) with aminopyralid

Experiments were conducted between 2002 and 2004 at multiple locations in Florida to determine the efficacy of aminopyralid and other herbicides on tropical soda apple (TSA) control. Aminopyralid applied at rates ≥0.08 kg ai/ha consistently provided >96% TSA control up to 335 d after treatment (DAT), while applications <0.06 kg/ha were less effective as well as inconsistent. Control of TSA with aminopyralid was often not statistically different from control with triclopyr, picloram, or dicamba. However, these responses were likely due to the variability in TSA control by triclopyr, picloram, or dicamba across several locations. For example, the standard error of the mean for TSA control with picloram at 335 DAT was 8, compared to 1 for aminopyralid. Herbicides were applied in April, January, and June, but time of year did not affect the efficacy of aminopyralid. Aminopyralid possesses soil residual activity and controlled 98% of germinating seedlings at 75 DAT, compared to 0% control for triclopyr or 2,4-D + dicamba. Therefore, aminopyralid controlled TSA from foliar applications and soil residual activity more consistently than any other herbicide evaluated in these experiments. Nomenclature: Aminopyralid, 4-amino-3,6-dichloropyridine-2-carboxylic acid; tropical soda apple, Solanum viarum Dunal. #3 SOLVI. Additional index words: Preemergence control. Abbreviations: DAT, days after treatment; TSA, tropical soda apple.

Picloram and Aminopyralid Sorption to Soil and Clay Minerals

Abstract Research was conducted to determine picloram and aminopyralid sorption in five soils and three clay minerals and to determine if the potential for off-target movement of aminopyralid in soil is less than that of picloram. Nearly all sorption of picloram and aminopyralid occurred between 0 and 8 h, and the maximum theoretical sorption of picloram and aminopyralid were 10.3 and 15.2%, respectively. Freundlich distribution coefficients (Kf) for picloram ranged from 0.12 in a Cecil sandy loam to 0.81 in an Arredondo fine sand, while Kf values for aminopyralid ranged from 0.35 in a Cecil sandy loam to 0.96 in an Arredondo fine sand. Furthermore, Kf values of aminopyralid were higher than those of picloram in all soils tested. Kf values of picloram in clay minerals were 0.25 (kaolinite), 1.17 (bentonite), and 1,016.4 (montmorillonite), and those of aminopyralid were 5.63 (kaolinite), 2.29 (bentonite), and 608.90 (montmorillonite). It was concluded that soil sorption of aminopyralid was greater than that of picloram and that the potential for off-target movement of aminopyralid is less than that of picloram. Nomenclature: Aminopyralid; picloram.

Dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium) Size at Application Affects Herbicide Efficacy

Abstract Dogfennel is one of the most problematic weeds in Florida pasturelands and its control can become inconsistent as the plant matures. A premix of triclopyr + fluroxypyr has been recently introduced for weed control in pastures and rangeland; however, little published information exists concerning the control of dogfennel in pastures with this herbicide combination. Therefore, experiments were initiated to determine the efficacy of triclopyr + fluroxypyr compared with commonly used pasture herbicides on dogfennel at three heights. All herbicides utilized in this study are commonly used for dogfennel control. Dogfennel control was affected by both herbicide treatment and dogfennel height. In general, 0.80 + 0.28 kg ai/ha of 2,4-D amine + dicamba resulted in inconsistent control, especially as dogfennel plants increased in size. Increasing the rate of 2,4-D amine + dicamba to 1.21 + 0.42 kg/ha increased the consistency. Triclopyr + fluroxypyr provided similar levels of control as that of 1.21 + 0.42 kg/ha 2,4-D amine + dicamba. In all locations, control of 154-cm dogfennel was signficanatly lower than that of 38-cm dogfennel. These data indicate that triclopyr + fluroxypyr is an effective option for dogfennel control, but dogfennel height at the time of application is an important factor for optimizing control. Nomenclature: 2,4-D Amine; dicamba; fluroxypyr; triclopyr; Dogfennel, Eupatorium capillifolium L.

Influence of Herbicide and Application Timing on Blackberry Control

Abstract Blackberry is a troublesome species across much of the southeastern United States. Control of blackberry with the pyridine herbicides is often variable among different locations. Experiments were conducted to determine whether application timing, either spring or fall, affected efficacy of the pyridine herbicides triclopyr, fluroxypyr and picloram, and metsulfuron. The pyridine herbicides provided greater control when applied in the fall. At 12 mo after treatment, fluroxypyr plus picloram and fluroxypyr plus triclopyr provided 83% control when applied in the fall and 65% when applied in the spring. Conversely, metsulfuron provided 85% control, and application timing was not significant. Although metsulfuron effectively controls blackberry, it is also highly injurious to bahiagrass. Therefore, chlorosulfuron was tested to determine whether it would provide blackberry control while not injuring bahiagrass. Blackberry control with chlorosulfuron was similar to metsulfuron. These data indicated blackberry control in bahiagrass pastures can be effectively accomplished with chlorosulfuron. Nomenclature: Chlorosulfuron; fluroxypyr; metsulfuron; picloram; triclopyr; blackberry, Rubus spp.; bahiagrass, Paspalum notatum Flüggé, ‘Pensacola’.

Aminopyralid soil residues affect rotational vegetable crops in Florida

BACKGROUND Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flueggé) is a poor host of several soilborne pests of vegetable crops; therefore vegetable crops are commonly grown in a rotation with bahiagrass pastures in Florida. The herbicide aminopyralid provides foliar and soil residual weed control and increases forage production in bahiagrass pastures; however, the soil residual activity of aminopyralid makes carryover injury likely in subsequent sensitive vegetable crops. Field research was conducted to determine the sensitivity of five vegetable crops to soil residues of aminopyralid. RESULTS At an aminopyralid soil concentration of 0.2 µg kg(-1) (the limit of quantitation for aminopyralid in this research), crop injury ratings were 48% (bell pepper), 67% (eggplant), 71% (tomato), 3% (muskmelon) and 3% (watermelon), and fruit yield losses (relative to the untreated control) at that concentration were 61, 64, 95, 8 and 14% in those respective crops. CONCLUSIONS The crops included in this research were negatively affected by aminopyralid at soil concentrations less than the limit of quantitation (0.2 µg kg(-1) ). Therefore, it was concluded that a field bioassay must be used to determine whether carryover injury will occur when these crops are planted on a site where aminopyralid has been previously applied.