Twenty-five states have confirmed populations of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth, while 16 have confirmed populations of glyphosate-resistant waterhemp. Next-generation herbicide-resistant soybean crops hitting the market soon will offer growers broader options for managing these resistant weeds using combinations of glyphosate, glufosinate, dicamba, 2,4-D, isoxaflutole and mesotrione.
Scientists at seven universities decided to explore the effectiveness of various preemergence and postemergence herbicide programs that are compatible with these new soybean traits. They conducted field experiments in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, and Tennessee.
Five of the experiments involved preemergence herbicides only. Ten involved preemergence treatments followed by a postemergence treatment applied three to four weeks later or six to seven weeks later.
The results showed preemergence herbicide treatments combined with a postemergence herbicide applied three to four weeks afterwards delivered the best results – producing 94 percent or greater control of Palmer amaranth and waterhemp. Scientists also determined that precipitation matters. In situations where there is little or no rainfall in the weeks following the application of residual herbicides, a second application may be needed for season-long control.
Jason Norsworthy, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Arkansas and one of the authors of the study, says that despite the success of a combined preemergence/postemergence herbicide program, growers should adopt an integrated, best practices-based approach to weed management.
“There are already Amaranthus spp. weed populations resistant to many of the herbicides used in the new soybean herbicide programs,” he said. “For sustainable results over the long-haul, it is vital that we rotate herbicide mechanisms of action and incorporate appropriate nonchemical controls as well.”
Full text of the article, “Herbicide Program Approaches for Managing Glyphosate-Resistant Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) and Waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus and Amaranthus rudis) in Future Soybean-Trait Technologies,” is now available in Weed Technology Vol. 29, Issue 4, October-December 2015.
