Selectivity ofpre-emergence broadleafweed herbicides applied on clay soil in sunflower crop

Abstract

Weed control in sunflower is required to avoid poor growth, yield loss, and weed problems in crops grown after sunflower. Limited availability of sunflower herbicides requires a rigid weed control program consisting of cultural, mechanical, and chemical measures for the most profitable crop production. Two experiments were carried out at Embrapa Soja, Londrina, Parana State, Brazil, in 1998, to evaluate the selectivity ofpre-emergence broadleafweed herbicides in sunflower crop.ln one of the experiment, acetochlor was used at rates of O, 1152,2304,3456 and 4608 glha. In the other experiments, oxyfluorfen was applied at rates of 0,360,720, 1080 and 1440 g/ha, Acetochlor at2304 glha and athigherrates reduced oil content and sunflower yield. However, oxyfluorfen (360 g/ha) was seletive to sunflower. The risk offitotoxicity appears to be greater on low organic matter and coarse textured soils.