Volunteer winter wheat: its effects and control in ryegrass seed production

The effects of different populations of volunteer winter wheal and their control with ethofumesate and TCA on growth, seed yield and yield components of S.24 perennial ryegrass were investigated in lield experiments in 1978 and 1979. Reductions in ryegrass seed yield due to the presence of wheat depended on the density of wheat and the number and dry weight of ryegrass tillers. The greatest percentage reduction in ryegrass seed yield occurred at high densities of wheat (300 plants m^?2) when the number of ear-bearing tillers and 1000 seed weight of ryegrass were reduced. When Ihe density of wheat was low (80 plants m^?2) a smaller reduction in ryegrass seed yield occurred and the number of live wheat plants remaining gradually decreased. Within the range of wheat densities in these experiments (0–300 plants m ^?2) a 1% loss in ryegrass seed yield occurred for every 10 wheal plants m^?2 present in the crop post winter. Both herbicides caused a reduction in number of ryegrass tillers during growth but, except where TCA was applied at 12 kg ha^?1 in November, ryegrass seed yields were not significantly reduced (in comparison with a wheat-free control) and were always greater than those obtained in the presence of wheat where no herbicides had been applied. Levels of volunteer infestation of 300 wheat plants m^?2 were controlled with minimum risk of crop damage by applications of 6 kg ha^?1 TCA in either October or November, or by application of 1–9 kg ha^?1 ethofumesate in November.     

The influence of herbicides, nitrogen fertilizer, seed rate and method of sowing, on the establishment and long-term composition of a perennial ryegrass ley.

Changes in ihe species composition of a ryegrass pasture were examined over a 2 year period from a spring establishment. Seed of S23 perennial ryegrass was sown in main plots, eilher broadcast or drilled, at rates of 15, 25 or 35 kg/ha in a field experiment at Oxford. The whole area was oversown withfour weed grasses (Agrostis siolonifera.Holcus lanatus. Poa annua and P trivialis). Five cultural and three herbicide treatments were applied across the plots. These consisted of three levels of nitrogen (0. 50 and 100 kg N per ha), two companion species (Italian ryegrass and white clover) and 2.4-D, benazolin and methabenzihiazuron applications. Ten weeks after sowing, broad-leaved weeds accounted for nearly half the lotal dry-matter yield, except where controlled by the three herbicides. Grass yields were nol increased by herbicide treatment. The only cultural treatment checking broad-leaved weeds was ihe 35 kg/ha seeding rale. Seven months after sowing, the only treatment which had decreased the abundance of weed grasses was melhabenzthiazuron especially againsi A. stolonifera and Poa spp. Two years afler sowing, perennial ryegrass had only 34% ground cover and had been replaced largely by H. lanatus (38%), Poa spp, (15%) and A. stolonifera (7%), Where methabenzthiazuron had been used the ryegrass ground cover was 48%. with less P. trivialis and A. stolonifera. but H. lanatus was nol altered. White clover decreased H. lanatus cover. In two supplementary pot experiments, methabenzthiazuron sprayed pre-emergence damaged perennial ryegrass unless the seed was covered with at least 4 mm of soil. Only H. lanatmand F. rubra out of sixteen grasses were relatively resistant to methabenzihiazuron when applied at ihe tillering stage, confirming that this herbicide has potential for preventing the ingress of many unsown grasses in new leys.     

Weed control in glyphosate-tolerant sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.)

The effect of glyphosate on weeds was evaluated in greenhouse bioassays with five weed species and compared with a commercial mixture of phenmedipham and ethofumesate. Glyphosate was more active than a mixture of phenmedipham and ethofumesate on the weeds. Solanum nigrum was the most sensitive species to both herbicide treatments. The relative potency of glyphosate between the weeds showed consistency at 50% and 90% control levels for four out of five weed species, which could be ranked independently of control level because of similar response curves. In a field trial on sugarbeet genetically engineered to acquire glyphosate tolerance, a total of 720 g a.i. ha^?1 of glyphosate applied in one, two or three applications gave similar or superior control of weeds to a total of 3.17 kg a.i. ha^?1 mixture of metamitron, phenmedipham and ethofumesate applied in three repeated applications.     

The selectivity of methabenzthiazuron between barley, perennial ryegrass and Poa trivialis

In field experiments methabenzthiazuron at 1.1 kg ai/ha applied pre-emergence gave good control of Poa trivialis L. in perennial ryegrass S23 which was undersown in spring barley (Zephyr); no significant damage to barley or perennial ryegrass resulted from 2.2 kg ai/ha. However this dose applied when barley had three to four leaves decreased the subsequent barley yield. In pot experiments in the glasshouse methabenzthiazuron was active mainly due to uptake through the soil. Much greater damage to barley and perennial ryegrass resulted when herbicide-treated soil was placed below seed level than above the seed. The difference was less marked with P. trivialis. The latter started to develop secondary roots near the soil surface earlier than either perennial ryegrass or spring barley.     

The fungicide tridemorph as a selective herbicide for the control of Holcus lanatus in ryegrass and of Bonus sterilis in barly

The potential of the fungicide tridemorph selectively to control established plants of Holcus lanatus L. in ryegrass (Lolium perenne L) and Bromus sterilis L. in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was examined in glasshouse trails. A dose of 4.2 kg ha^?1 tridemorph gave selectively between H. lanatus and ryegrass similar to, but more costly than, that which would be provided by 1.2 kg ha^?1 asulam. B sterilis was more sensitive to tridemorph than was barley. Two additives, glycerol and the oil-surfactant mixture ‘PF’ enhanced this selectivity when tridemorph was applied at 2.1 kg ha^?1.     

Effects of flame weeding on weed species at different developmental stages

Field experiments to investigate the efficacy of flame weeding were conducted in southern Sweden on a variety of natural weed flora at different developmental stages. The susceptibility of different species and stages was compared by modelling the dose–response with logistic models. Weed species with unprotected growing points and thin leaves such as Chenopodium album L., Stellaria media (L.) Vill. and Urtica urens L. were susceptible. When these plants had 0-4 true leaves, complete kill was achieved at propane doses of 20-50 kg ha^-1. Species with protected growth points such as Capsella bursapastoris (L.) Medic and Chamomilla suaveolens (P.) Rydb. were tolerant due to regrowth after flaming, and they could be completely killed only in the early stages. Poa annua L. could not be completely killed with a single flame treatment, regardless of developmental stage or propane dose. Plant size had a major influence on the lethal dose requirement. Propane doses of 10-40 kg ha^-1 were required to achieve 95% control of plant numbers for sensitive species with 0-4 true leaves, whilst plants with 4-12 leaves required 40-150 kg ha^-1. When flaming naturally emerged weeds at early developmental stages, split applications of two half-dose treatments 1 week apart did not reduce plant numbers as effectively as a single late flame treatment with the same total dose.     

The control of Holcus lanatus in perennial ryegrass swards by asulam.

Asulam was evaluated in three fields experiments for the control of Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus L.) in perennial rygrass(Lolium perenneL). It was used in 1976 on a 3 year-old ryegrass/timothy (Phleum pratense L.) sward in comparison with propyzamidc, in 1977 on a 9 year-old ryegrass pasture grazed at two stocking rates and in 1978 on an intensively managed ryegrass dominant sward. Asulam at 1.75 kg ha^?1 gave good selective control in all the field experiments and was more effective under higher than lower slocking rates. In laxly grazed swards it was most effective when sprayed in October. Propyzamide also controlled H. lanatus and increased yields of while clover (Trifolium repens L.) even at 0.25 kg ha^?1 but it damaged the sown grasses and increased the growth of broad-leaved weeds.     

Effect of ammonium sulphate and related salts on the phytotoxicity of dichlorprop and other herbicides used for broadleaved weed control in cereals

In glasshouse experiments, additions of 10–100 g 1^?1 ammonium sulphate enhanced the phytotoxicity to broadleaved weeds and cereals of several water-soluble herbicides applied post-emergence in 75–300 1 ha^?1 with hydraulic nozzles. Studies with dichlorprop potassium salt and chickweed Stellaria media (L.) Vill. examined interactions between ammonium sulphate and environmental, application and formulation factors. Simulated rainfall immediately after spraying greatly reduced dichlorprop activity, whether or not ammonium sulphate was present. However, when there was an interval of 2–24 h between spraying and rainfall, the additive increased phytotoxicity. Surfactants tended to reduce dichlorprop phytotoxicity to Stellaria media, both in the presence and absence of ammonium sulphate. Certain other inorganic salts including sodium sulphate also enhanced phytotoxicity. Applications by rotary atomizer in very low spray volume (15 1 ha^?1, 250–280 μm drops) were less effective than conventional 150 1 ha^?1 applications. When very low volume application was used, addition of ammonium sulphate or nitrate tended to reduce activity further. In the field, ammonium sulphate significantly increased the effects against weeds of a commercial dichlorprop potassium salt formulation applied conventionally in 200 1 ha^?1 spray volume. Neutralized phosphoric acid had a similar effect but a mixture of this additive and ammonium sulphate reduced phytotoxicity. Both additives slightly increased dichlorprop injury to barley.     

Control of Achillea millefolium L. (yarrow) by rotary cultivation and glyphosate

Various control strategies for Achillea millefolium L. (yarrow) were investigated in a dense stand of the weed at Lincoln College in 1977–1978. In early spring plots were either rotary cultivated or left undisturbed. In late spring, plots of both previous treatments were either left undisturbed, rotary cultivated or sprayed with glyphosate at 1·5 kg ha^?1. The whole experiment was rotary cultivated twice 1 week later and sown with Hordeum vulgure L. cv. Zephyr (barley) at 144 kg seed ha^?1. MCPA + dicamba at 0·9+0·15 kg ha^?1 was applied to half of each plot when the second node was detectable (Zadok 32). Rotary cultivation and glyphosate both substantially reduced the regrowth of A. millefolium but glyphosate reduced regrowth by a greater proportion when applied to undisturbed plants than when applied to plants regenerating after cultivation. Both gave a more than 95% reduction compared to the control (rotary cultivation only at sowing time) in the amount of A. millefolium present in the barley stubble in the autumn. MCPA + dicamba caused seedling mortality but did not affect the numbers of primary shoots from rhizome fragments. The grain yield of the barley increased from 2·91 t ha^?1 when A. millefolium was not controlled to 4·23 t ha^?1 with good control. The barley yield appeared to be restricted by competition from regenerating A. millefolium and by a nitrogen deficiency induced in some regimes by nitrogen immobilization in decaying rhizomes.     

Promising herbicides for weed control in chickpea

Abstract

Chickpea suffers severe competition due to Chenopodium album L. infestation. Two to three hoeings are generally given to check C. album but increasing labour costs and scarcity of farm labour make the manual weeding difficult. Usage of herbicides appears to be a logical solution. Pre‐emergence applications of pendimethalin or ametryn alone at 1.5 kg ai ha^?1 or one handweeding at 35–40 days after seeding following either 1 kg ai ha^?1 of pendimethalin, ametryn or fluchloralin or metribuzin at 0.3 kg ai ha^?1 applied pre‐emergence gave effective control of C. album and seed yields similar to clean‐weeded chickpeas. There was an 84% reduction in seed yield of chickpea without weeding.     

Survey and Assessment of the Natural Enemies of Water Hyacinth,Eichhornia crassipes

Abstract

In northern Queensland, the addition of 2,4,5‐T butyl ester was found to be unnecessary to maintain the control of Echinochloa colona (L.) Link and Cyperus Iria L. In dry seeded rice when propanil rates were reduced below the registered rate of 4 kg a.i. ha^?1. Adequate weed control was obtained with 1.3 kg a.i. ha^?1 propanil alone. No adverse effects on rice yield were found with any of the propanil × 2,4,5‐T treatments. Low rates of propanil, 1.3 and 0.72 kg a.i. ha^?1, compared favourably with pre‐emergence treatments of thiobencarb, butachlor, oxyfluorfen and pretilachlor (plus a safener) when weed yields were low. Where water management was poor and Ischaemum rugosum Salisb. was the dominant weed, oxyfluorfen applied pre‐emergence at 0.96 kg a.i. ha^?1 produced a higher rice and a lower weed yield than the low rates of propanil. In three of the five experiments, weed growth was insufficient to depress rice yields significantly.     

Diclofop-methyl antagonism by broadleaf weed herbicides: the importance of leaf expansion rate

Avena saliva cv. Amuri and A. fatua were sprayed with diclofop methyl (1.0 kg a.i. ha^?1) alone and in combination with 2,4-D (1.1 kg a.i. ha^?1), bentazone (1.0 kg a.i. ha^?1), chlorsulfuron (15 g a.i. ha^?1) or dicamba (0.3 kg a.i. ha^?1). Effects of the herbicides on leaf extension rate during the first 8 to 10 days after spraying and subsequent growth (dry weight) after 57–75 days were determined by comparison with unsprayed plants. Diclofop-methyl applied alone did not cause a decrease in leaf extension rate of A. saliva or A. fatua until at least 4 days after spraying. All broadleaf weed herbicides in combination with diclofop-methyl caused a decrease in leaf extension rate of both species within 2 days of spraying. Ten days after spraying, leaf extension rates for plants sprayed with a broadleaf weed herbicide plus diclofopmethyl (all combinations) were lower than for unsprayed plants but greater than for plants sprayed with diclofop-methyl alone. With the exception of A. fatua sprayed with bentazone, long-term growth of plants sprayed with a broadleaf weed herbicide plus diclofop-methyl (all combinations) was lower than for unsprayed plants but greater than for plants sprayed with diclofop-methyl alone. Bentazone applied with diclofop-methyl caused a substantial decrease in leaf extension rate of A. fatua within 24 h of spraying but at harvest, dry weight of plants from this treatment was similar to or less than that for plants sprayed with diclofop-methyl alone. Application of diclofop-methyl with bentazone at a rate of 0.3 kg a.i. ha^?1 also caused a reduction in leaf extension rate of A. fatua within one day of spraying. At this rate of bentazone, dry weight of plants at harvest was intermediate to that of unsprayed plants and those sprayed with diclofop-methyl alone. It is proposed that decreased leaf expansion rate during the first few days afte spraying is the cause of broadleaf weed herbicide antagonism of diclofop-methyl.     

Effects of application method on the performance of some soil-applied herbicides. I. Glasshouse experiments

Chlortoluron, propyzamide, terbutryne and nitrofen were applied to the soil in pots with a rotary atomizer at 301 ha^?1, with a conventional hydraulic nozzle at 400 1 ha^?1 at several doses, or as discrete 2-μl drops applied with a microsyringe at 2-cm spacings. The test plants were Alopecurus myosuroides, Stellaria media, Chenopodium album, Avena fatua, perennial ryegrass and radish. Chlortoluron, propyzamide and terbutryne had the same activities following the rotary atomizer or conventional spray application but the rotary atomizer application of nitrofen was less effective against A. fatua than the conventional spray treatment. Chlortoluron, propyzamide and terbutryne showed appreciable activity applied as drops 2 cm apart at rates equivalent to 2 kg ai ha^?1, on plants growing equidistant from the drops, but nitrofen showed no activity under these circumstances. The activity of chlortoluron was investigated at different soil moisture contents; it was more active when applied to moist soil than to dry soil which was not wetted for at least 10 h. Application method did not affect this response     

The use of bendiocarb in ryegrass establishment

Problems with the establishment of autumn-reseeded ryegrass can be attributed to a number of causes, one of which is damage by pests, particularly larvae of shoot-boring flies such as the frit fly (Oscinella frit). In trials over a period of 2 years, bendiocarb has been tested as a seed treatment and as spray and granule formulations for the protection of ryegrass seedlings from pest attack. The trials have included both conventional broadcasting of seed following ploughing of the old sward, and direct drilling following the use of total herbicide. Seed treatments at rates of 10 g a.i. kg^?1 of seed and above have given greatly improved plant stands, resulting in yield increases in some trials. Spray and granule applications at 0.5-1.0 kg a.i. ha^?1 have significantly improved establishment at some sites. Bendiocarb has also been tested on spring reseeded leys and although results have been less dramatic than on autumn sowings, significant increases in plant stand were obtained. No evidence of phytotoxicity has been found with any variety of Italian or perennial ryegrass which has been tested, nor with timothy and cocksfoot which have been included in mixtures.     

Control of Avena fatua L. and Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. with mixtures of 3,6-dichloropicolinic acid and four herbicides for control of A. fatua

Control of Avena fatua (L.) (wild oat) with diclofop methyl applied at 0·7 kg ha^?1 at the two-leaf stage and difenzoquat at 0·84 kg ha^?1 at the four-leaf stage in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under field conditions was good and not affected when either of these herbicides was mixed with 3,6-dichloropicolinic acid as the monoethanolamine salt at 0·14, 0·20 or 0·30 kg ha^?1. In the glasshouse, mixtures containing 3,6-dichloropicolinic acid at rates as high as 0·6 kg ha^?1 also did not affect control of A. fatua. When barban at 0·35 kg ha^?1, or flamprop methyl at 0·56 kg ha^?1 was mixed with similar rates of 3,6-dichloropicolinic acid and applied at the two-leaf and four-leaf stage of A. fatua respectively, a reduction in control of A. fatua (antagonism) occurred under both field and glasshouse conditions. The herbicides for control of A. fatua did not influence the fresh weight suppression of C. arvense shoots obtained in the glasshouse with 3,6-dichloropico-colinic acid at 0·3 kg ha^?1. Early tolerance of wheat (cv. Neepawa) was acceptable with all mixtures. Wheat yields with diclofop methyl or difenzoquat alone or in mixture with 3,6-dichloropicolinic acid were increased over the yields from the A. fatua-infested control.     

Tolerance of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to trifluralin deep-incorporated in the autumn or spring

Field experiments at Lacombe on a Ponoka loam soil (9·6% organic matter) during 1982 and 1983 investigated the tolerance of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Neepawa in a weed free situation to trifluralin applied at 0·0–3·0 kg ai ha^?1 in the autumn or spring and incorporated to a depth of 10 cm. Rates of trifluralin above 1·0 kg ai ha^?1 applied in the autumn or spring reduced the percent stand of wheat compared to an untreated control. Two weeks after emergence the crop showed 37 or 47% injury indicated by delayed growth, following application at 1·0 kg ai ha^?1 in the autumn or spring, respectively. The wheat recovered throughout the course of the growing season. At harvest, trifluralin applied in the autumn or spring at rates below 1·0 kg ai ha^?1 caused a yield increase while higher rates caused a yield decrease compared to the untreated control. Spring application caused a greater yield loss than autumn application. The tolerance of spring wheat to trifluralin at rates required for weed control (1·1 kg ai ha^?1 or higher) on this soil type is marginal.     

Studies of the mechanism of action of asulam in plants. Part I: Antagonistic interaction of asulam and 4-aminobenzoic acid

Studies have been carried out on the herbicidal action of asulam [methyl (4-aminophenylsulphonyl)carbamate] and sulphanilamide, alone or in association either with 4-aminobenzoic acid (4ABA) or 4, 6-diamino-1-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 2-dihydro-2, 2-dimethyl-1,3,5-triazine (DCDT). The soaking of wheat seeds (Triticum estivum L.) for 12 h at 30°C in asulam and DCDT in a 10:1 ratio doubled the inhibition of root growth produced by soaking in asulam alone; the addition of 4ABA partially reversed the activity of asulam. Foliar applications of a mixture of asulam + DCDT (1.1 + 0.55 kg ha^?1) markedly increased the activity of asulam in susceptible wheat, wild oat (Avena fatua L.), tolerant flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), and in Stellaria media L. The activity of asulam at 1.1 kg ha^?1 was reversed by 4ABA at 2.2 kg ha^?1 by about 50% in wheat and wild oat, 82% in flax and 100% in S. media. The results indicate that asulam and sulphanilamide act by similar mechanisms in apparently inhibiting the biosynthesis of folic acid.     

Pre-emergence herbicides for the control of broomrape (Orobanche cernua Loefl.) in sunflower (Helianthus annus L.)

Field experiments were conducted from 1989 to 1992 to determine the effects of pre-emergence herbicides in sunflower (Helianthus armuus L.) on: (1) the control of Orobanche cemua Loefl. (broomrape) and (2) crop damage and crop yield. Herbicides tested belong to the imidazolinone, sulfonylurea and substituted amide families. Imazethapy r (20–40 g ha^?1), imazapy r (12.5–25 gha^?1) and chlorsulfuron (4–6 gha^?1) controlled broomrape efficiently without crop injury. With good O. cernua control and good crop tolerance, sunflower seed yield from these treatments were generally similar to the non-infested checks and higher than the infestedchecks. Imazaquin (20–40 gha^?1), triasulfuron(4gha^?1), pdmisulfuron(3g ha^?1), acetochlor (4–4 kg ha^?1) and metazachlor (2 kg ha^?1) were less effective. Imazamethabenz (200–600 g ha^?1) and metolachlor (3–3 kg ha^?1) were ineffective. Wetconditions aftercropsowing considerably decreased O. cemua control with pre-emergence herbicides probably caused by enhanced degrädation. Des herbicides de prelevee pour la lutte contre Vorobanche (Orobanche cemua Loefl.) dans le toumesol (Helianthus annuus L.) Des expérimentations au champ ont été conduites de 1989 á 1992 pour determiner les effets d'herbicides de pré1evée du toumesol sun (a) la destruction de l'orobanche (Orobanche cernua Loefl.) et (b) la phytotoxcité sur la culture. Les herbicides testés appartenaient aux imidazolinones, aux sulfonylurdes et aux amides substituées. L'imazethapyr (20 á 40 gha^?1), l'imazapyr (12,5 á25gha^?1)et le chlorsulfuron (4 á 6 gha^?1) détruisaient efficacement l'orobanche sans occasionner de phytotoxidt6 sur la culture. Dans ces conditions, les rendements étaient généralement semblables à ceux des témoins non infestés et supérieurs à ceux des témoins infestés. L'imazaquin (20 à 40 g ha^?1), le triasulfuron (4 gha^?1), le primisulfuron (3 g ha^?1), lacétolachlor (4,4 kg ha^?1) et le métazachlor (2 kg ha^?1) étaient moins efficaces. L'imazaméthabenz (200 á 600 g ha^?1) et le métolachlor (3,3 kg ha^?1) etaient inefficaces. Des conditions humides aprfes le semis diminuaient considérablement la destruction de O. cemua par les herbicides de prélevée, probablement à cause d'une dégradation plus élevée. Vorauflaufherbigide zur Bekdmpfung der Sommerwurz Orobanche cemua Loefl. in Sonnenblume (Helianthus annuus L.) Zwischen 1989 und 1992 wurden in Sonnenblume Feldversuche zur Wirkung von Vorauflaufherbiziden aus den Gruppen der Imidazolinone, Sulfonylharnstoffe und substitutierten Amide auf die Sommerwurz Orobanche cernua und auf Kulturpflanzenschaden sowie den Ertrag durchgefuhrt. Mit Imazethapyr (20 bis 40 g ha^?1), Imazapyr (12,5 bis 25 g ha^?1) und Chlorsulfuron (4 bis 6 g ha^?1) lieβ sich die Sommerwurz wirksam bekampfen, ohne daβ Schaden an der Sonnenblume auftraten, und die Ertrage waren allgemein ahnlich oder hoher als bei der nichtparasitierten Kontrolle. Imazaquin (20 bis 40 ha^?1), Triasulfuron (4 g ha^?1).Primisulfuron (3 g ha ^?1). Acetochlor (4,4 kg ha ^?1 und Metazachlor (2 kg ha ^?1) waren weniger wirksam. Imazamethabenz (200 bis 600 g ha^?1) und Metolachlor (3,3 kg ha^?1) hatten keine Wirkung. Bei Niederschlagen nach der Saat der Sonnenblume war die Bekampfung der Sommerwurz mit Vorauflaufherbiziden vermutlich wegen verstärkten Abbaus erheblich schwächer.     

Non-target effect of herbicides: I. effect of glyphosate and hexazinone on soil microbial activity. Microbial population,and in-vitro growth of ectomycorrhizal fungi

The effects of two herbicides, glyphosate (as a 359 g litre^?1 SL) and hexazinone (as a 50gkg^?1 granule) on soil microbial population, carbon dioxide evolution, and in-vitro growth of five species of ectomycorrhizal fungi were investigated. Glyphosate at 0–54 and 3.23 kg a.i. ha^?1 and hexazinone at 1. 2 and 8 kg a.i. ha^?1 did not reduce soil microbial population or carbon dioxide evolution in the long term (6 months). However, there was a significant short-term (2 months) effect of glyphosate on both fungal and bacterial counts at the 0.54 kg ha^?1 treatment. In in-vitro tests, Cenococcum graniforme. Hebeloma crustuliniforme and Laccaria laccata were more susceptible to both herbicides than was Suillus tomentosus. which was, in turn, more susceptible than Paxillus involutus. The growth of all five ectomycorrhizal fungi was significantly reduced when subjected to concentrations above 50 μl formulation litre^?1 (glyphosate) or 50 μg formulation litre^?1 (hexazinone).     

Evaluation of herbicides against Phalaris minor in wheat in north-western Indian plains

Phalaris minor, the most serious weed in wheat in north‐western India, has developed extensive isoproturon resistance due to continuous isoproturon use. For its control, alternative herbicides (flufenacet, metribuzin and sulfosulfuron) at different application rates and timing were evaluated in wheat. In addition, herbicide carryover risk onto rotational crops (sorghum; maize and green gram, Vigina radiata) was also assessed. Isoproturon at 1 and 2 kg a.i. ha^?1 provided only 10.5% and 51.8%P. minor control respectively. Of the other herbicides, early post‐emergent [15–21 days after sowing (DAS)] flufenacet at 180–480 g a.i. ha^?1 provided acceptable control of P. minor, but failed to control broad‐leaved weeds and was phytotoxic to the wheat crop. Metribuzin at 210 g a.i. ha^?1 was effective in controlling both Phalaris and dicotyledonous weeds. Mixtures of both flufenacet and metribuzin at reduced rates were better than flufenacet for weed control and grain yield. The efficacy of flufenacet and metribuzin was drastically reduced with later growth stages of P. minor (four to five leaf). Whereas sulfosulfuron at 25–30 g a.i. ha^?1, applied either early post‐emergence (19 DAS) or post‐emergence (30–42 DAS), was quite effective. Overall, sulfosulfuron was the most effective treatment with regard to weed control and crop yield. However, maize and sorghum grown in rotation after harvest of sulfosulfuron‐treated wheat plots showed 65–73% crop biomass inhibition. The residual effect of sulfosulfuron was also noticed on Trianthema portulacastrum (Horse purslane), causing 73.5% dry matter reduction. By contrast, no carryover damage with flufenacet was observed on maize, sorghum and green gram. Glasshouse pot experiments and field trials investigating crop sensitivity to pre‐plant applications of sulfosulfuron found the decreasing order: sorghum > maize > green gram. The risk of carryover onto rotational crops should be considered when choosing alternative herbicides for P. minor control in wheat.