Responses of otebo bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to postemergence herbicides

Ontario otebo bean growers have few herbicide options available for weed management. Six field trials were conducted in Ontario, Canada, over a 2 year period (2003 and 2004) to evaluate the tolerance of otebo bean to the postemergence (POST) application of bentazon at 1080 and 2160 g ai ha⁻¹, fomesafen at 240 and 480 g ai ha⁻¹, sethoxydim at 500 and 1000 g ai ha⁻¹, quizalofop-p-ethyl at 72 and 144 g ai ha⁻¹, imazamox plus fomesafen at 25 + 200 and 50 + 400 g ai ha⁻¹, and imazamox plus bentazon at 25 + 600 and 50 + 1200 g ai ha⁻¹. All treatments, including the untreated control, were maintained weed-free during the growing season. The POST application of bentazon, imazamox plus fomesafen, and imazamox plus bentazon caused as much as 9% visual injury and reduced the plant height ≤ 12%, reduced the shoot dry weight ≤ 32%, and delayed maturity but had no adverse effect on the yield of otebo bean. Fomesafen, sethoxydim, and quizalofop-p-ethyl applied POST caused as much as 8% visual injury but this was transient and had no adverse effect on the plant height, shoot dry weight, seed moisture content, and yield of otebo bean, except for quizalofop-p-ethyl, which reduced the shoot dry weight as much as 18%. Based on these results, bentazon, fomesafen, sethoxydim, quizalofop-p-ethyl, imazamox plus fomesafen, and imazamox plus bentazon applied POST have an adequate margin of crop safety for weed management in otebo bean production in Ontario. However, care must be taken to avoid spray overlaps to prevent injury from bentazon, imazamox plus fomesafen, and imazamox plus bentazon.     

Enhanced effect of thiobencarb on bispyribac-sodium control of Echinochloa phyllopogon (Stapf ) Koss. in California rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Bispyribac-sodium {sodium 2,6-bis[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)oxy] benzoate} has recently been introduced to California where it effectively controls Echinochloa spp. in rice ( Oryza sativa L.). However, biotypes of early watergrass ( Echinochloa oryzoides (Ard.) Fritsch) and late watergrass ( E. phyllopogon (Stapf ) Koss.) have evolved resistance to this herbicide. In 2001 and 2002, greenhouse and field experiments evaluated interactions between thiobencarb { S -[(4-chlorophenyl) methyl] diethylcarbamothioate} and bispyribac-sodium on resistant (R) and susceptible (S) late watergrass in California rice. Synergism was assessed using Colby's test and regression analysis. In the greenhouse, thiobencarb at 4480 and 5333 g ai ha⁻¹ synergistically reduced bispyribac-sodium GR₅₀ values on the R and S biotypes by 50–70% without increasing toxicity to rice. Synergism was also observed on S late watergrass in the field when 10 g ai ha⁻¹ bispyribac-sodium was mixed with 1120–2240 g ai ha⁻¹ thiobencarb. These effects could be related to interactions between thiocarbamates and enzymes in Phase I reactions of herbicide metabolism. This synergism results in better control at lower rates allowing a reduction in weed control costs, the herbicide load on the environment and a lower selection pressure towards resistant weed biotypes.     

Propanil activity, uptake and metabolism in resistant Echinochloa spp. biotypes

Field resistance of Echinochloa spp. to propanil has been previously reported in Costa Rica, Colombia and Arkansas (USA). In this study, the mechanism of resistance was investigated in three resistant (R) and three susceptible (S) biotypes. The shoot fresh weight reduction in pot-grown plants from a post-emergence spray of propanil at 2.44 kg a.i. ha⁻¹ on biotypes R/S from Costa Rica, Colombia and Arkansas was 35/98%, 25/79% and 20/82% respectively. In vitro chlorophyll fluorescence data from leaf tissue incubated in propanil showed that photosynthesis was inhibited in all biotypes, indicating that the propanil-binding site and enzyme were not altered. After transfer to herbicide-free solution, photosynthesis recovered only in resistant biotypes, indicating that the mechanism of resistance was caused by enhanced metabolism of the herbicide. Simultaneous treatment with fenitrothion, an aryl acylamidase inhibitor, prevented the recovery of photosynthesis in leaf tissue in two resistant biotypes. In contrast, the cytochrome P450 mono-oxygenase inhibitor, 1-aminobenzotriazole, did not prevent recovery from propanil in leaf tissue. Application of ¹⁴C-propanil to the second leaf of intact Echinochloa plants showed that c . 90% of the radioactivity remained in the treated leaf for up to 72 h after application. No major differences in translocation between R and S biotype plants were found. TLC analysis of tissue extracts from the treated leaves showed substantially less radioactivity associated with propanil, present after 72 h in rice or in the three R biotypes, compared with S biotypes.     

Synthesis and herbicidal activity of new 3-(3-bromothiophen-2-yl)-5-(2,6-difluorobenzyl)oxymethyl-5-methyl-4,5-dihydroisoxazole as a paddy field herbicide

A new compound 3-(3-bromothiophen-2-yl)-5-(2,6-difluorobenzyl)oxymethyl-5-methyl-4,5-dihydroisoxazole was synthesized and the herbicidal activity was assessed under glasshouse and flooded paddy field conditions. This compound demonstrated good rice selectivity and potent herbicidal activity against annual weeds at 125 g ai ha⁻¹ under greenhouse conditions. Soil application of this compound showed the complete control of barnyardgrass to the 4th leaf stage at 250 g ai ha⁻¹. Field trials indicated that this compound, combined with pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, controlled annual and perennial weeds rapidly with good tolerance by transplanted rice seedlings from postemergence and soil application. This compound showed a low mammalian and environmental toxicity in various toxicological tests.     

Tolerance of black, cranberry, kidney, and white bean to cloransulam-methyl

The level of tolerance of various market classes of dry bean to cloransulam-methyl is not known. Three field studies were conducted in Ontario, Canada during 2007 and 2008 to determine the level of tolerance of black, cranberry, kidney, and white bean to the pre-emergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) application of cloransulam-methyl at 17.5, 35, and 70 g ai ha⁻¹. Cloransulam-methyl applied at 17.5, 35, and 70 g ha⁻¹ caused between 13 and 23% injury in black, cranberry, kidney, and white bean, respectively. Cloransulam-methyl applied at 17.5, 35, and 70 g ha⁻¹ reduced the shoot dry weight by between 16 and 28% compared to the untreated control. Cloransulam-methyl applied PRE reduced the height of black bean by 27% and the height of cranberry bean by 25% at 70 g ha⁻¹ and reduced the height of white bean by 19% at 35 g ha⁻¹ and by 37% at 70 g ha⁻¹. Cloransulam-methyl applied PRE reduced the yield of black bean by 29% at 35 g ha⁻¹ and by 43% at 70 g ha⁻¹, reduced the yield of cranberry bean by 43% at 70 g ha⁻¹, and reduced the yield of white bean by 36% at 35 g ha⁻¹ and by 54% at 70 g ha⁻¹. Based on these results, there is not an adequate margin of crop safety for the PRE and POST application of cloransulam-methyl in black, cranberry, kidney, and white bean at the rates evaluated.     

Control of weed barley species in winter wheat with sulfosulfuron at different rates and times of application

Field experiments were conducted at five locations in the major wheat production regions of Iran to evaluate the efficacy of sulfosulfuron in controlling weed barley species (including Hordeum spontaneum , Hordeum murinum , Hordeum distichon , and Hordeum vulgare ) in the 2004–2005 and 2005–2006 growing seasons. Sulfosulfuron was applied either postemergence (POST) or preplant-incorporated (PPI) at 0, 20.25, 30.75, 40.5, 51.0, 60.75 or 71.25 g ai ha⁻¹ to plots arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Sulfosulfuron at the recommended rate (20.25 g ai ha⁻¹) failed to provide acceptable control of the weed barley species. However, the level of control increased with the application rate, particularly at rates >51.0 g ai ha⁻¹. Generally, PPI-applied sulfosulfuron resulted in markedly greater control levels than those of a POST application and complete control of H. murinum and H. vulgare was achieved with PPI-applied sulfosulfuron at all rates >20.25 and 30.75 g ai ha⁻¹, respectively. In most cases, the wheat yield increased with the application rate without any crop injury. The highest yield increase (186%) was obtained with a PPI application of 71.25 g ai ha⁻¹.     

Reduced rates of tank mixtures for red sprangletop (Leptochloa chinensis [L.] Nees) and greater club-rush (Scirpus grossus [L.] f.) control in rice

A study on the efficacy of tank-mix combinations on the growth of Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees and Scirpus grossus (L.) f. at the 3–4-leaf stage was conducted under glasshouse conditions. Sethoxydim plus cyhalofop-butyl at 8 + 25, 16 + 25, 32 + 25, 32 + 12.5, and 32 + 6.25 g ai ha⁻¹ provided good control of L. chinensis , ranging from 89–95%. However, a comparison of the costs of herbicide mixtures revealed that sethoxydim at 32 g ai ha⁻¹ plus cyhalofop-butyl at 6.25 g ai ha⁻¹ were the most cost-effective among the combinations. For Scirpus grossus , bensulfuron plus 2,4-D dimethylamine at 2.5 + 18, 5.0 + 18, 1.25 + 36, 2.5 + 36, and 5.0 + 36 g ai ha⁻¹ gave good control that ranged from 88–93%. Tank-mixing bensulfuron with 2,4-D at 1.25 + 36 g ai ha⁻¹ was, however, the most cost-effective mixture compared to the other mixtures. None of the tank mixtures tested in this study caused injury to the rice seedlings. However, further field studies need to be undertaken to verify these findings.     

The relative importance of root and shoot competition between water-seeded rice and Echinochloa phyllopogon

The relationship between root and shoot growth were determined for water-seeded rice and Echinochloa phyllopogon in greenhouse experiments. When grown in monoculture at four nitrogen rates (0, 60, 120, 180 kg N ha⁻¹), root dry weight was highly correlated with canopy structure for both species. Echinochloa phyllopogon showed a significantly stronger response to the nitrogen rate than rice. When rice and E. phyllopogon were grown in competition, with roots either separated or allowed to mingle, root competition contributed more than shoot competition to reductions in the growth of the target species. The results suggest that root competition may be the primary mechanism determining competitive outcomes between water-seeded rice and E. phyllopogon . The importance of root competition and the relationship between root and shoot growth demonstrated in this study suggest that researchers should not rely solely on correlations between shoot traits and competitive ability as evidence that competition is primarily for light. Our results also suggest the importance of considering the whole plant when assessing rice cultivars for competitive ability.     

Response of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and weeds to tank mixtures of 2,4-D plus MCPA with clodinafop propargyl

Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted in 2004 and 2005 to study weed control and the response of winter wheat to tank mixtures of 2,4-D plus MCPA with clodinafop propargyl. The field experiments were conducted at Yazd and Oroumieh, Iran, with factorial combinations of 2,4-D plus MCPA at 0, 975, and 1300 g ai ha⁻¹ and with clodinafop propargyl at 0, 64, 80, 96, and 112 g ai ha⁻¹ in four replications. The greenhouse experiments further evaluated the effect of these tank mixtures on weed control, where each herbicide mixture was considered as one treatment and the experiment was established in a randomized complete block design with four replications. In the field experiments, the herbicides were applied at wheat tillering, while in the greenhouse experiments they were applied at the beginning of the tillering stage and at the four-leaf stage of the grass and broadleaf weeds, respectively. The results indicated antagonistic effects between 2,4-D plus MCPA and clodinafop propargyl. The best tank mixture with regard to weed control efficacy was 2,4-D plus MCPA at 975 g ai ha⁻¹ with clodinafop propargyl at 96 g ai ha⁻¹. The wheat grain yield was also increased by the tank mixture of clodinafop propargyl with 2,4-D plus MCPA. Generally, to inhibit clodinafop propargyl efficacy reduction due to tank-mixing with 2,4-D plus MCPA, it is recommended that the application dose of 64 g ai ha⁻¹ should be increased to 96 g ai ha⁻¹.     

Biological activity of pyribenzoxim in winter wheat and associated weeds

Pot and field tests were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of pyribenzoxim for winter weeds in wheat. In the pot tests, pyribenzoxim, at 50 g ha⁻¹, controlled certain biotypes of blackgrass, including a fenoxaprop-P-ethyl-resistant biotype (the "Notts" biotype). A chlorotoluron-resistant blackgrass (the "Peldon" biotype) was not controlled. Cleaver, at the three-to-four-leaf stage, was completely controlled by pyribenzoxim at 30 g ha⁻¹. In the field, the application in December gave good control of common chickweed, but did not control other weeds. No damage to wheat was observed with this rate of pyribenzoxim in December. The application in March gave complete control of blackgrass , hairy chess, and soft brome at 70 g ha⁻¹, and cleaver at 140 g ha⁻¹. The partial control of corn poppy and field violet was achieved. The March application scorched the wheat at 50–70 g ha⁻¹, with prolonged stunting at 100–140 g ha⁻¹. In conclusion, it was shown that pyribenzoxim had potential as a wheat herbicide, but needed further fine-tuning to find an optimum dosage.     

Role of underground parts of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. var. formosensis Ohwi) in its sensitivity to thenylchlor in soil

In the present study, the phytotoxic activity of top-soil applied with thenylchlor [2-chloro- N -(3-methoxy-2-thieny)-2',6'-dimethylacetanilide] on the growth of rice ( Oryza sativa L.) was dependent on the emergence depth in soil but its activity on barnyardgrass ( Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. var. formosensis Ohwi) was only slightly affected by the emergence depth. However, the phytotoxic activity on barnyardgrass and rice was similar irrespective of the different emergence depths in its treatment to all soil layers. Thenylchlor treatment to the mesocotyl of barnyardgrass induced significant inhibition of shoot elongation, whereas the treatment to the coronal root only inhibited the coronal elongation without inhibiting shoot elongation. Absorption and translocation of ¹⁴C-thenylchlor in barnyardgrass were determined in water culture. The different amounts of radioactivity per plant among the treatments to the underground parts were due to the plant part that came in contact with ¹⁴C-thenylchlor. The radioactivity per dry weight was found to be higher in the basal part of the shoot than in its upper part in all treatments to the underground parts. It was suggested that the phytotoxic activity of thenylchlor on the growth of barnyardgrass in soil is induced by its accumulation in the basal part of the shoot through translocation. This primarily occurs after the absorption substantially by the mesocotyl from the herbicide-treated layer and additionally by other underground parts.     

White bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) tolerance to preplant-incorporated herbicides

There is a limited number of registered herbicides in white beans. Field trials were conducted at two Ontario, Canada, locations (Exeter and Ridgetown) in 2001 and 2002 to evaluate tolerance of two white bean cultivars, AC Compass and OAC Thunder, to preplant-incorporated applications of S -metolachlor plus imazethapyr (1600 + 75 and 3200 + 150 g ai ha⁻¹, respectively), flumetsulam plus S -metolachlor ( premixed at 1443 and 2886 g ai ha⁻¹) and cloransulam-methyl (35 and 70 g ai ha⁻¹). There were no differences between the two cultivars in their responses to the herbicide treatments. S -metolachlor plus imazethapyr caused as much as 5% visual crop injury and decreased plant height up to 20%, shoot dry weight up to 39% and yield as much as 21%. Flumetsulam plus S -metolachlor caused as much as 7% visual crop injury and reduced plant height by up to 25%, shoot dry weight by up to 46% and yield as much as 24%. Cloransulam-methyl caused as much as 10% visual crop injury and decreased plant height up to 35%, shoot dry weight up to 55% and yield as much as 44%. There were no differences in seed moisture content among any of the herbicide treatments. This research suggests that the margin of safety of white bean is inadequate to support the preplant-incorporated registration of S -metolachlor plus imazethapyr, flumetsulam plus S -metolachlor and cloransulam-methyl in Ontario.     

Proper adjuvant selection to enhance the activity of triclopyr combined with metsulfuron on the control of Hedyotis verticillata

A study was conducted to evaluate the combined activity of a tank mixture of triclopyr plus metsulfuron with non-ionic surfactant (NIS), crop oil concentrate (COC), and organosilicon (OS) adjuvants on the control of Hedyotis verticillata under glasshouse and field conditions. The results of both the glasshouse and field experiments showed that 160 g ai ha⁻¹ triclopyr plus 0.2 g ai ha⁻¹ metsulfuron and 320 g ai ha⁻¹ triclopyr plus 0.4 g ai ha⁻¹ metsulfuron, with the addition of 0.25% NIS, 0.05% COC, or 0.05% OS, were effective in controlling H. verticillata . A comparison of the cost revealed that the most cost-effective combination for controlling H. verticillata is 160 g ai ha⁻¹ triclopyr plus 0.2 g ai ha⁻¹ metsulfuron combined with 0.25% NIS.     

Evaluation of the allelopathic potential of Kava (Piper methysticum L.) for weed control in rice

Kava is a perennial pepper plant from the Oceanic region, which is commonly used as a drink by natives and for pharmacological purposes. Results of this study concluded that Kava has allelopathic potential and suppressed germination and growth of lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L), barnyardgrass ( E. crus-galli Beauv var. formosensis Ohwi.), and duck-tongue weed ( M. vaginalis Presl var. plantaginea Solms-Laub.) Moreover, Kava inhibited emergence of weeds in paddy soils. The inhibition of Kava became stronger as the applied concentration increased. In a greenhouse experiment, Kava had the greatest inhibition on emergence and weed growth in paddy soils when a dose of 1 ton ha⁻¹ of Kava was divided and applied at 3, 16, and 23 days after watering. Inhibition by Kava varied among weed species. Results from this study suggest that Kava might be useful for weed control in rice or reduce dependence on herbicide.     

A note on the chemical composition, intake and digestion of Striga hermonthica herbage by sheep

Striga hermonthica causes serious crop yield losses in West Africa. Hand pulling, an effective method for the reduction of light infestations, might be encouraged if farmers could use this weed as livestock feed. This study evaluated the chemical composition and the voluntary intake and digestion of S. hermonthica herbage by sheep. Crude protein (g kg⁻¹ dry matter (d.m.)) was 184 in the whole plant, 230 in the leaf and 87 in the stem. Ash content varied from 183 to 253 g kg d.m.⁻¹. The concentration of neutral and acid detergent fibre and lignin in whole pot-grown plants was 364, 278 and 127 g kg d.m.⁻¹ respectively. The digestibility of dry and organic (o.m.) matter was 493 and 657 g kg⁻¹, respectively, and intake of digestible o.m. was 27.1 g kg W^−0.75. The relatively high N and P levels in S. hermonthica warrant further evaluation in terms of its potential use as a source of protein or for compost. Its use as a feed appears to be limited by the high ash content and possibly by anti-nutritional effects on animals. These effects should be further investigated before recommending its use for this purpose.     

Effects of surfactants on primisulfuron activity in barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli [L.] Beauv.) and green foxtail (Setaria viridis [L.] Beauv.)

Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted to measure the contact angle of primisulfuron droplets with and without surfactants on the leaf surfaces of barnyardgrass and green foxtail, to determine the primisulfuron activity on these weed species, and to examine the spray deposit of primisulfuron with and without surfactants on the leaf surface of green foxtail using scanning electron microscopy. A non-ionic surfactant (NIS) and an organosilicone wetting agent (OWA) were used. The contact angles of 1 μL droplets were measured on the leaf surface using a goniometer. The activity of primisulfuron on barnyardgrass and green foxtail was assessed at 3 weeks after treatment based on visual injury and the fresh weight. The contact angles of the droplets of primisulfuron on the adaxial surface of the barnyardgrass and green foxtail leaves were 152° and 127°, respectively, when applied without surfactant. The addition of either surfactant markedly reduced the contact angle for both weed species, which was lowest when the OWA was added to primisulfuron. The percentage injury of barnyardgrass was very low, even at the higher rate of primisulfuron, regardless of the surfactant. Primisulfuron at 40 g ha⁻¹ controlled 43% of green foxtail without surfactant, which increased to 65% with the NIS and 83% with the OWA. Primisulfuron with a surfactant markedly reduced the fresh weight of green foxtail compared with primisulfuron applied alone, regardless of the primisulfuron rate and surfactant type. The scanning electron micrographs showed a uniform deposit of spray droplets, with close contact of the droplets to the leaf epicuticular surface in green foxtail in the presence of a surfactant compared with no surfactant. The enhanced primisulfuron activity on green foxtail with surfactants was related to the reduced contact angle and uniform deposition of the primisulfuron spray droplets on the leaf surface.     

Effects of lodging of Echinochloa crus-galli L. on the herbicidal efficacy of MTB-951, a mycoherbicide using Drechslera monoceras (Drechsler) Subram. et Jain (= Exserohilum monoceras [Drechsler] Leonard et Suggs)

MTB-951 is a plant pathogen ( Drechslera monoceras ), which was isolated from native Echinochloa spp. in Japan. The conidia of this pathogen were used as the herbicidal active ingredient to control Echinochloa crus-galli L. The herbicidal efficacy of MTB-951 on E. crus-galli was drastically increased with an increasing water depth of between 1 and 10 cm. The efficacy also was increased when shoots were lodged by pushing down on them with a stainless steel net so that all parts of the weed were submerged. These results suggest that the contact area of the leaf surface of E. crus-galli with water is important for infection and that lodging the shoots of E. crus-galli might be effective in increasing the herbicidal efficacy. In order to find other methods to lodge the weed, we investigated several materials, of which diisononyl phthalate (DINP) was found to be the most effective. Using this material as a model, the effect of lodging on the herbicidal efficacy of MTB-951 was examined. The lodging ratio (ratio of the number of the plants lodged on the water surface to that of the total plants) was increased with an increased amount of DINP, between 0.5 and 8 kg ha⁻¹. The herbicidal efficacy of MTB-951 also was increased by DINP and a positive correlation was observed between the lodging ratio and herbicidal efficacy. These results indicate that lodging, which can increase the contact area between the leaf surface and water, enhances the herbicidal efficacy of MTB-951.     

Herbicide-resistant barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) in global rice production

Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.), an annual species of the family Poaceae, is a major weed problem in rice-producing countries throughout the globe. Synthetic herbicides can effectively control this grass in rice paddies, but the development of resistant biotypes after the continuous use of the same active ingredients has led to low herbicide efficacy and yield losses. In this review, a summary of resistant-barnyardgrass cases in global rice production is reported based on data from the International Herbicide-Resistant Weed Database. The first case of resistant barnyardgrass in rice paddies was to the photosystem-II inhibitor propanil in the late 1980s. Eighty-five (85) out of 116 cases in the period from 1986 to 2022 refer to resistant barnyardgrass (E. crus-galli var. crus-galli, E. crus-galli var. formosensis and E. crus-galli var. zelayensis) in 16 countries. Barnyardgrass has been found resistant to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors (34 cases), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors (23 cases), photosystem-II inhibitors (11 cases), auxin mimics/cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors (9 cases), very long chain fatty acid inhibitors (6 cases), and microtubule assembly inhibitors (1 case). The majority of all resistance cases reported to the active ingredients penoxsulam, bispyribac-sodium, and imazamox (ALS inhibitors), cyhalofop-butyl and fenoxaprop-ethyl (ACCase inhibitors), propanil (photosystem-II inhibitors), and quinclorac (auxin mimics/cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors). Although target-site resistance with specific mutations has been identified, non-target site resistance mainly through herbicide detoxification is also of great concern increasing the chance of multiple herbicide resistance evolution. Rotation of herbicides should be adopted concerning the modes of action used as well as the application methods to mitigate resistance evolution of this weed in rice paddies.     

Response of black, cranberry, kidney, and white bean to linuron

Dry bean producers in Ontario, Canada, have few herbicide options available for annual broad-leaved weed management and there is little information on the tolerance of dry bean to linuron. The tolerance of black, cranberry, kidney, and white bean to the pre-emergence (PRE) application of linuron at the rates of 0, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, and 2500 g ai ha⁻¹ was evaluated in field studies conducted in 2005 and 2006 at Exeter and in 2006 at Ridgetown, Ontario. The four market classes differed in their response to linuron. Cranberry and kidney bean were more tolerant to the PRE application of linuron than black and white bean. Linuron applied PRE caused as much as 12% injury in cranberry and kidney bean, 47% injury in black bean, and 56% injury in white bean. Linuron applied PRE at 500–2500 g ai ha⁻¹ had no effect on the height of cranberry and kidney bean but decreased the height by 7, 8, and 15% in black bean and by 10, 13, and 23% in white bean at 1500, 2000, and 2500 g ai ha⁻¹, respectively. Linuron applied PRE at the rates evaluated did not cause any adverse affect on the yield of cranberry, kidney, and white bean but black bean yield was reduced by 16% at 2500 g ai ha⁻¹. Based on these results, there is not an adequate margin of crop safety for the PRE application of linuron in black and white bean at rates >1000 g ai ha⁻¹. However, there is a potential for the use of linuron PRE for weed management in cranberry and kidney bean at the rates evaluated.     

Weed infestation and tea growth under various weed management methods in a young tea (Camellia sinensis[L.] Kuntze) plantation

A field experiment was conducted in the low country of Sri Lanka, during the period 1994–1995 to investigate the severity of weed infestation and tea growth in relation to weed management methods in newly established tea ( Camellia sinensis [L.] Kuntze). Manual weeding (hand and slash weeding) at various intervals was compared with various herbicides, with or without mulching. Weed control with herbicides was superior to that of hand weeding at 6-week intervals or more. Weed control with oxyfluorfen at 0.29 kg ai ha⁻¹ + paraquat at 0.17 kg ai ha⁻¹ or glyphosate at 0.99 kg ai ha⁻¹ + kaolin at 3.42 kg ha⁻¹ were superior. Plots unweeded for 12 weeks or more produced significantly greater ( P  < 0.05) weed biomass than plots unweeded for 6 weeks. Although the least weed dry weight ( P  < 0.05) and the greatest number of weed species were recorded with hand weeding at 2 week intervals, there was no particular benefit on tea growth when compared with hand weeding at 6 and 12 week intervals. Inter row mulching in chemically treated plots was more favorable for tea growth than no mulching, while living weed cover in unmulched slash weeded plots suppressed tea growth. A combination of mulching and herbicides, particularly oxyfluorfen and paraquat, followed by hand weeding at least every 6–8 weeks was considered the most appropriate weed management system for young tea.