Untersuchungen zum Abbau des Herbizids Chlorphenpropmethyl im Boden und durch Mikroorganismen

Investigations on the breakdown of the herbicide chlorfenpropmethyl in the soil hy microorganisms The herbicide 2-chloro-3-(4-chlorophenyl)propionic acid methyl ester (chlorfenprop-methyl) was hydrolized within a few hours in sandy and loamy soils. The product of the hydrolysis, 2-chloro-3-(4-chlorophenyl)propionic acid (CPP), was metabolized in both soils with a half-life period of 4–8 days when the initial concentration was 22 ppm and of just one day when the initial concentration was 4.4 ppm. In soil 4-chloro-benzoic acid was identified as an intermediary product of the CPP breakdown, and, in mixed cultures of soil micro-organisms, 4-chloro-cinnamic acid as well, In autoclaved soil and soil sterilized with NaN₃ the breakdown of CPP did not take place. The enrichment and isolation of the micro-organisms responsible for the first step in the breakdown of CPP was not possible. Two strains of bacteria isolated from the experimental soils and tentatively attributed to the genera Flavobacterium and Brevibacterium respectively, broke the metabolite 4-chloro-cinnamic acid down to 4- chloro-benzoic acid; two strains of the genus Arthrobacter grew on the 4-chloro-benzoic acid as the only carbon source. The results on the whole support the view that chlorfenpropmethyl is first hydrolized to CPP which is then broken down via 4-chloro-cinnamic acid to 4-chloro-benzoic acid. Further breakdown of 4-chloro-benzoic acid follows by ring cleavage.     

Flat fan and air induction nozzles affect soybean herbicide efficacy

Fifteen field experiments were conducted from 2002 to 2005 to determine the influence of the nozzle type, spray volume, spray pressure, and herbicide rate on herbicidal efficacy in soybean. There was no effect of the nozzle type on herbicidal efficacy with fomesafen, bentazon, glyphosate, and cloransulam‐methyl when applied at the manufacturer's recommended rate. The control of Echinochloa crus‐galli (barnyardgrass) with quizalofop‐p‐ethyl was improved when applied with flat fan (FF) nozzles compared with air induction (AI) nozzles. There was an increase in weed control with the FF nozzles compared with the AI nozzles in four of the 13 comparisons when the herbicides were applied at half the recommended rate, while in two situations, application with the AI nozzles resulted in improved weed control. With the FF nozzles, there was no effect of the water carrier volume on weed control with bentazon, glyphosate, and cloransulam‐methyl. The control of Abutilon theophrasti (velvetleaf) and Chenopodium album (common lambsquarters) with fomesafen and E. crus‐galli with quizalofop‐p‐ethyl was improved at the higher water carrier volume. With the AI nozzles, the control of A. theophrasti and Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed) with fomesafen and E. crus‐galli with quizalofop‐p‐ethyl was improved at the higher water carrier volume, while the control of A. theophrasti and Polygonum persicaria (ladysthumb) was improved with glyphosate at the lower water carrier volume. With the AI nozzles, the control of C. album with bentazon and E. crus‐galli with quizalofop‐p‐ethyl was improved at the higher spray pressure. There was no effect of the nozzle type on the soybean yield with glyphosate, cloransulam‐methyl, and quizalofop‐p‐ethyl. The use of the FF nozzles compared with the AI nozzles to apply fomesafen and bentazon increased the soybean yield by 6 and 7%, respectively. Based on this study, the optimum nozzle type, water carrier volume, and spray pressure is herbicide‐ and weed species‐specific.     

Efficacy of four corn (Zea mays L.) herbicides when applied with flat fan and air induction nozzles

Twelve field experiments were conducted over a 4 year (2002–2005) period to determine the influence of the herbicide dose, nozzle type, spray volume, and spray pressure on herbicide efficacy in field corn ( Zea mays L.). The control of Abutilon theophrasti (velvetleaf ), Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed), Chenopodium album (common lambsquarters), Amaranthus powellii (green pigweed), and Echinochloa crus-galli (barnyard grass) was improved with the use of full herbicide doses compared to half doses of bromoxynil, glufosinate, dicamba, and nicosulfuron. The yield was increased for bromoxynil, glufosinate, and nicosulfuron when the full herbicide dose was used. When applied at the manufacturer's recommended dose, flat fan nozzles, compared to air induction (AI) nozzles, provided better control of A. theophrasti , A. artemisiifolia , and C. album with bromoxynil, A. artemisiifolia and C. album with dicamba, and E. crus-galli with nicosulfuron. Bromoxynil, in relation to weed control, was the only herbicide that was affected by the water carrier volume. By increasing the spray pressure with an AI nozzle, there was an improvement in the control of A. theophrasti , A. artemisiifolia, and C. album with the application of bromoxynil and E. crus-galli with the application of nicosulfuron, with a yield increase with bromoxynil. Overall, this study concludes that the optimum nozzle type, water carrier volume, and spray pressure is herbicide- and weed species-specific.