Effect of climatic factors on the potency of ioxynil and bromoxynil

Outdoor pot experiments, carried out between 1967 and 1971, mainly with Polygonum lapathifolium L. and Stellaria media (L.) Vill., showed that herbicidal potency of ioxynil and bromoxynil salts and esters was affected by climatic conditions, particularly solar radiation and relative humidity. Multiple regression equations were frequently obtained which accounted for 80% or more of the observed variation in effective dose (ED₉₀). By contrast, experiments in growth cabinets suggested that air temperature was the most important climatic variable; the reasons for this disagreement are discussed. It is concluded that climatic factors affect the potency of ioxynil and bromoxynil via their influence on leaf uptake; ester formulations (emulsions) were much less affected than aqueous salt solutions.