Environmental factors affecting the herbicidal activity of DPX-A7881

DPX-A7881, methyl 2-(4-ethoxy-6-methyl-amino-1, 3, 5-triazin-2-yl)carbamoylsulphanoyl] benzoate, is a sulfonylurea herbicide being developed in Canada and Europe for post-emergence broadleaf weed control in spring and winter rapeseed. Growth room studies were conducted to determine the environmental factors affecting the herbicidal activity of DPX-A7881 applied post-emergence on winter rapeseed (Brassica napusu L. ‘Tandem’) and on a closely related weed species, Sinapis arvensis L. (wild mustard). Laboratory tests were carried out at tempera tures ranging from 2–26°C, at relative humidities from near 40% to >95%, with rain-free periods from 0.25–8 h after herbicide application, at soil moisture contents from 50–200% of field capacity, and with irradiances from 23–450 μEm^?2s^?1 Significant control of S. arvensis was demonstrated for all treatments except under poor growing conditions at the lowest temperatures and irradiances tested. After two weeks' exposure to each of the tem perature treatments, the herbicide maintained control of S. arvensis during a subsequent week of favourable growing conditions. Relative humidity, soil moisture or simulated rainfall did not significantly alter the herbicidal activity of DPX-A7881 on S. arvensis. DPX-A7881 showed a high degree of crop safety on B. napus. The herbicide did not significantly reduce the dry weights of B. napus grown under any of the environmental conditions tested.