Effect of Formulation and Application Time of Day on Detecting Dicamba in the Air under Field Conditions

Abstract

The development of dicamba-tolerant and other auxin-tolerant crops will enable the use of these effective herbicides in soybean and cotton at application timings such as at planting or over-the-top that are not currently possible. This research examined the effect of various factors on detection of postapplication amounts of dicamba in the air under field conditions by coupling a sample collection system with advanced chemical analysis of those samples. The quantity of dimethylamine salt of dicamba that was detected within 48 hr after application was two times greater (P < 0.05) than the quantity of diglycoamine salt formulation based on field studies in 2009. Regardless of application timing, the amount of detected dicamba was greatest during the 0 to 12 hr time period after application. However, the total detected after 48 hr was less for evening applications (5 micrograms [µg]) compared with midday (17 µg) or morning (14 µg) applications based on 2010 field trials. Average ambient air temperature (and other weather variables) correlated with higher detection levels of dicamba in the air in the field.