Identification of Efficacious Adjuvants for Sethoxydim and Bentazon

Abstract

Experimental adjuvants were tested to maximize herbicidal activity of sethoxydim on quackgrass and of bentazon on common lambsquarters. Efficacious adjuvants were identified by measuring the14C-herbicide droplet spread and absorption, as influenced by various adjuvants, on the target weed. The absorption and droplet spreadability of sethoxydim and bentazon on quackgrass and common lambsquarters leaves were increased or were decreased depending on the type of adjuvant used. No correlation was found between sethoxydim droplet spread and absorption on quackgrass. With bentazon, the relationship between these two factors was greater. Thus, measurement of droplet spread, as affected by adjuvants, was useful only as a screening technique for bentazon. Blending surfactants with paraffinic oil or soybean oil to form a crop oil concentrate changed the efficacy of the surfactant compared to the surfactant by itself. Surfactants most effective as components of paraffinic-oil based crop oil concentrate were different from surfactants ideal for inclusion with soybean oil-based crop oil concentrate. Thus, the effectiveness of a crop oil concentrate depends on herbicide, surfactant, and oil types. In the field, several of the superior adjuvants identified in the laboratory enhanced sethoxydim and bentazon activity on grass and broadleaf weeds.