Weed Management in Transplanted Bell Pepper (Capsicum frutescens) with Clomazone and Rimsulfuron

Abstract

In field studies, in 1993, 1994, and 1995, clomazone at 390 g ai/ha and rimsulfuron at 35 g ai/ha were evaluated preplant incorporated (PPI) and postemergence (POST), respectively, for weed control and crop response in transplanted ‘Keystone RG3’ bell pepper. Clomazone did not injure bell pepper. Common lambsquarters and jimsonweed control was 77 to 95% by clomazone treatments but was variable by rimsulfuron treatments at 41 to 93% common lambsquarters control and 42 to 68% jimsonweed control; common ragweed control by both herbicides was unacceptable. Injury by rimsulfuron to bell pepper in the field was 19 to 47% at 21 DAT. In the greenhouse, injury to Keystone RG3 and three additional bell pepper varieties, ‘Camelot,’ ‘Jupiter,’ and ‘Memphis’ was similar at 44 to 62% by rimsulfuron at 17 to 35 g/ha POST, and bell pepper had lower height and dry weight than untreated controls. In the greenhouse, jimsonweed control was below 49% and black nightshade control was below 23% by 17 to 35 g/ha rimsulfuron. In these studies, clomazone controlled common lambsquarters and jimsonweed without injury to bell pepper. The solanaceous weeds treated in this study were not well controlled by rimsulfuron, and bell pepper was not sufficiently tolerant to rimsulfuron to permit its use in this crop.