Crop Response to Soil Applications of Ethofumesate

Abstract

Tolerance of sugarbeets (Beta vulgaris L. ‘Mono-Hy A1’) to ethofumesate (2-ethoxy-2,3-dihydro-3,3-dimethyl-5-benzofuranyl methanesulphonate) was associated with rate of application and soil type. Yield of roots was significantly reduced by preplant-incorporated applications of 3.4, 4.5, or 9.0 kg/ha of ethofumesate to a sandy loam soil, but only the 9.0 kg/ha rate reduced the yield on a loam soil. Pinto beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. ‘Idaho #111’) yielded normally when planted on a sandy loam soil within 4 to 6 weeks after ethofumesate was incorporated at rates of 2.2 to 9.0 kg/ha. Corn [Zea mays L. ‘Pioneer brand 3773 MFS(N) hybrid’] yields were reduced in proportion to the rate of herbicide applied 3 weeks before planting. In greenhouse studies, barley (Hordeum vulgare L. ‘Moravian’) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ‘Scout’) were about 10 times more susceptible to soil residues of ethofumesate than corn. Concentrations of ethofumesate in the soil as low as 0.1, 0.2, and 1.5 ppmw reduced the height of wheat, barley, and corn, respectively.