Chlorsulfuron for Weed Control in Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)

Abstract

Chlorsulfuron {2-chloro-N-[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]carbonyl]benzenesulfonamide} was nontoxic to safflower (Carthamus tinctoriusL.) when applied postemergence in 1983 and 1984 at 0.018 and 0.035 kg ai/ha. Trifluralin [2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenamine] at 1.1 and 1.7 kg ai/ha and pronamide [3,5-dichloro(N-1,1-dimethyl-2-propynyl)benzamide] at 0.8 and 1.1 kg ai/ha were applied previously as preplant soil-incorporated treatments. In both years, safflower was relatively free of weeds where trifluralin was applied alone or in sequential treatments with chlorsulfuron. Pronamide, with or without chlorsulfuron, failed to completely control witchgrass (Panicum capillareL. ♯ PANCA) in 1 yr; thus safflower grain yields were reduced 21 to 35% when compared to weed-free safflower. Chlorsulfuron controlled redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexusL. ♯ AMARE), puncturevine (Tribulus terrestrisL. ♯ TRBTE), and common sunflower (Helianthus annuusL. ♯ HELAN).