Fall and Spring Applications of Trifluralin and Metribuzin in Fababeans (Vicia faba)

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of fall and spring pre-plant incorporated applications of trifluralin (α,α,α-tri-fluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine) and metribuzin [4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazine-5(4H)-one] alone and in combinations on crop tolerance, seed yield, and weed control in fababeans (Vicia fabaL. ‘Diana’). Trifluralin applied either in the fall or the spring resulted in acceptable control of green foxtail [Setaria viridis(L.) Beauv.] and wild oat (Avena fatuaL.) while metribuzin resulted in excellent control of wild mustard [Brassica kaber(DC.) L.C. Wheeler var.pinnatifida(Stokes) L.C. Wheeler]. In 2 out of 3 yr, a tank-mixture of trifluralin plus metribuzin applied in the fall at 1.4 and 0.4 kg/ha, respectively, resulted in significantly larger seed yield than the same combination applied at 1.1 and 0.3 kg/ha in the spring. Although the fall treatments generally resulted in higher seed yields, there was no consistent difference in weed densities between fall and spring applications. In both field and growth room studies, trifluralin reduced the injury to fababeans from metribuzin. A postemergence application of metribuzin in the spring at 0.3 kg/ha following a fall-application of trifluralin resulted in good wild mustard control but caused considerable crop damage. Dinoseb (2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenol) and bentazon [3-isopropyl-1H-2,1,3-benzothiadiazin-4(3H)-one 2,2dioxide] controlled wild mustard effectively with no injury to the crop.