Wild Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum) Control with Thiocarbamate Herbicides on Previously Treated Soils

Abstract

Efficacy of EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylcarbamothioate), butylate [S-ethyl bis(2-methylpropyl)carbamothioate], vernolate (S-propyl dipropylcarbamothioate), and cycloate (S-ethyl cyclohexylethylcarbamothioate) applied with dichlormid (N,N-diallyl-2,2-dichloroacetamide), and the former three herbicides applied with dichlormid and dietholate (O,O-diethyl-O-phenol phosphorothioate) for wild proso millet (Panicum miliaceumL. ssp.ruderale(Kitagawa) Tzevelev. # PANMI) control in corn (Zea maysL.) was evaluated in fields previously treated with EPTC + dichlormid or EPTC + dichlormid + dietholate. Cycloate + dichlormid usually controlled millet regardless of prior herbicide use. But EPTC + dichlormid was less effective than on soils not previously treated with the herbicides, suggesting enhanced soil biodegradation. The use of EPTC + dichlormid with row cultivation or applications of selected herbicides improved millet control. Following prior use of EPTC + dichlormid, wild proso millet control was improved by the addition of dietholate to EPTC + dichlormid and vernolate + dichlormid but not butylate + dichlormid. In dissipation studies using soils previously treated with EPTC + dichlormid, the relative order of herbicide persistence was EPTC + dichlormid < vernolate + dichlormid < butylate + dichlormid < EPTC + dichlormid + dietholate < vernolate + dichlormid + dietholate = butylate + dichlormid + dietholate < cycloate + dichlormid. When EPTC + dichlormid + dietholate was applied to soils previously treated with that mixture, wild proso millet control was again reduced. Dissipation studies confirmed that dietholate slowed biodegradation of EPTC in soils previously treated with EPTC + dichlormid but not with EPTC + dichlormid + dietholate.