Control of Volunteer Horseradish and Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) with Dicamba and Glyphosate

Abstract

Management of volunteer horseradish is a challenge when it is grown in rotation with other crops, such as corn and soybean. Although volunteer horseradish may not cause yield loss, these plants serve as hosts for various soilborne pathogens that damage subsequent horseradish crops. In addition to volunteer horseradish, glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth is becoming difficult to control in southwestern Illinois, as a consequence of the plant’s ability to withstand glyphosate and drought, produce many seeds, and grow rapidly. Field studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of glyphosate and dicamba on volunteer horseradish and Palmer amaranth control in 2014 and 2015. Glyphosate alone (1,265 and 1,893 g ae ha−1) and glyphosate plus dicamba at the high rate (1,680 g ae ha−1) provided the greatest volunteer horseradish control, ranging from 81% to 89% and 90% to 93%, respectively. Measures of root biomass reduction followed similar trends. Glyphosate alone provided the greatest reduction in volunteer horseradish root viability (79% to 100%) but was similar in efficacy to applications of glyphosate plus dicamba in most comparisons. Efficacy of PRE-only applications on Palmer amaranth control ranged from 92% to 99% control in 2014 and 68% to 99% in 2015. However, PRE-only applications were often similar in efficacy to PRE followed by (fb) glyphosate plus dicamba applied POST. Treatments containing flumioxazin did not control Palmer amaranth as well as other treatments. POST applications alone were not effective in managing Palmer amaranth. Many of the PRE fb POST treatment options tested will improve resistance management over PRE-only treatments, provide control of Palmer amaranth, and allow horseradish to be planted the following spring.