Toxicity of Residual Herbicides to Peaches (Prunus persica) and the Interaction With Soil Mounding

Abstract

The phytotoxicity of three herbicides commonly used on peaches was evaluated in the greenhouse and in the field. Peaches grown using standard sand culture techniques in the greenhouse were treated with diuron, terbacil, and simazine at 0, 0.12, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 5.0 ppmw for 4 weeks. Peaches were most sensitive to diuron and least sensitive to terbacil. Field studies showed peaches grown in a sandy loam soil low in organic matter were more likely to be injured by terbacil than diuron or simazine. Soil mounded around the trunk to prevent winter injury did not affect peach tolerance to diuron or simazine but increased terbacil injury in one year.