Effect of Herbicide Incorporation Methods on Shattercane (Sorghum bicolor) Control in Corn (Zea mays)

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at Lincoln, NE, in 1983 and 1984 to determine the effectiveness of subsurface jet injection of herbicides on a simulated shattercane [Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench # SORVU] infestation in corn (Zea maysL.). Alachlor [2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl)acetamide] and EPTC (S-ethyl dipropyl carbamothioate) plus dichlormid (2,2-dichloro-N,N-di-2-propenylacetamide), incorporated with a disc or applied from the subsurface and surface with a jet injector attached to a sweep plow, generally produced higher corn yields and shattercane control than herbicides applied with the sweep to the subsurface only. EPTC plus dichlormid controlled shattercane better than alachlor. Cultivation improved shattercane control by at least 10% in conjunction with most jet injection and disc-incorporated alachlor treatments. Cultivation increased corn yields by about 10 to 20% when averaged over all herbicides and application patterns. A subsurface plus surface herbicide injection system supplemented with cultivation would be a possible method of incorporating herbicides in reduced tillage to selectively control shattercane in corn.