Reduction in Weed Control After Repeat Applications of Thiocarbamate and Other Herbicides

Abstract

Of 17 thiocarbamate herbicides tested in the greenhouse in repeat soil applications made 4 to 16 weeks apart, 9 showed definite losses in herbicidal activity after the second application. Those showing reduced activity included EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate), vernolate (S-propyl dipropylthiocarbamate), and butylate (S-ethyl diisobutylthiocarbamate), which have been reported previously to develop accelerated breakdown, plus R-15574 (S-benzyl dipropylthiocarbamate and the sulfoxides of EPTC, vernolate, butylate, SC-7829 (S-propyl diisobutylthiocarbamate), and SC-8149 (S-butyl diisobutylthiocarbamate). Thiocarbamates that showed no significant reduction in activity after the second application were pebulate (S-propyl butylethylthiocarbamate), cycloate (S-ethylN-ethylthiocyclohexanecarbamate), molinate (S-ethyl hexahydro-1H-azepine-1-carbothioate), R-1880 (S-ethyl dibutylthiocarbamate), R-1856 (S-tertiarybutyl dipropylthiocarbamate), R-1853 (S-isobutyl diethylthiocarbamate), R-1906 (S-butyl diisopropylthiocarbamate), and R-12001 [S-isopropyl 1-(5-ethyl-2-methyl)piperidine carbothioate]. Of 16 nonthiocarbamate herbicides tested, a reduction in control of weeds occurred after the second soil application with 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid], dalapon (2,2-dichloropropionic acid), chlorpropham (isopropylm-chlorocarbanilate), propham (isopropyl carbanilate), TCA (trichloroacetic acid), pronamide [3,5-dichloro (N-1,1-dimethyl-2-propynyl)benzamide], napropamide [2-(α-naphthoxy)-N,N-diethylpropionamide], bensulide [O,O-diisopropyl phosphorodithioateS-ester withN-(2-mercaptoethyl)benzenesulfonamide], alachlor [2-chloro-2’,6’-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)acetanilide], and diethatyl [N-(chloroacetyl)-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)glycine]. Losses with the latter five herbicides after repeat application have not been reported previously.