Response of Sweetcorn (Zea mays) to Alachlor, EPTC + R-25788, and Vernolate + R-25788

Abstract

Alachlor [2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)acetanilide] at 6.7 kg/ha, twice the recommended rate, stunted early-season growth of ‘Jubilee,’ ‘Commander,’ and 'Stylepak’ sweetcorn (Zea maysL.) 9 to 15%, reduced plant populations of Commander and Stylepak 12 to 15%, reduced the kernel yield of Jubilee and Stylepak 14 to 16%, and delayed ripening of Jubilee and Stylepak by 2 or 3 days. Alachlor at 3.4 kg/ha slowed early-season growth of Jubilee and Stylepak, but reduced yield and delayed ripening of only Jubilee. EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate) + R-25788 (N,N-diallyl-2,2-dichloracetamide) and vernolate (S-propyl dipropylthiocarbamate) + R-25788 at 4.5 + 0.4 or 9.0 + 0.8 kg/ha did not reduce the growth, yield, or quality of the three sweetcorn cultivars. Planting date did not influence the response of sweetcorn to the herbicides. In these experiments, none of these herbicides injured sweetcorn severely, as has sometimes occurred in commercial fields.