Effect of soil temperature, seeding depth and cultivar on wheat tolerance to simulated ethalfluralin carryover

Abstract

Field and controlled environment experiments were conducted at Beaverlodge, Alberta to determine the effect of soil temperature, seeding depth and cultivar on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) tolerance to ethalfluralin. In one experiment, ethalfluralin was applied and incorporated, and wheat was seeded at several depths in late April/early May when soil temperatures were lowest or in late May when soil temperatures had increased. Mean 3-yr wheat yields decreased by 45% as the rate of ethalfluralin increased from 0 to 0.75 kg ha−1 and by 21% as the depth of seeding increased from 4 to 12.5 cm but the effect of ethalfluralin on yields was similar regardless of the soil temperature (time of seeding). Mean plant density decreased by 55% as the rate of ethalfluralin increased and by 25% as the depth of seeding increased. Reductions in mean plant density from ethalfluralin were slightly greater when seeded into the warmer soils. In another experiment, the effect of ethalfluralin on the yields of three wheat cultivars, Laura, Conway and Biggar was similar, i.e. the cultivar × rate of ethalfluralin interaction was not significant. However, the mean plant density of Biggar, averaged over rates of ethalfluralin, was less than that of the other cultivars in 1 of 2 yr. In a controlled environment experiment, the oven-dry weight and percent emergence of wheat shoots of the cultivars, Katepwa, Laura and Conway, seeded at 1.5 or 4 cm into soils containing ethalfluralin at concentrations of 0 to 4 ppm and maintained at temperatures of 4.5 or 15 °C, were reduced by decreases in temperature and increases in the rate of herbicide and depth of seeding. However, the interaction of soil temperature × rate of ethalfluralin was not significant for the oven-dry weight of the wheat shoots and the reduction in percent emergence of the wheat shoots as the rate of ethalfluralin increased was only slightly greater at 4.5 °C than at 15 °C. These results indicate that soil temperature and cultivar selection have a minor effect on wheat tolerance to ethalfluralin while herbicide concentration and depth of seeding have a major impact. Key words: Ethalfluralin, wheat, seeding depth, soil temperature, cultivar