Incorporating foramsulfuron into annual weed control systems for corn

Field studies were conducted in 2000, 2001, and 2002 at Brownstown, DeKalb, Perry, and Urbana, IL, to evaluate weed control and corn tolerance from postemergence (POST) applications of foramsulfuron in sequential and total-POST herbicide programs. Foramsulfuron applied alone controlled giant foxtail, fall panicum, and redroot pigweed 88, 99, and 99%, respectively, 28 d after treatment (DAT), which was comparable with the standard treatment of nicosulfuron. However, control of common cocklebur, velvetleaf, and common lambsquarters was significantly higher with foramsulfuron compared with nicosulfuron. Sequential herbicide programs of atrazine, S-metolachlor, or isoxaflutole applied preemergence (PRE) followed by a POST application of foramsulfuron provided greater than 85% control of giant foxtail, fall panicum, common cocklebur, velvetleaf, common waterhemp, and redroot pigweed. Of the sequential herbicide treatments, atrazine applied PRE followed by a POST application of foramsulfuron provided the greatest Pennsylvania smartweed control. A PRE application of either atrazine or isoxaflutole was needed before a POST application of foramsulfuron to control common lambsquarters. POST tank mixtures of foramsulfuron with atrazine, dicamba, and dicamba plus diflufenzopyr improved control of Pennsylvania smartweed, common cocklebur, velvetleaf, common lambsquarters, and common waterhemp when compared with foramsulfuron applied alone. The tank mixture of foramsulfuron with mesotrione improved control of all species, except Pennsylvania smartweed, common lambsquarters, and common cocklebur. Foramsulfuron tank mixtures with carfentrazone did not improve control of any weed species to commercial acceptance. Adjuvant selection was important for POST tank mixtures. Control of giant foxtail and fall panicum was reduced when atrazine was tank mixed with foramsulfuron and crop oil concentrate (COC). However, when methylated seed oil (MSO) was added to the atrazine-foramsulfuron tank mixture instead of COC, giant foxtail and fall panicum control were similar to foramsulfuron applied alone.