Trifluralin Rate Affects Cabbage Stands

Abstract

<jats:p>Difficulty in obtaining and maintaining an adequate plant stand in directly seeded cabbage led to the investigation of possible causes of plant loss. A series of experiments was conducted evaluating the effect of six rates (0, 0.28, 0.41, 0.56, 0.84, 1.12 kg·ha<jats:sup>–1</jats:sup> a.i.) of trifluralin on cabbage stand. The treated area was irrigated immediately after planting; one-half of the area received overhead irrigation and the other half received furrow irrigation. Activated charcoal as a slurry was sprayed at the rate of 336 kg·ha<jats:sup>–1</jats:sup> directly into the seed furrow on half the plots receiving the higher trifluralin rates. Plots treated with trifluralin at rates of 0.56, 0.84, and 1.12 kg·ha<jats:sup>–1</jats:sup> had lower plant populations if activated charcoal was not applied. Grass, broadleaf, and sedge weed control was as effective with 0.28 and 0.41 kg·ha<jats:sup>–1</jats:sup> of trifluralin as it was at the higher rates of 0.56, 0.84, and 1.12 kg·ha<jats:sup>–1</jats:sup>. Plant population was not affected as much by trifluralin rates when furrow irrigation was used as compared with overhead irrigation. Producers should be careful not to exceed 0.41 kg·ha<jats:sup>–1</jats:sup> of trifluralin on cabbage directly seeded into light-textured soils, because reduced stands can be expected.</jats:p>