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Title: INTERACTION OF PLANTING DATES AND PREEMERGENCE HERBICIDES ON WATERMELON STAND ESTABLISHMENT

Author
item Webber Iii, Charles
item SHREFLER, J.W. - OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Proceedings of Southern Weed Science Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/24/2000
Publication Date: 4/1/2000
Citation: WEBBER III, C.L., SHREFLER, J. INTERACTION OF PLANTING DATES AND PREEMERGENCE HERBICIDES ON WATERMELON STAND ESTABLISHMENT. 2000 PROCEEDINGS OF SOUTHERN WEED SCIENCE SOCIETY. 2000. V. 53. P. 216.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Watermelon, weeds, and herbicides interact with the environment to affect both initial and seasonal growth, establishment of watermelon and weeds, herbicide efficacy, and crop injury. Cold early-season soil temperatures not only impede initial watermelon growth, but may also increase herbicide crop injury. Research was conducted at Lane, OK to determine the effects of planting date (soil temperatures) and herbicides on watermelon stand establishment. Certified watermelon seeds, cv. 'Allsweet', were planted on raised beds with 6-ft centers at 4 planting dates (April 12, April 26, May 17, and May 31) in the spring of 1999. Seedling emergence, plant populations, and soil temperatures were recorded daily throughout the 63- day experiment. The preemergent herbicide treatments included ethalfluralin at 1.125 lb ai/a (1X), ethalfluralin at 2.25 lb ai/a (2X), halosulfuron- methyl at 0.025 lb ai/a (1X), halosulfuron-methyl at 0.05 lb ai/a (2X), halosulfuron-methyl at 0.075 lb ai/a (3X), bensulide at 4 lb ai/a with naptalam at 2 lb ai/a (tank-mix, 1X), bensulide at 8 lb ai/a with naptalam at 4 lb ai/a (tank-mix, 1X), PCC-170 at 1.05 lb ai/a (1X), PCC-170 at 2.10 lb ai/a (2X), and a herbicide-free treatment. Soil temperatures at and just following planting ranged from 51 F for the first planting date, April 12, to 70 F for the fourth planting date, May 31. Final watermelon stands increased significantly with each succeeding planting date (averaged across herbicide treatments), increasing from 24% to 86%, for April 12 to May 31, respectively. Herbicides did not significantly reduce watermelon stands at any of the planting dates, if applied at the recommended rates (1X). The effects of planting date and herbicide treatments on stand establishment