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Title: BERMUDAGRASS (CYNODON DACTYLON) AND JOHNSONGRASS (SORGHUM HALEPENSE CONTROLPROGRAMS IN SUCCESSION-PLANTED SUGARCANE (SACCHARUM SPP.HYBRIDS)

Author
item MILLER, D - LSU-PLANT PATH & CROP PHY
item Richard Jr, Edward
item GRIFFIN, J - LSU-PLANT PATH & CROP PHY

Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: ABSTRACT Sulfometuron applied preemergence (PRE) to succession-planted sugarcane controlled johnsongrass (79 to 93%) and reduced bermudagrass ground cover in the initial (plant-cane) growing season when compared to metribuzin at standard rates. In three of four experiments, sulfometuron applied PRE after planting and, in the case of the bermudagrass study reapplied the following March, did not adversely affect crop emergence or early-season growth. Johnsongrass panicle counts in at the end of the initial growing season were reduced at least 30% following postemergence (POST) asulam applications where sulfometuron was applied at- planting compared to metribuzin. Where johnsongrass was present, sugarcane stalk counts and gross cane and sugar yields in the plant-cane crop were at least 8% greater in the 1994-1995 experiment for all PRE followed by asulam treatments when sulfometuron was applied. A similar response was not obtained in the 1993-1994 experiment due to the early-season crop injury. Differences in bermudagrass control with sulfometuron were not reflected in increased gross cane or sugar yields when compared to standard treatments of metribuzin in both experiments and only in the 1993-1994 experiment (17%) when compared to the weedy check which contained only bermudagrass.

Technical Abstract: Sulfometuron applied preemergence (PRE) to succession-planted sugarcane controlled johnsongrass (79 to 93%) and reduced bermudagrass ground cover in the initial (plant-cane) growing season when compared to metribuzin at standard rates. In three of four experiments, sulfometuron applied PRE after planting and, in the case of the bermudagrass study reapplied the following March, did not adversely affect crop emergence or early-season growth. Johnsongrass panicle counts in at the end of the initial growing season were reduced at least 30% following postemergence (POST) asulam applications where sulfometuron was applied at- planting compared to metribuzin. Where johnsongrass was present, sugarcane stalk counts and gross cane and sugar yields in the plant-cane crop were at least 8% greater in the 1994-1995 experiment for all PRE followed by asulam treatments when sulfometuron was applied. A similar response was not obtained in the 1993-1994 experiment due to the early-season crop injury. Differences in bermudagrass control with sulfometuron were not reflected in increased gross cane or sugar yields when compared to standard treatments of metribuzin in both experiments and only in the 1993-1994 experiment (17%) when compared to the weedy check which contained only bermudagrass.