| dc.description.abstract | This study was conducted to examine the effects of simulated herbicide drift on field-grown tomato production. Field studies were conducted at College Station, Tx during the 2013 and 2014 growing season to examine the effects of 2,4-D, dicamba, and glyphosate drift on field-grown tomato plants. Herbicide resistant weeds are proliferating in crop cultures worldwide and new transgenic seed technologies have been developed that will aid in control of these pernicious weeds. Recently introduced low volatility formulations of dicamba and 2,4-D herbicides will reduce vapor drift. However, physical spray drift is a challenge many producers will encounter now that these new transgenic seed technologies have become commercially available.
The 2013 studies included 2,4-D at rates of 53, 27, 13 and 6.7 g ae ha-1, dicamba at rates of 28, 14, 7.0 and 3.5 g ae ha-1 and glyphosate at rates of 43, 22, 11 and 5.4 g ae ha-1. The 2014 studies included 2,4-D at rates of 106, 53, 27 and 13 g ae ha-1 and dicamba at rates of 56, 28, 14 and 7 g ae ha-1. Visual injury ratings were made based on considering the percent of plant biomass exhibiting epinasty. Visual plant injury confirmed that tomatoes were more susceptible to injury at earlier growth stages. As herbicide rates increased, the level of visual injury increased and plant biomass decreased for both application timings. Yield response was inconsistently impacted by rate and product. | en |
