Alternative Application Methods of Dicamba to Reduce Drift in Texas Cotton

Abstract

In Texas, dicamba applications provide a useful alternative when battling glyphosate resistant weeds in cotton production systems. Despite its benefits, dicamba can move off-target under certain conditions, leading to restrictions on dicamba applications. Therefore, affordable drift reduction technologies are needed to mitigate these regulatory constraints on the herbicide. Field studies were conducted at three locations across Texas: College Station, Corpus Christi, and Lubbock. A comparison between an open broadcast nozzle boom and a modified post-direct nozzle boom was conducted at each testing site. In Lubbock, a third treatment using a hooded-boom sprayer was included. Visual injury and filter paper deposition analysis was observed at each site to evaluate a reduction in drift when comparing the application methods. Regression analysis indicated a reduction in drift when using the drop nozzle boom compared to all other boom types at Corpus Christi and Lubbock.