Effect of ammonium sulfate on the phytotoxicity, foliar uptake, and translocation of imazamethabenz in wild oat

Experiments were conducted in greenhouse, growth chamber, and laboratory conditions to determine the effect of ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2SO4] on the phytotoxicity, foliar uptake, and translocation of imazamethabenz on wild oat. Rates of (NH4)2SO4 up to 5% (w/v) applied with a greenhouse sprayer did not affect the phytotoxicity of the herbicide when the mix was applied at the one- to two-leaf stage. However, inclusion of 1 and 2% (NH4)2SO4 increased the phytotoxicity of the herbicide when the mix was sprayed at the two- to three-leaf, or the three- to four-leaf stage. At 10%, (NH4)2SO4 decreased the phytotoxicity of the sublethal dosage of the herbicide. When the herbicide was applied as individual drops to the growth chamber-grown plants, inclusion of (NH4)2SO4 at 1% did not affect phytotoxicity as measured by shoot growth. The presence of (NH4)2SO4 did not affect the amount of imazamethabenz retained by wild oat foliage, but it decreased [14C]imazamethabenz absorption, slightly antagonized acropetal translocation, and increased the basipetal translocation of [14C]imazamethabenz. It was concluded that application methods greatly modify the effect of (NH4)2SO4 on imazamethabenz phytotoxicity. Herbicide absorption and translocation as determined by one method do not necessarily represent the absorption and translocation patterns when different application methods are used. Absorption and translocation were not the factors that were responsible for the observed effect of (NH4)2SO4 on the herbicide phytotoxicity