Weed control in conventional soybean with pendimethalin followed by imazethapyr + imazamox/quizalofop-p-ethyl

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of pendimethalin applied pre-emergence (PRE) followed by post-emergence (POST) application of imazethapyr + imazamox/quizalofop-p-ethyl for weed control and their effect on conventional soybean injury, yield attributes, and yield. Field experiments were conducted in 2013 and 2014 in conventional soybean. Herbicide treatments provided ≥90%, 70%, and 85% control of crowfoot grass, large crabgrass, and goosegrass, respectively, and ≤80% control of false amaranth and horse purslane at 30 d after sowing (DAS). At 60 DAS, pendimethalin applied alone or followed by hand-hoeing/quizalofop-p-ethyl/imazethapyr + imazamox provided 100% control of goosegrass and 65%–100% control of crowfoot grass/large crabgrass. Pendimethalin followed by imazethapyr + imazamox/quizalofop-p-ethyl as well as quizalofop-p-ethyl applied alone resulted in complete control of crowfoot grass, large crabgrass, and goosegrass, but control of broadleaf weeds was variable. Pendimethalin followed by imazethapyr + imazamox at 70 g ha-1 at 28 DAS, imazethapyr + imazamox at 60 or 70 g ha-1 at 21 DAS followed by quizalofop-p-ethyl at 37.5 g ha-1 at 42 DAS resulted in soybean branch numbers per plant, number of pods per plant, and soybean seed yield comparable to weed-free control. Control of Benghal dayflower and purple nutsedge was not acceptable.