Early Season Weed Management Options in Water-seeded Rice Production

Two separate field studies were conducted at two locations at the LSU Agricultural Center H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station (RRS) near Crowley, LA to evaluate early season applications of florpyrauxifen and a prepackaged mixture of halosulfuron plus prosulfuron in water-seeded rice production. In each study, florpyrauxifen and halosulfuron plus prosulfuron were applied at two rates and either applied to the soil surface 48 hours before the seeding flooding and seeding (SURFACE), directly onto the pregerminated seed 24 hours following seeding and immediately after removal of the seeding flood (SEED), and at pegging (PEG). Data suggests that both florpyrauxifen and halosulfuron plus prosulfuron have a fit in water-seeded rice production. Crop injury of 19% was observed from applications of florpyrauxifen applied directly to pregerminated SEED. Additionally, 28% crop injury was observed when halosulfuron plus prosulfuron was applied directly to SEED. Due to crop injury observations, both herbicides should be avoided when the pregerminated seed is exposed to the soil surface after removing the seeding flood. These data suggest that florpyrauxifen may be a better POST option, whereas halosulfuron plus prosulfuron may be a better PRE option in water-seeded rice production. Overall, the findings show that both herbicide technologies will provide adequate early-season weed control in water-seeded rice production.