Efficacy of preemergence herbicides over time

Preemergence herbicides are applied to container-grown nursery crops repeatedly throughout the year, often in 8 to 10 week intervals. Preemergence herbicide efficacy may decline over time, resulting in reduced weed control several weeks after application if weed seed density remains high. The objective of this research is to evaluate efficacy of preemergence herbicides on creeping woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata L.) and flexuous bittercress (Cardamine flexuosa With.) by applying weed seed from 0 to 10 weeks after herbicide application. Granular formulations of pendimethalin, prodiamine + isoxaben, oxyfluorfen + pendimethalin, and flumioxazin were applied at their maximum labeled rates to separate groups of containers every two weeks for ten weeks. After the herbicide application at 10 weeks, 40 seeds of creeping woodsorrel and flexuous bittercress each were applied to all containers. All herbicides provided effective control when seed were applied within 2 weeks of herbicide application. Herbicides containing oxyfluorfen or flumioxazin provided effective preemergence bittercress and creeping woodsorrel control when seed were applied up to 8 to 10 weeks after herbicide application. Other herbicide products resulted in reduced control as the time between herbicide and seed application increased. Index words: weed control, container crops, substrates. Species used in this study: flexuous bittercress (Cardamine flexuosa With.), creeping woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata L.). Chemicals used in this study: pendimethalin (Pendulum 2G), prodiamine + isoxaben (Gemini G), pendimethalin + oxyfluorfen (OH2), and flumioxazin (BroadStar).