Mesotrione Combinations in No-Till Corn (Zea mays)1

Field studies were conducted in 1999, 2000, and 2001 to determine the effectiveness of mesotrione applied preemergence (PRE) or postemergence (POST) in no-till corn. Also, a proposed prepackage mix of mesotrione plus acetochlor (1:11 ratio of mesotrione–acetochlor) in combinations with the trimethylsulfonium salt of glyphosate (glyphosate-TMS), paraquat, and 2,4-D was investigated. Mesotrione PRE at 235 g ai/ha or greater controlled common lambsquarters, smooth pigweed, and common ragweed at least 80%. POST mesotrione at 35 g/ha and higher controlled common lambsquarters 91% or greater. Mesotrione applied POST at 140 g/ha controlled smooth pigweed greater than 97%. Common ragweed control from POST mesotrione was inconsistent, ranging from 56 to 97%. PRE and POST applications of mesotrione did not adequately control goosegrass, giant foxtail, fall panicum, johnsongrass, or cutleaf eveningprimrose. The mesotrione plus acetochlor prepackage mix plus glyphosate-TMS or paraquat controlled field pansy and ivyleaf morningglory similar to or better than did the prepackage mixture of the isopropylamine salt of glyphosate (glyphosate-IPA) plus atrazine plus acetochlor. But common ragweed control by mesotrione plus acetochlor plus glyphosate-TMS or paraquat was occasionally lower than control by the prepackage mixture of glyphosate-IPA plus atrazine plus acetochlor. Corn injury was generally less than 10% with PRE and POST mesotrione applications.Nomenclature: Acetochlor; atrazine; 2,4-D; glyphosate-Ipa (isopropylamine salt of glyphosate); glyphosate-TMS (trimethylsulfonium salt of glyphosate); mesotrione; paraquat; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. #3 CHEAL; common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.# AMBEL; cutleaf eveningprimrose, Oenothera laciniata Hill # OEOLA; fall panicum, Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx. # PANDI; field pansy, Viola arvensis Murr. # VIOAR; giant foxtail, Setaria faberi Herrm. # SETFA; goosegrass, Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn # ELEIN; ivyleaf morningglory, Ipomoea hederacea (L.) Jacq. # IPOHE; johnsongrass, Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. # SORHA; smooth pigweed, Amaranthus hybridus L. # AMACH; corn, Zea mays L.Additional index words: Bleaching herbicides, burndown, nonselective herbicides, triketone herbicides.Abbreviations: COC, crop-oil concentrate; DAT, days after treatment; fb, followed by; PRE, preemergence; POST, postemergence; UAN, urea ammonium nitrate; WAT, weeks after treatment.