Mesotrione, Acetochlor, and Atrazine for Weed Management in Corn (Zea mays)1

Field studies were conducted in 1999, 2000, and 2001 to investigate weed control and crop safety with preemergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) applications of mesotrione alone and in tank mixtures with acetochlor and atrazine. Corn injury was less than 4% with all mesotrione treatments in 1999 and 2001, but it was 8 to 20% in 2000, when rainfall was 3.1 cm 7 d after PRE applications. Mesotrione PRE at 0.16 and 0.24 kg ai/ha did not adequately control most broadleaf weeds or giant foxtail. Tank mixtures of mesotrione plus acetochlor controlled smooth pigweed and giant foxtail but did not adequately control common ragweed, common lambsquarters, or morningglory species. Control by tank mixtures of mesotrione plus atrazine at 0.56 kg ai/ha was frequently low and varied with rainfall after PRE applications. All weed species were controlled 80% or more by mesotrione plus acetochlor PRE or atrazine plus acetochlor PRE followed by mesotrione POST at 0.11 kg/ha.Nomenclature: Acetochlor; atrazine; mesotrione; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. #3 CHEAL; common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. # AMBEL; giant foxtail, Setaria faberi Herrm. # SETFA; morningglory species, Ipomoea spp. # IPOSS; smooth pigweed, Amaranthus hybridus L. # AMACH; corn, Zea mays L.Additional index words: HPPD-inhibiting herbicides, triketone herbicides.Abbreviations: COC, crop oil concentrate; DAT, days after treatment; fb, followed by; POST, postemergence; PRE, preemergence; UAN, urea ammonium nitrate; WAT, weeks after treatment.