The application of mesotrione in combination with terbuthylazine, nicosulfuron and S-metolachlor in maize

The paper examines the efficacy and selectivity of mesotrione in combination with terbuthylazine, nicosulfuron and S-metolachlor in maize crops. The studies were conducted during 2014, in two localities, and the following herbicides were applied: Mezotrion 100 g/L OD (mesotrione) in quantities of 1.0 and 1.2 L/ha; Egnit OD (mesotrione + nicosulfuron) in quantities of 1.0 and 1.2 L/ha; CA0914MT (mesotrione + terbuthylazine) in quantities of 1.75, 2.0 and 2.3 L/ha; S metolahlor 375 g/L + Terbutilazin 125 g/L + Mezotrion 37.5 g/L (mesotrione + terbuthylazine + S-metolachlor) in quantity of 3.5 L/ha. The efficacy of the herbicides applied was assessed 3 weeks after the application. Mesotrione has shown high efficacy in the control of the following species: Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album, Chenopodium hybridum, Cirsium arvense, Datura stramonium, Solanum nigrum, Sinapis arvensis and Xanthium strumarium. For Abutilon theophrasti, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Bilderdykia convolvulus, Lactuca serriola, Polygo­num aviculare and Polygonum lapathifolim high efficacy was confirmed only in higher quantities of application (1.2 L/ha). In combination with terbuthylazine and S-metolachlor the efficacy was significantly improved for Echinochloa crusgalli, Hibiscus trionum, Setaria glauca and Sorghum halepense (s), while in the combination with nicosufuron the efficacy was also increased for the Johnoson grass developed from rhizome. For the species like Convolvulus arvensis and Cynodon dactilon none of the applied herbicide combinations was efficient enough. At the same time, mesotrione alone, or in combination with terbuthylazine, nicosulfuron and S-metolachlor, has shown good selectivity towards maize.