Pre-Emergence Herbicides For Wheat

Aug 13, 2021

Pre-emergence herbicides with residual activity are an important component of high-yielding cropping systems. They are used less frequently in wheat production compared to other cropping systems in Kansas, but residual herbicides applied prior to wheat emergence can be part of a good weed management system in wheat production. Selected products for this use are described in Table 1.

Most residual herbicides labeled for pre-emergence application in wheat are Group 2 (ALS-inhibiting) herbicides, which are associated with herbicide resistant populations of kochia, marestail (horseweed), bushy wallflower, flixweed, henbit, and brome species in Kansas. Products in Groups 14 (the PPO-inhibiting herbicides) and 15 (the long-chain fatty acid inhibiting herbicides) are also labeled; however, they are generally more dependent on rainfall for activation than the Group 2 herbicides.

Herbicides without residual activity may be applied with or without residual herbicides in the weeks prior to planting wheat. Older products include the Group 2 herbicides Amber, Olympus, and Pre-Pare, as well as Group 4 (plant growth regulating) herbicides like 2,4-D, dicamba, or fluroxypyr. It is especially important to be aware of planting interval restrictions for Group 4 herbicides, which range from 10 to 45 days.

When selecting pre-emergence herbicides for use in wheat production, keep in mind that many of these products are also labeled for use in emerged wheat. Unless using a planned split-application, avoid repeated use of products from the same herbicide group to slow the development of herbicide-resistant weed populations in your fields.

Table 1. Select herbicides for pre-emergence or pre-plant applications in winter wheat.

Trade name	Common name	Herbicide group	Application timing*	Comments
Amber	Triasulfuron	2	BD, PRE or POST	Requires tank mix or sequential application of herbicide from different group
Anthem Flex	Pyroxafulfone + carfentrazone	15 + 14	DPRE	Plant wheat 1 – 1.5” deep
several	Dicamba	4	BD	Apply at least 45 days before planting wheat
Facet	Quinclorac	4	BD	Plant wheat at least 1” deep
Finesse	Chlorsulfuron + metsulfuron	2 + 2	PRE, POST	Suppression only of cheat, downy brome, and Japanese brome
Kochiavore	Fluroxypyr + bromoxynil	4 + 6	BD	Apply at least 30 days before planting wheat
Olympus	Propoxycarbazone	2	PRE, POST	Mix with glyphosate for BD
Outrider	Sulfosulfuron	2	PRE, POST	Apply after planting but before wheat emergence; If dry, apply POST
Pixxaro	Fluroxypyr + halauxifen	4 + 4	BD, POST	Do not use multiple applications or in successive years at the same site
Pre-Pare	Flucarbazone	2	BD, PRE	Mix with glyphosate for BD; Rainfall necessary for activation to control PRE
Scorch	Fluroxypyr + dicamba	4 + 4	BD	Apply at least 30 days before planting wheat
Sharpen	Saflufenacil	14	BD, PRE	Rainfall required for activation; Injury may occur to exposed wheat seed
Zidua	Pyroxasulfone	15	DPRE	Rainfall required for activation; Plant wheat 1 – 1.5” deep
several	2,4-D	4	PRE, POST	Apply at least 2 weeks after a 0.5” rainfall before planting wheat

*BD = burndown; PRE = preemergence to wheat and weeds; DPRE = Delayed preemergence application after wheat emergence; POST = postemergence

Field bindweed control

Field bindweed (Figure 1) is a particularly troublesome weed for which a special discussion is justified. In a 12-year experiment conducted at the Agricultural Research Center in Hays, field bindweed reduced wheat yield 2 to 50%. Management of this weed during wheat establishment is important because field bindweed continues to grow until temperatures drop below 20°F.

The herbicides most commonly recommended for field bindweed control include various formulations of 2,4-D, dicamba, and glyphosate. Dicamba tends to provide greater control for fall applications compared to 2,4-D or glyphosate, especially if plants are drought-stressed. Another commonly used product is Facet (quinclorac). It is most effective when applied just before the first killing frost. Other herbicides that are labeled for fall application to control or suppress field bindweed in wheat include Affinity, Aim, and Cimarron.

Satisfactory control of field bindweed will not be achieved with a single herbicide application. It will take multiple years of herbicide applications to deplete the energy stored in the root system and control an established infestation.

Field bindweed growing in a harvested wheat field. c

Figure 1. Field bindweed growing in a harvested wheat field. Photo by Sarah Lancaster, K-State Research and Extension.

Source : ksu.edu

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.