Smellmelon Control and Peanut Response to Flumioxazin and Paraquat Alone and in Combination
ABSTRACT Field studies were conducted in the Texas High Plains and south Texas to determine peanut response to flumioxazin and paraquat applied preemergence or 7 days after ground cracking (DAC). These herbicides were applied either alone or in combination. Smellmelon control was greater than 90% with all 7 DAC treatments while preemergence (PRE) treatments of flumioxazin plus paraquat controlled 87 to 97% in one of two years. No peanut injury was noted following either herbicide applied preemergence; however, early-season injury (stunting and leaf chlorosis/necrosis) was evident with flumioxazin and paraquat alone or in combination when applied 7 DAC. Early-season injury in south Texas from the 7 DAC applications of flumioxazin and paraquat varied from 9 to 63% with flumioxazin alone, 18 to 65% with paraquat alone, and 33 to 83% with combinations of the two herbicides. Injury in the Texas High Plains was never more than 40% with either herbicide alone or in combination. Mid-season injury in south Texas was at least 13% with any combination that included flumioxazin at 0.11 kg/ha while injury in the Texas High Plains varied from 12 to 25%. Peanut yields were not affected by flumioxazin and paraquat in the High Plains area although yields in south Texas were reduced from the untreated weed-free check with combinations of flumioxazin and paraquat.