BENTAZON PREEMERGENCE ACTIVITY ON VELVETLEAF (Abutilon theophrasti MEDIC) AND PERSISTENCE IN SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO SOILS
Field and laboratory studies have demonstrated that bentazon (3-isopropyl-1H-2,1,3-benzothiadiazin-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide) can effectively control velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic) before the weed emerges from the soil. Laboratory experiments showed that the effectiveness of the bentazon depended upon its concentration in the soil and on the weed seeds being in or above the soil layer containing the herbicide. Experiments in the field relating velvetleaf control to bentazon residues in soil showed that velvetleaf can be controlled in southwestern Ontario when bentazon residues in the surface layers of soil exceed 0.2 kg/ha. Bentazon was rapidly degraded in two soils in southwestern Ontario with residues of less than 0.02 kg/ha 40 days after application. Degradation was closely approximated by first order rate law. Thus, an application of 1.0 kg/ha of bentazon should have residual preemergence activity against velvetleaf for 3–12 days after application.Key words: Degradation, residues, herbicide