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The tolerance of a range of cucurbit varieties to tank mixtures of prefar and alanap

P. Hart and G.R. Tucker

Consolidated Fertilizers Limited, P.O. Box 140,
Morningside, Old 4170

Hand chipping is an expensive but widely practised method of within-row weed control in cucurbit crops. Herbicides are required that have an acceptable level of crop safety and will control a wide range of weeds under different environmental conditions.

Earlier trials using Prefar®R (460 g L-1 bensulide - Stauffer Chemical Co.,) and Alanap (230 g L-1 naptalam - Uniroyal Chemical Inc.) separately and in mixtures indicated that marked variability in tolerance to these herbicides existed both between and within cucurbit species. Some results of more detailed investigations are reported here.

Methods

A fine seed bed was prepared by discing and rotary-hoeing a recent alluvium (Fluventic haplustoll) at the Queensland Agricultural College! Gatton. Bensulide and naptalam at 5.52 + 2.76 and 11.04 + 5.52 kg ha-1 , double this rate were tested against an untreated control. In one set of treatments the herbicides were incorporated by rotary-hoeing to a depth of about 5 cm immediately before sowing and in the other they were sprayed on the surface after planting. Sixteen seeds of each of 22 varieties of pumpkins, squash, zucchinis, melons and cucumbers were hand-sown in rows in each plot at a depth of 2-3 cm on 6th October, 1982. All plots were then spray-irrigated with about 20mm irrigation, sufficient to wet the soil to 5-10 cm. Emergence counts (Table 1) and ratings of crop vigour were made at 2, 4 and 7 weeks, and assessments of weed control 4 and 8 weeks after sowing in each of the 3 replicates.

Results and Discussion

Although the rate of emergence and final percentage varied considerably between the different varieties, seedling counts indicated that the control plots had reached a maximum emergence at 4 weeks and there were no losses to 7 weeks. The herbicide mixture delayed emergence of melons, pumpkin and squash. After 4 weeks the stands of pumpkin, squash and zucchini declined, (particularly at the high rate of application) although the reduction was less where the herbicide mixture was incorporated by rotary-hoeing prior to planting.

Table 1. Effect of herbicide rates and incoporation on the emergence (% of control) of cucurbits 7 weeks after sowing.

Final stands of the cucumber and melon varieties were not affected by the herbicide mixtures and excellent weed control was achieved, indicating considerable potential for their use when applied as pre—emergence treatments.

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