Crop Safety Study in WideStrike Cotton

WideStrike is a long term stacked insect protection trait that works well to control worm pests in cotton in addition it has “Roundup Ready Flex” characteristics allowing growers to apply glyphosate throughout most of the season (Dow AgroSciences, 2010).  The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of using Glufosinate-ammonium in WideStrike Cotton by comparing applications at four different cotton plant timings and at three different glufosinate rates.  Pyrithobac sodium at 0.0075 kilograms of active ingredient per hectares (kg ai/ha) + Agri-Dex (COC) at 1% volume per volume (v/v) was only applied during the cotyledon stage.  Glyphosate at 1.54kg ai/ha, glufosinate at 0.60kg ai/ha, 0.88kg ai/ha, and 1.76kg ai/ha were all applied during the cotyledon stage, two true leaf stage, the five to six node stage, and the eighteen to nineteen node stage.  Applications were applied over the top at the cotyledon and two true leaf stages.  The five to six node stage and eighteen to nineteen node stage was applied as a directed spray.  The study was conducted during the 2008 and 2009 cotton production season.

            The results of this study indicated glufosinate can be used during the layby stage in WideStrike cotton. Previous notions suggested glufosinate to be an inferior herbicide method compared to glyphosate with controlling weed pests.