Chemical Stalk Destruction Options in Enlist® Cotton

Chemical Stalk Destruction Options in Enlist^® Cotton

Gaylon D. Morgan, Dan  D. Fromme, Vernon Langston,

Jacquelyn Lee, Ralph Lassiter, and Dale Mott

Cotton is a perennial plant that typically regrows following harvest in Southern Texas.  This regrowth, provides the potential for development of hostable fruit (squares and bolls) for boll weevil feeding and reproduction.  Early harvest and stalk destruction are among the most effective cultural practices for managing over-wintering boll weevils when performed area-wide.   Chemical stalk destruction allows for a quick and efficient method of managing regrowth following cotton harvest.  Currently, 2,4-D is considered the most effective herbicide for chemical stalk destruction of RoundupReady^® and non-transgenic cotton varieties.  However, Enlist^® Cotton with tolerance to 2,4-D is expected to be available in 2016.  As a result, new alternatives to 2,4-D herbicide need to be identified and tested at various application timings.   The objectives were to evaluate the efficacy various herbicides and application timings on Enlist^® cotton stalks.  Numerous trials were initiated in South and Central Texas in 2012, where over15 herbicide treatments were evaluated for effective stalk destruction.  These products were applied to freshly mowed stalks and stalks with 2 weeks of regrowth.  Treatments were rated for regrowth suppression and percent hostable plants.  Data will be summarized and presented at the meeting.