Soil Herbicide Evaluation in Alabama Cotton

Description: Cotton seedling injury and stunting caused by preemergence application of soil herbicides, particularly fomesafen, has been a constant complain from cotton growers. In Alabama, majority of cotton is planted in dryland and unpredictable rainfall could further confound this issue. Various soil herbicide treatments containing fomesafen (Reflex), diuron (Direx), acetochlor (Warrant) and fluridone (Brake herbicides) have been evaluated in Alabama irrigated and dryland cotton in 2015-2017 at multiple locations. Cotton stand count, seedling height, and yield data were collected for comparisons. Among 30 treatments evaluated in 2015 and 2016 trials at five locations, multiple treatments resulted in seedling height reductions but only 2 treatments (Reflex 64 and 128 oz/A) caused significant yield reduction, and both treatments contained illegal high rates of fomesafen for research purpose only. The data of 2017 field studies are currently being collected and analyzed, they will be available to present later in the fall of 2017.