ADOPTION OF PRE-EMERGENCE WEED CONTROL TECHNOLOGY IN SUNFLOWERS IN MEXICO

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.8208112615015

• Palavras-chave: Helianthus annuus, chemical control, profitability, labor savings.

• Keywords: Helianthus annuus, chemical control, profitability, labor savings.

• Abstract:

  In Mexico, there are no specific commercial herbicide recommendations for controlling broadleaf and narrowleaf weeds in sunflower crops. Therefore, sunflower growers use a combination of mechanical and manual control methods, which are carried out in the first 20 and 35 days after sowing, respectively, after sowing, which represents a high investment cost in labor. The new technology consists of applying the herbicide trifluralin, in its new formula called Premerlin 600 CE, which is insensitive to solar photodegradation, applying the commercial dose of 2.0 L ha-1in pre-emergence, diluted in 200 L of water, and then applying irrigation at emergence. under seasonal conditions, apply the herbicide in the first 5 days after sowing and before the crop emerges, provided that the soil has good moisture. For the adoption of the technology, the recommendation was applied to three plots in the municipalities of Comonfort, Salvatierra, and Irapuato in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. The average weed control results for the locations were 91% for broadleaf weeds and 92% for narrowleaf weeds. This is more economical for sunflower producers in the state of Guanajuato than combined mechanical and manual control.