Weed Control, Environmental Impact and Profitability of Two-Pass Weed Management Strategies in Glyphosate-Resistant Corn

Twelve field trials were conducted over a three-year period (2010, 2011, 2012) at different locations in southwestern Ontario, Canada to compare various two-pass weed management strategies in glyphosate-resistant corn for crop injury, weed control, environmental impact, corn yield and profit margin. No visible injury resulted from the herbicide treatments evaluated. One early postemergence (EPOST) application of glyphosate provided good full season control of pigweed species and lady’s thumb and fair control of velvetleaf, common ragweed, lamb’s-quarters, barnyard grass and green foxtail. One late postemergence (LPOST) application of glyphosate provided excellent control of all weed species evaluated but corn yield was reduced due to early weed interference. The sequential application of glyphosate (EPOST fb LPOST) provided excellent control of all weed species evaluated with no adverse effect on corn yield. The sequential application of a preemergence residual herbicide followed by an application of glyphosate LPOST provided excellent full season control of all weed species evaluated and corn yield was equal to the weed free control. Among the sequential herbicide programs the lowest environmental impact was glyphosate EPOST fb LPOST and saflufenacil/dimethenamid-p, isoxaflutole + atrazine or rimsulfuron + s-metolachlor + dicamba applied PRE fb glyphosate LPOST. Based on this study, the most efficacious and profitable weed management programs in glyphosate-resistant corn are a sequential application of glyphosate or a two-pass program of a preemergence residual herbicide followed by glyphosate LPOST. The two-pass programs have glyphosate stewardship benefits.