Eclipta (Eclipta prostrata L.) Control in Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.)¹

Field experiments were conducted from 1991 to 1993 to evaluate eclipta, Eclipta prostrata L., control and peanut, Arachis hypogaea L., response to herbicide treatments. Fomesafen {5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoro-methyl)phenoxy]-N-(methylsulfonyl)-2-nitrobenzamide} applied at cracking was the only preemergence-applied herbicide which provided season-long control (>84%). Herbicides applied postemergence were more effective when the eclipta was less than 5 cm in height. The most consistent early postemergence treatments were bromoxynil (3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile), bentazon [3-(1-methylethyl)-(1H)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazm-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide], and bentazon + acifluorfen {5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoic acid} + 2,4-DB [4-(2,4-dichloro-phenoxy)butanoic acid]. Various other early postemergence followed by late postemergence sequential treatments also were equally effective. Minor peanut injury was observed at the early season rating from several herbicides; however, all injury had disappeared by the late season rating. Eclipta control did not consistently improve peanut pod yield.