Weed Control in Peanuts with Ethalfluralin¹

Ethalfluralin [N-ethyl-n-(2-methyl-2-propenyl)-2,6-dinitro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenamine], a recently introduced dinitroaniline herbicide, was tested at two locations in Florida for weed control in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.). When applied alone as a preplant incorporated (PPI) treatment at 0.8 and 1.7 kg/ha, and as a preemergence or ground cracking (GC) treatment at 1.1 and 2.2 kg/ha, ethalfluralin provided 85 to 100% control of goosegrass (Eleucine indica (L.) Guerin.), crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koel), and Florida pusley (Richardia scabra L.) without peanut injury. Excellent control of Florida beggarweed (Desmodium tortuosum (SW.) DC.) and smallflower momingglory (Jacquemontia tamnifolia (L.) Griseb.) (100 and 97% respectively) was observed at one location when ehalfluralin was applied at 1.7 kg/ha PPI. Consistent control of both grass and broad-leaf weeds required a combination of ethalfluralin with naptalam (N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid) plus dinoseb (2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenol) applied at GC. This herbicide program provided weed control comparable to that obtained with the standard GC treatment of alachlor (2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl) acetanilide) plus naptalam + dinoseb.