Submitted to: Proceedings Washington State Potato Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 2002
Publication Date: January 1, 2003
Citation: BOYDSTON, R.A. VOLUNTEER POTATO CONTROL IN FIELD CORN AND SWEET CORN 2002. PROCEEDINGS WASHINGTON STATE POTATO CONFERENCE. P. 57-67. 2003. Interpretive Summary: Volunteer potato control in field corn is difficult due to the vigorous growth of potato shoots and the ability of potatoes to sprout numerous times from the mother tuber. Several new herbicides, Mesotrione (Callisto) and carfentrazone (Aim) were recently registered for use in field corn and both have activity on volunteer potato. Mesotrione was tested preemergence and postemergence and carfentrazone was tested postemergence with sequential applications. This trial was conducted to compare volunteer potato control, tuber production, and corn yield after treating with several available herbicides and herbicide combinations. Mesotrione controlled volunteer potatoes well when applied near the time of tuber initiation. Mesotrione nearly eliminated new tuber production. Carfentrazone required two to three applications in order to prevent corn yield loss from potato competition. Sequential applications of carfentrazone reduced the number of potato tubers produced by 50%.
Technical Abstract: Results of field trials on volunteer potato in field corn and sweet corn are presented. Potatoes treated with a new corn herbicice, mesotrione, produced less than 3 tubers/m2 similar to hand-weeded checks. Mesotrione at 0.094 lb ai/a applied at MPOST or split applied at EPOST and LPOST eliminated new tuber production. Fluroxypyr alone and Distinct alone reduced the number of new tubers produced by 40 to 64 % and tuber mass by 82 to 93% compared to nontreated checks. Dicamba failed to reduce tuber number, but reduced tuber mass by 67 %. Either two applications of carfentrazone at EPOST and LPOST or three applications of carfentrazone reduced the number of new tubers produced by half and reduced mass of tubers by 78 to 85 %. Generally, POST applied herbicides reduced tuber mass greater than tuber number. Mesotrione is unique in that tuber number was greatly reduced with PRE or POST applications and may provide a valuable new tool for volunteer potato control in corn.