Response of Onion (Allium cepa) to Annual Weeds and Postemergence Herbicides

Abstract

Several herbicides were sprayed on emerged London rocket (Sisymbrium irio L.), common sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), ragweed parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.), annual sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus L.), and onion (Allium cepa L. ‘yellow granex PRR’), to determine selectivity. Onion yields were reduced with common sunflower and London rocket interference within 7 weeks after emergence. Oxadiazon [2-tert-butyl-4-(2,4-dichloro-5-isopropoxyphenyl)-δ2-1,3,4-oxadiazolin-5-one] at 2.2 kg/ha controlled all but common sunflower under most field conditions and reduced the yield of onion in one experiment out of six. Methazole [2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazolidine-3,5-dione] and bromoxynil (3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile) reduced the yields of onion in two of four experiments and three of six experiments, respectively. Both herbicides controlled most weed species, but only bromoxynil controlled annual sunflower adequately. Onion was injured when low temperature, low light intensity, and high relative humidity occurred within 3 days of the application of herbicides. Bioassays showed that oxadiazon persisted 5 months in soil in three of five experiments. Seeded London rocket populations reduced the growth of onion 20% within the first 4 weeks and 65% within 12 weeks after planting.