Effect of Three Dinitroaniline Herbicides on Rice (Oryza sativa) Growth

Abstract

A field study was conducted for 3 yr to evaluate residual levels of fluchloralin [N-(2-chloroethyl)-2,6-dinitro-N-propyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)aniline], profluralin [N-(cyclopropylmethyl)-α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N-propyl-p-toluidine], and trifluralin (α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine) for their effects on injury and yields of rice (Oryza sativa L.). All three herbicides consistently injured rice and reduced yield at application rates above 0.1 kg/ha. These herbicides were similar in their effects on rice, but trifluralin was slightly more phytotoxic than fluchloralin or profluralin. Bioassay showed fluchloralin and trifluralin to be more inhibitory than profluralin of root and shoot elongation. The order of toxicity of the vapors of these herbicides arising from treated soil was found to be trifluralin > profluralin > fluchloralin. Grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) was slightly more sensitive to these herbicides than was rice when seedlings were grown in treated soil and over 10 times more susceptible than rice to injury from their vapors. Both plant species were less affected by the herbicides in silty clay than in silt loam soil.