Comparison of Mesotrione Combinations with Standard Weed Control Programs in Corn1

Field experiments were conducted in 2002 and 2003 to evaluate total POST weed control in corn with mixtures of mesotrione, atrazine, and the commercial mixture of nicosulfuron plus rimsulfuron plus atrazine at registered and reduced rates. Treatments were compared with nicosulfuron plus rimsulfuron plus atrazine POST, and S-metolachlor plus atrazine PRE alone and followed by (fb) nicosulfuron plus rimsulfuron plus atrazine POST. All treatments controlled common lambsquarters 8 wk after the postemergence treatments (WAPT). Common ragweed control with POST mesotrione plus nicosulfuron plus rimsulfuron plus atrazine combinations was greater than 89%. Mesotrione plus the registered rate of nicosulfuron plus rimsulfuron plus atrazine POST controlled common ragweed more effectively than the PRE treatment alone. Addition of atrazine to mesotrione improved common ragweed control by at least 38 percentage points over mesotrione alone. Nicosulfuron plus rimsulfuron plus atrazine at the registered rate and in mixtur...