The Effect of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (2,4-D) on Peanut when Applied During Vegetative Growth Stages

ABSTRACT The development of 2,4-D-resistant cotton and soybean cultivars has created great concern about the potential off-target movement of 2,4-D onto sensitive broadleaf crops. Peanut is often grown in close proximity to cotton and soybean. Therefore, field studies were conducted during 2012 and 2013 at Plains, Ty Ty, and Attapulgus, GA to evaluate peanut response to 2,4-D at 67, 133, 266, 533, and 1066 g ae ha−1 applied at preemergence (PRE), 10, 20, or 30 d after planting (DAP), corresponding to PRE, V2, V3, and V5 peanut growth stages. Nontreated controls (NTC) were included for comparison. Treatment timing by rate interactions were significant (P < 0.0001). As 2,4-D rate increased peanut injury increased. There was variation in yield loss response dependent on peanut growth stage at application timing. Peanut that was treated preemergence and at the V2 growth stage did not have yield loss at any of the 2,4-D evaluated rates (67 to 1066 g ha−1) relative to the NTC. When peanut was treated at V3 and ...