Pre-emergence herbicides for wheat

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Pre-emergence herbicides with residual activity are an important component of high-yielding cropping systems. They are used less frequently in wheat production compared to other cropping systems in Kansas, but residual herbicides applied prior to wheat emergence can be part of a good weed management system in wheat production. Selected products for this use are described in Table 1.

Most residual herbicides labeled for pre-emergence application in wheat are Group 2 (ALS-inhibiting) herbicides, which are associated with herbicide resistant populations of kochia, marestail (horseweed), bushy wallflower, flixweed, henbit, and brome species in Kansas. Products in Groups 14 (the PPO-inhibiting herbicides) and 15 (the long-chain fatty acid inhibiting herbicides) are also labeled; however, they are generally more dependent on rainfall for activation than the Group 2 herbicides.

Herbicides without residual activity may be applied with or without residual herbicides in the weeks prior to planting wheat. Older products include the Group 2 herbicides Amber, Olympus, and Pre-Pare, as well as Group 4 (plant growth regulating) herbicides like 2,4-D, dicamba, or fluroxypyr. It is especially important to be aware of planting interval restrictions for Group 4 herbicides, which range from 10 to 45 days.

When selecting pre-emergence herbicides for use in wheat production, keep in mind that many of these products are also labeled for use in emerged wheat. Unless using a planned split-application, avoid repeated use of products from the same herbicide group to slow the development of herbicide-resistant weed populations in your fields.


Table 1. Select herbicides for pre-emergence or pre-plant applications in winter wheat.

Trade name

Common name

Herbicide group

Application timing*

Comments

Amber

Triasulfuron

2

BD, PRE or POST

Requires tank mix or sequential application of herbicide from different group

Anthem Flex

Pyroxafulfone + carfentrazone

15 + 14

DPRE

Plant wheat 1 – 1.5” deep

several

Dicamba

4

BD

Apply at least 45 days before planting wheat

Facet

Quinclorac

4

BD

Plant wheat at least 1” deep

Finesse

Chlorsulfuron + metsulfuron

2 + 2

PRE, POST

Suppression only of cheat, downy brome, and Japanese brome

Kochiavore

Fluroxypyr + bromoxynil

4 + 6

BD

Apply at least 30 days before planting wheat

Olympus

Propoxycarbazone

2

PRE, POST

Mix with glyphosate for BD

Outrider

Sulfosulfuron

2

PRE, POST

Apply after planting but before wheat emergence;
If dry, apply POST

Pixxaro

Fluroxypyr + halauxifen

4 + 4

BD, POST

Do not use multiple applications or in successive years at the same site

Pre-Pare

Flucarbazone

2

BD, PRE

Mix with glyphosate for BD;
Rainfall necessary for activation to control PRE

Quelex

Halauxifen + florasulam

4 + 2

BD, POST

Broadleaf weed control only

Scorch

Fluroxypyr + dicamba

4 + 4

BD

Apply at least 30 days before planting wheat

Sharpen

Saflufenacil

14

BD, PRE

Rainfall required for activation;
Injury may occur to exposed wheat seed

Zidua

Pyroxasulfone

15

DPRE

Rainfall required for activation;

Plant wheat 1 – 1.5” deep

several

2,4-D

4

PRE, POST

Apply at least 2 weeks after a 0.5” rainfall before planting wheat

*BD = burndown; PRE = preemergence to wheat and weeds; DPRE = Delayed preemergence application after wheat emergence; POST = postemergence

 

Field bindweed control

Field bindweed (Figure 1) is a particularly troublesome weed for which a special discussion is justified. In a 12-year experiment conducted at the Agricultural Research Center in Hays, field bindweed reduced wheat yield 2 to 50%. Management of this weed during wheat establishment is important because field bindweed continues to grow until temperatures drop below 20°F.

The herbicides most commonly recommended for field bindweed control include various formulations of 2,4-D, dicamba, and glyphosate. Dicamba tends to provide greater control for fall applications compared to 2,4-D or glyphosate, especially if plants are drought-stressed. Another commonly used product is Facet (quinclorac). It is most effective when applied just before the first killing frost. Other herbicides that are labeled for fall application to control or suppress field bindweed in wheat include Affinity, Aim, and Cimarron.

Satisfactory control of field bindweed will not be achieved with a single herbicide application. It will take multiple years of herbicide applications to deplete the energy stored in the root system and control an established infestation.

 

Figure 1. Field bindweed growing in a harvested wheat field. Photo by Sarah Lancaster, K-State Research and Extension.


For additional information, see the “2022 Chemical Weed Control for Field Crops, Pastures, and Noncropland” guide available online at https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/SRP1169.pdf or check with your local K-State Research and Extension office for a paper copy.

 

The use of trade names is for clarity to readers and does not imply endorsement of a particular product, nor does exclusion imply non-approval. Always consult the herbicide label for the most current use requirements.

 

Sarah Lancaster, Extension Weed Science Specialist
slancaster@ksu.edu


Tags:  wheat weed control bindweed pre-emergence residual herbicides