Watermelon Update

GFVGA Annual Meeting

Watermelon Weed Management

1) Strategy

2) Sandea

3) Pigweed control

4) Nutsedge control

5) Morningglory control

Strategy

• cucumbers, melons, squash and watermelons

• contains 1.6 lb ethalfluralin (Curbit) and 0.5 lb clomazone (Command) per gallon

Curbit

• removed from the market????

• replaced with Strategy

Strategy

Soil Broadcast Amount of Amount of

Texture Rate Curbit Command

Coarse 2-3 pt 1-1.5 pt 0.33-0.5 pt

Medium 3-4 pt 1.5-2 pt 0.5-0.67 pt

Fine 4-6 pt 2-3 pt 0.67-1 pt

Georgia use rate for most fields should be 2-3 pt/A.

Strategy

• DO NOT incorporate prior to planting

• DO NOT apply under or OVER row covers, mulches, or other plant covers

• Beware of the potential for heavy rain

• Do not make broadcast applications to transplants

Watermelon Injury from Strategy Applied Topical 1 wk After Transplant

Strategy

• Apply prior to weed emergence

• Apply to seeded crop prior to emergence, or apply as a banded spray between rows after crop emergence or transplanting.

Strategy

• Should be able to obtain same rate of ethalfluralin (Curbit).

• Command should enhance activity of annual grasses (expect Texas panicum), sida, croton, lambsquarters.

• Buffer restrictions are identical to Command applied alone

• Be aware of carryover from clomazone

Gowan Company &

Possible preemergence label for watermelon

Watermelon Label

-- Row middle application, 2003

– WILL NOT ALLOW POST APPLICATION

– Possible PRE label in 2004

Cooperative work with Ken Lewis, Crisp Co. and Tom Jennings, Wilcox Co.

Nontreated Sandea (0.024 lb ai/A)

Watermelon farm in Crisp County, May 2000. Treatment at 1-leaf. Pictures to scale.

Sandea for PRE Weed Control

common cocklebur

wild radish

pigweeds

common ragweed

common lambsquarters

yellow nutsedge - suppression purple nutsedge - suppression

2 to 3 weeks residual weed control

Pigweed Control by Sandea

• 0.67 oz PRE = 90 to 100%

Non-treated Control Sandea (0.5 oz/A) PRE

W1-00. Halosulfuron study with Ken Lewis in Cordele.

Nutsedge Control by Sandea

• 0.67 oz PRE = 65-80% for about 3 wk

Sandea PRE

No herbicide

non-treated Sandea 2/3 oz + Curbit 1.5 pt

15

DAT

Pigweed Management

Pigweed Management

1) Curbit preemergence

2) Strategy preemergence

3) Alanap preemergence or postemergence

4) Treflan row middle

Pigweed Response to Watermelon Herbicide Systems at 26 DAT.

Crisp/Wilcox Co. 2002.

Curbit, 1.5 pt/A; Strategy, 3 pt/A; Sandea 0.75 oz/A; Alanap 5 qt/A.

0

20

40

60

80

100

Curbit Strategy Strategy +Sandea

Strategy +Alanap

Sandea +Alanap

% c

ontr

ol

bb

a a a

Pigweed Response to Watermelon Herbicide Systems at 42 DAT.

Crisp/Wilcox Co. 2002.

Curbit, 1.5 pt/A; Strategy, 3 pt/A; Sandea 0.75 oz/A; Alanap 5 qt/A.

0

20

40

60

80

100

Curbit Strategy Strategy +Sandea

Strategy +Alanap

Sandea +Alanap

% c

ontr

ol cb

aa

a

Reduction of Herbicide Control

Tillage that disrupts herbicide layer will

reduce control drastically

Morningglory and Nutsedge

• Sandea row middle for nutsedge

• Tillage and competitive crop

Read Labels

1) Sandea carryover or tank clean out issues

2) Command or Strategy buffer requirements

Gowan Company &