Weeding Efficacy and Phytotoxicity Evaluation of Soil-Applied Herbicides for Potential Use in Sorghum

Herbicide options for weed control in sorghum is very limited, hence there is a need for exploring potential herbicides. Sorghum herbicide tolerance field trails were conducted at two locations, Yaechoun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, in 2013. Tolerance of sorghum was evaluated following the pre-emergence application of methabenzthiazuron 70% (WP), simazine 50% (WP), oxadiargyl 1.7% (EC), and dimethenamid-P 5% + pendimethalin 20% (EC) at the standard rate 157.5 g, 75 g, 5.1 g, and 75 g a.i. 10 a −1 , respectively. As well as double the standard rate. On a phytotoxicity scale of 0 to 9, methabenzthiazuron (WP) induced injury to sorghum up to level 1 at the standard rate and to 3 at double the rate, but did not significantly affect the yield any statistical difference from the untreated. Simazine (WP) induced phytotoxicity up to levels 2 and 4 at single and double rates, respectively. Simazine (WP) did not significantly affect yield: however, the values were numerically lower than those in the methabenzthiazuron (WP) treatment. Oxidiargyl (EC) and dimethenamid + pendimethalin (EC) induced no or slight phytotoxicity; however they failed to provide effective weed control at the standard rate (32 and 68% control, respectively). Out of the tested, methabenzthiazuron (WP) was found to have potential for use in sorghum whereas the other herbicides caused unacceptable levels of injury.