Time of application of cloransulam for giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) control in soybean (Glycine max)

Field experiments were conducted at Dekalb, IL, in 1996 and 1997 to determine the optimum application timing and rate of cloransulam for giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) control in soybean (Glycine max). Cloransulam treatments included preplant incorporated (PPI) and preemergence (PRE) applications of 35 g ai/ha and early postemergence (EPOST), postemergence (POST), and late postemergence (LPOST) applications of 18 or 27 g ai/ha. Cloransulam applied at 18 g/ha was also combined with lactofen at 70 g ai/ha at each POST application timing. At 60 d after LPOST, cloransulam applied PPI provided 68% giant ragweed control in 1996 and 1997 compared to PRE applications, which provided 95 and 25% giant ragweed control, respectively. The reduction in giant ragweed control with PRE applications of cloransulam in 1997 was likely due to insufficient rainfall for activation. Cloransulam applied at 18 g/ha EPOST provided 87 and 88% giant ragweed control, respectively, in 1996 and 1997. Cloransulam applied POST provided 97 and 82% giant ragweed control, respectively, in successive years. Delaying cloransulam application until LPOST reduced giant ragweed control to 53 and 47%, respectively, in 1996 and 1997 compared to EPOST and POST. At EPOST and POST application timings, increasing the rate of cloransulam to 27 g/ha or adding lactofen did not improve giant ragweed control. However, giant ragweed control was improved by at least 20% by increasing the rate of cloransulam to 27 g/ha at LPOST Similarly, applying cloransulam in combination with lactofen improved giant ragweed control by at least 15% at LPOST.