WEED-CONTROL IN SAFFLOWER (CARTHAMUS-TINCTORIUS) WITH FLURTAMONE

Field studies were conducted to determine suitability of flurtamone alone and in tank mixture with ethalfluralin for selective control of weeds in safflower. Flurtamone at 0.6 to 0.9 kg ha-1 controlled field pennycress, kochia, and Russian thistle. Flurtamone and ethalfluralin were compatible in tank mixture and provided comparable or superior control of wild oat, kochia, and field pennycress than either herbicide alone. Plant height, date of flowering, seed yield, and quality data indicated that safflower tolerated flurtamone alone up to 1.6 kg ha-1 and flurtamone tank mixed with ethalfluralin at rates as high as 1.1 plus 1.1 kg ha-1, respectively. Safflower yield response to these herbicides was positive and reflected level of weed control attained with various treatments. Nomenclature: Ethalfluralin, N-ethyl-N-(2-methyl-2-propenyl)-2,6-dinitro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenamine; flurtamone, 5-(methylamino)-2-phenyl-4-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-3(2H)-furanone; field pennycress, Thlaspi arvense L. #3 THLAR; kochia, Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. # KCHSC; Russian thistle, Salsola iberica Sennen & Pau # SASKR; wild oat, Avena fatua L. # AVEFA; safflower, Carthamus tinctorius L. 'Saffire'.