Herbicide selectivity for potato crop

ABSTRACT Few studies on herbicide selectivity for potato crop can be found in literature, especially under Brazilian conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze phytotoxic action of different herbicides for potato cv. Agata. Two experiments were developed under commercial field production conditions. A randomized complete block design, in factorial scheme 7x2+1, four replicates, was used, from April 14 to September 29, 2016. Treatments consisted of seven herbicides sprayed at two doses (ethoxysulfuron 45 and 90 g ha-1, halosulfuron 37.5 and 75 g ha-1, sulfentrazone 250 and 500 g ha-1, flumioxazin 17.5 and 35 g ha-1, clomazone 200 and 400 g ha-1, isoxaflutole 37.5 and 75 g ha-1 and oxadiazon 250 and 500 g ha-1) and also a control without application. Potato plants were sprayed with post-emergence herbicide ethoxysulfuron, four and seven days after hilling up, for the first and the second experiments, respectively; the other pre-emergence herbicides were sprayed after planting. The two doses of herbicide ethoxysulfuron caused severe visual injuries to potato plants, reflected in the commercial production of tubers. However, flumioxazin, halosulfuron, sulfentrazone, clomazone, isoxaflutole and oxadiazon were considered promising pre-emergence herbicides for potato crop.