Association Between Fomesafen and Surfactants for the Pre-emergence Control of Euphorbia heterophylla L.

Abstract

This work was conducted with the objective to determine Euphorbia heterophylla control with fomesafen in association with surfactants applied in pre-emergence, in substrates and soils with different characteristics. Three studies were carried out in pots, conducted in greenhouse, in a completely randomized experimental design. The first two studies consisted of investigating the efficacy of pre-emergence combinations of fomesafen and surfactant in the control of E. heterophylla, applied on different substrates (Study 1) and soils (Study 2) with different textural classes. Study 3 was carried out to evaluate the effect of fomesafen, applied in pre-emergence and in combination with adjuvants with different HLB's (hydrophilic-lipophilic balances). The herbicide efficacy on E. heterophylla and plant shoot dry mass were evaluated. The association of adjuvant to fomesafen, in pre-emergence, reduced plant growth in the different substrates and soils. The fomesafen response was influenced by the addition of surfactants with different HLB's. The increase in organic matter content in substrates or soil was related to the decrease of the effect of the surfactants on the control of E. heterophylla with fomesafen, or the effect was only manifested in higher herbicide dosages. Fomesafen associated with surfactant with HLB of 8.6 provided the highest levels of weed control.