Potato Herbicides Spring 2019: Where are they and what are they doing?
Pamela J.S. Hutchinson, Potato Cropping Systems Weed Scientist, University of Idaho Aberdeen R&E Center
You may be wondering what has been happening to your soil-applied potato herbicides during and after the unusual rainfall occurring this spring in Idaho.
• High soil moistures + coarse- medium-textured soils = increased availability and/or downward herbicide movement to or below germinating plants, developing shoots/roots.
• Germinating weed seeds, roots, shoots relative to herbicide location: reduced period of weed control if herbicide below point of uptake by weed or increased efficacy increases because herbicide availability is increased and it is in the right location.
• Potato injury if developing roots, developing shoots, sometimes seed piece is at the wrong place = where there is herbicide available for absorption by the roots or shoots and the wrong time = slowed potato growth, which slows ability of plant to metabolize the herbicide.
