Selective Control of Downy Brome in Alfalfa

Abstract

Selective control of downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was studied in 1971 and 1972. Herbicidal efficacy and alfalfa tolerance, yield, and percent and total protein were observed. The weed population was composed of almost 100% downy brome in 1971 and 1972. Herbicide treatments were applied early and late winter when both alfalfa and downy brome were dormant. Five herbicides afforded virtually complete downy brome control in 1971: pronamide [3,5-dichloro-N-(1,1-dimethyl-2-propynyl) benzamide] at 0.84 and 1.40 kg/ha, simazine [2-chloro-4,6-bis(ethylamino)-s-triazine] at 1.12 kg/ha, terbacil (3-tert-butyl-5-chloro-6-methyluracil) at 0.84 kg/ha, paraquat (1–1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium ion) at 0.56 kg/ha and cyanazine {2-[[4-chloro-6-(ethylamino)-s-triazin-2-yl] amino]-2-methylpropionitrile} at 3.4 kg/ha. All herbicide treatments reduced downy brome yields in 1972. Significantly higher alfalfa yields were closely related with lower downy brome yields. In 1972, alfalfa treated with propham (isopropyl carbanilate), cyanazine, pronamide and terbacil also was higher in second cutting yields than the control. Twelve of the 23 treatments, including all triazine herbicides, increased first harvest alfalfa protein percentage in 1972 although differences were not observed in 1971. Alachlor [2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)-acetanilide] spring-applied in 1971 at 5.62 kg/ha was the only treatment causing visual alfalfa injury.