Field trials were conducted in 1995 through 2002 to expand the development of chicory by determining the potential for tank mixtures of benefin, trifluralin, or pronamide applied preplant incorporated (PPI) and triflusulfuron methyl or imazamox postemergence (POST) for selective weed control in chicory. Lack of early-season weed control resulted in an 88% reduction in chicory root yield in 1995 to 1996 and an 85% reduction in 2001 to 2002 and demonstrated the susceptibility of chicory plants to early-season weed competition. In the first experiment, pronamide at 1.1 kg ai/ha PPI plus benefin at 1.3 kg ai/ha or trifluralin at 0.56 kg/ha were selective for chicory and controlled weed populations 90% on average with root yields that were 89% of the hand-weeded treatment. Triflusulfuron methyl POST at 17 g/ha caused early-season chicory injury. In the second experiment, trifluralin PPI at 0.56 kg/ha followed by imazamox POST at 36 g/ha controlled weeds 95% on average with a chicory root yield of 74 t/ha, which was 109% of the yield of the hand-weeded treatment.
