Field studies were conducted on a Taloka silt loam (Mollic Albaqualf) to determine the effects of residual levels of metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] on rice (Oryza sativa L.). Yield reductions could be overcome by increasing rice seeding rate, by decreasing seeding depth, or by applying the safeners CGA-43089 [α-(cyanomethoxyimino)-benzacetonitrile] or CGA-92194 [α-(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl-methoximino)-benzacetonitrile] to the rice seed. Greenhouse studies with the safeners and reduced seeding depths indicated that CGA-92194 was better than CGA-43089 for protecting rice from metolachlor injury, but reduced seeding depths did not reduce metolachlor injury.

Laboratory and growth room experiments were conducted to determine effects of CGA-133205, oxabetrinil, and flurazole on grain sorghum hybrids ‘DeKalb 46’ and ‘DeKalb 48’ after the seed were treated with the herbicide safeners and stored for up to 24 wk at various relative humidity levels. Each safener treatment had an adverse effect on grain sorghum seed as reflected by fewer normal seedlings at 4 d when averaged over storage time and relative humidity levels. Flurazole and oxabetrinil increased the number of ungerminated seed of both hybrids, and 0.4 and 0.8 g ai kg–1 CGA-133205 increased ungerminated seed of DeKalb 46. At ≥ 8 wk after storage, a reduction in germination was observed for seed treated with flurazole or oxabetrinil compared to seed stored without safener. This reduction also occurred with 0.4 and 0.8 g kg–1 CGA-133205, but only at 24 wk after storage. Each safener treatment minimized reduction in seedling shoot fresh weight by herbicides compared to the no-safener check through 24 wk after storage.