Evaluation of efficacy and effect of application timing of a new herbicide, a.i. propoxy-carbazone + iodosulfuron + mefenpyr on Triticum durum.

A study was performed from February to May 2010 by Bioagritest according to EPPO guidelines and Principles of Good Experimental Practice (GEP), in the land of Altamura (BA), in the core of Murgia, Apulia Region (Italy). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and effect of two different application times of the herbicide SIT90 (propoxycarbazone + iodosulfuron + mefenpyr) on Triticum durum for weeds' control. Sit90 was applied alone or in combination with the herbicide Dicuran (a.i. chlortolorun) in early post-emergence, and in late post emergence once more alone or in combination with the adjuvant Biopower or with the commercial formulate Atlantis WG (mesosulfuron+ iodosulfuron+ mefenpyr) + Biopower. T. durum cultivar was "Iride". The study has given sufficient results on the use of SIT90, in the conditions foreseen by the protocol and in consideration of the present weeds, which represented the species mostly diffused in the Murgia, mainly Avena ludoviciana and Papaver rhoaes. Treatments with the SIT90 alone (even in combination with Chortoluron), applied in early or in late post-emergence, were very ineffective on grass weeds and dicotyledonous, highlighting the importance of the adjuvant Biopower to enhance the expression of the herbicide. In fact, the presence of the adjuvant allowed the expression of a clear and good overall herbicide activity of SIT90 for the control of P. rhoaes and other dicotyledonous, but also a discrete activity against grasses. More reliable was the treatment with SIT90 mixed with Atlantis, against the entire community of grass weeds and on F. officinalis. The performance of all the treatments was insufficient on P. rhoaes, because of the clear resistance shown by the weed.