Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum) control in Mississippi corn (Zea mays L.) production

Abstract

Studies were conducted in the field and in containers in Mississippi from 2017-2019 to optimize Italian ryegrass control in corn production. Most fall-applied residual herbicides provided ≥ 90% Italian ryegrass control 56 days after treatment (DAT) in both field and container experiments. Oxyflurofen provided 95% Italian ryegrass control 28 DAT but only 81% control 56 DAT in field plots. S-metolachlor plus atrazine followed by paraquat produced the highest return on investment for both site-years. The timing of removal study indicates the optimum time to remove Italian ryegrass relative to corn planting is approximately three to four weeks prior to planting. In the droplet size study, Italian ryegrass control when S-metolachlor was sprayed with the TTI was lower than when S-metolachlor was sprayed with the AIXR in containers 28 DAT. Italian ryegrass control when paraquat was sprayed with the AIXR was greater than when paraquat was sprayed with the TTI.