Study Looks to Utilize New Herbicide for Grain Sorghum
The Sorghum Checkoff and Texas AgriLife Research and Extension recently completed a study examining the potential use of a new herbicide on grain sorghum.
Results of the study funded by the Sorghum Checkoff suggest when applied at labeled rates, Sharpen™ and Verdict™ herbicides can be applied pre-plant or pre-emergence in sorghum without injuring the plant or affecting yields.
Sharpen™(saflufenacil), made by BASF, was recently labeled for use in corn and grain sorghum. While several selective herbicides may be used pre-plant or pre-emergence on the crop, concerns about plant-back intervals, weed control options, and crop safety have limited their use in sorghum. The study evaluated the new herbicide for two years to determine its effectiveness and safety in sorghum and its value to sorghum producers.
“Sharpen™ will be most beneficial to sorghum producers by controlling weeds prior to planting and potentially increasing yields," said Brent Bean, Texas AgriLife Extension specialist. “It controls several hard-to-control weeds such as morning glory, volunteer cotton and horseweed."
Bean says Sharpen™ alone is primarily a broadleaf weed herbicide and will need to be combined with a grass herbicide for broad spectrum control. The active ingredient in Sharpen™ has been combined by BASF with dimethenamid in the product Verdict™ to give control of both broadleaf and grass weeds when used pre-emergence in grain sorghum. This is the same grass herbicide found in Guardsman Max®.
Bean said Sharpen™ and Verdict™ give some residual control, but are flexible enough to allow almost any crop to be planted the following spring.