Effectiveness of Fomesafen and Its Mixtures for Weed Control in Bean Crops

Resumen

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of the herbicide fomesafen both alone and in combination with other herbicides in controlling weeds and toxicity to beans, and to compare it with other chemical and manual treatments.

Design/methodology/approach: The experiment was established in Ignacio de la Llave, Veracruz, in January 2024. A randomized block experimental design with 10 treatments and four replications was employed: fomesafen at 125, 187.5, and 250 g ha^-1, fomesafen + fluazifop-p-butyl at 187.5 + 125 g ha^-1, fomesafen + clethodim at 187.5 + 118 g ha^-1, bentazone at 720 g ha^-1, imazethapyr at 100 g ha^-1, one hoe weeding, two hoe weedings, and a control with no application. Weed control and bean toxicity were evaluated at 10, 20, 30 and 42 days after the application of the treatments (DAT), and grain yield was quantified.

Results: At 42 DAT, the most effective treatments for controlling Melampodium divaricatum were bentazone at 720 g ha^-1 and fomesafen at 187.5 and 250 g ha^-1. Control of Rottboellia cochinchinensis was most efficient with fomesafen + fluazifop-p-butyl and fomesafen + clethodim. The best treatment for total weed control, was two hoe weedings. All herbicides caused slight toxicity to the bean, which disappeared after 10 DAT.

Limitations on study/implications: The recommendations can be applied by both small and large bean growers.

Findings/conclusions: The highest grain yields were obtained with two hoe weedings, the mixtures of fomesafen + fluazifop-p-butyl and fomesafen + clethodim and fomesafen at 187.5 and 250 g ha^-1.