New May 1996
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Atrazine is used on about 65 percent of all corn acreage and 69 percent of all grain sorghum acreage in the United States, and Missouri mirrors this level of use. It is estimated that the loss of atrazine would result in an annual cost of about $1 billion to U.S. farmers. This loss would come from reduced yields (up to 8 percent) and more expensive replacement products for weed control. With current products, the cost to replace atrazine would range from $12 to $18 per acre. This does not include the cost of additional soil erosion where tillage will be used to replace atrazine.
Atrazine provides residual broad-spectrum weed control and can be used with both conventional and conservation tillage. Atrazine also has a higher margin of crop safety than many of its possible replacements.
Public concern over the widespread use of atrazine centers on its detection in both surface and groundwater. Drinking water supplies in nine watersheds in northern Missouri contain atrazine levels higher than 3 parts per billion, the maximum contaminant level mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Thus, the future of atrazine in these areas is uncertain, and more restrictions may be required to bring the water supplies back into compliance. This publication provides guidelines for:
The alternative products are listed to provide growers with weed control tools if they either decide voluntarily not to use atrazine or are required to use other products because of additional restrictions by regulatory agencies.
Although atrazine contamination of the groundwater is a serious issue, it appears to be a localized problem that develops as a result of the interaction of several site-specific conditions. Atrazine in surface runoff is of more widespread concern. The unpredictable nature of runoff and the seasonal peak concentration of atrazine in streams and rivers draining agricultural areas imply the need to minimize loss at the source.
Herbicide loss in runoff depends on the intensity and duration of the rainfall, the time between herbicide application and the rain, the concentration of the herbicide in the upper half inch of soil, properties of the herbicide, tillage practice, soil type and the slope of the treated fields. Most studies show that runoff losses are less than 5 percent of the amount applied and that the greatest losses (up to 7 percent) occur when intense rainfall follows immediately after application.
Best management practices that encourage infiltration of surface water into the soil will be most effective in reducing atrazine losses in runoff. Research shows that light incorporation, or tillage, increases infiltration and can reduce offsite movement of atrazine. This is because atrazine moves primarily through solution in runoff water (the water phase) rather than attachment to soil particles (the sediment phase). Incorporation of herbicides by working them into the soil can decrease the amount of active ingredient in runoff; however, soil erosion losses will be greater on erodible lands and the net effect on the environment could be worse than herbicide runoff.
In no-till fields, we recommend the following:
On conventionally tilled acres, incorporation of atrazine and atrazine tank- and pre-mixes can reduce the amount of herbicide that leaves the field.
The best way to minimize surface and groundwater contamination is to follow label directions exactly
If you do not follow these directions, your treatment may not be effective, you increase the chance of contaminating water and you may be violating the law. Proper timing and placement of all pesticides are important.
Improper disposal of empty containers, rinse water or unused chemicals can cause localized groundwater problems.
Buffer zones provide a measure of protection against runoff and spills of agricultural chemicals during mixing and application.
To prevent back siphoning, keep the end of the fill hose above the water level in the spray tank at all times
Use an anti-backflow device when drawing mix water from a well or pond. These anti-backflow devices can be purchased from irrigation or sprayer equipment suppliers.
The total amount of atrazine applied to a field may not exceed 2.5 pounds of active ingredient (pound a.i.) per acre per year. This restriction includes all atrazine applied both before and after crops emerge.
Broadcast spray application rates for atrazine before crops emerge depend on the amount of plant residue covering your field at planting and on the erodibility of your soil as defined by NRCS.
Highly erodible soils
Soils not classified as highly erodible
When appropriate, make postemergence applications of herbicides in narrow bands directly over the rows rather than cover the entire space between rows. In addition, consider delaying a herbicide application if heavy rains are forecast for the next few days. Research has shown that heavy rains shortly after application can cause significant loss of the herbicide in runoff. Follow these application guidelines:
Table 1
Weed response to burndown herbicides
| Weed | Atrazine 2 pounds a.i.+ crop oil |
Roundup 1 quart per acre + ammonium sulfate |
Gramoxone 1.5 pints per acre + nonionic surfactant |
Banvel 1 pint + 2,4-D 2 pints per acre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual bluegrass | 10 | 10 | 9 | 0 |
| Downey brome/cheat | 7 | 9 | 8 | 0 |
| Carolina foxtail/little barley | 10 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| Small flowered bittercress and sibara | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| Smallflower buttercup | 10 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| Chickweed | 10 | 10 | 10 | |
| Dandelion | 4 | 5 | 4 | 8 |
| Cutleaf eveningprimrose | 7 | 6 | 8 | |
| Rough (daisy) fleabane | 7 | 5 | 5 | |
| Carolina geranium | 8 | 9 | ||
| Henbit | 9 | 9 | ||
| Horseweed (marestail) | 9 | 9 | 6 | 8 |
| Mousetail | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
| Wild mustard | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
| Field pennycress | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
| Prickly lettuce | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 |
| Virginia pepperweed | 8 | 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Shepherd's-purse | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Purslane speedwell | 10 | 9 | 5 | 9 |
| Crabgrass | 7 | 9 | 8 | 0 |
| Giant foxtail | 7 | 8 | 7 | 0 |
| Common lambsquarters | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
| Common ragweed | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 |
| Giant ragweed | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 |
| Annual smartweed | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| Grain sorghum | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cost per acre ($) | 7.50 | 11.00 | 7.28 | 13.44 |
Table 2
Cover crop and sod response to burndown herbicides
| Weed | Atrazine 2 pounds a.i.+ crop oil |
Roundup 1 quart per acre + ammonium sulfate |
Gramoxone 1.5 pints per acre + nonionic surfactant |
Banvel 1 pint + 2,4-D 2 pints per acre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual rye | 6 | 9 | 7 | 0 |
| Winter wheat | 6 | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| Alfalfa | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Crimson clover | 3 | 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Red clover | 5 | 6 | 4 | 9 |
| Hairy vetch | 7 | 6 | 8 | 9 |
| Fescue | 2 | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Orchardgrass | 4 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Timothy | 2 | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Grain sorghum | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Cost per acre ($) | 7.50 | 5.50 per pint | 7.28 | 13.44 |
Table 3
Broadleaf weed response to preemergence herbicides
| Weed | Atrazine 2 pounds a.i. per acre | Broadstrike Plus 0.2 to 0.3 pound per acre |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern black nightshade | 9 | 8 |
| Cocklebur | 9 | 7 |
| Jimsonweed | 10 | 8 |
| Common lambsquarters | 9 | 9 |
| Entire and ivyleaf morningglory | 9 | 5 |
| Pitted morningglory | 10 | |
| Redroot and smooth pigweed | 10 | 9 |
| Prickly sida | 9 | 7 |
| Common ragweed | 9 | 8 |
| Giant ragweed (horseweed) | 8 | 6 |
| Annual smartweed spp. | 9 | 8 |
| Sunflower | 7 | 9 |
| Velvetleaf | 8 | 8 |
| Common and tall waterhemp | 10 | |
| Grain sorghum | Yes | No |
| Cost per acre ($) | 6.50 | 17.45 |
Table 4
Broadleaf response to postemergence herbicides (table is split into two parts)
| Weed | Atrazine 2 pounds a.i. per acre + crop oil | Banvel 1 pint per acre | Beacon 0.76 ounce per acre + nonionic surfactant | Basagran 2 pints per acre+ crop oil | Buctril 1.5 pints per acre | Resolve1 5.3 ounces per acre + nonionic surfactant + 28 percentN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern black nightshade | 9 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Cocklebur | 9 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Jimsonweed | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
| Common lambsquarters | 10 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 8 |
| Entire and ivyleaf morningglory | 9 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 8 | |
| Pitted morningglory | 9 | 10 | 7 | 8 | ||
| Redroot and smooth pigweed | 10 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 9 |
| Prickly sida | 9 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 7 | |
| Common ragweed | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| Giant ragweed | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| Annual smartweed | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Sunflower | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| Velvetleaf | 9 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Waterhemp | 10 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Grain sorghum | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Cost per acre ($) | 7.50 | 10.20 | 19.56 | 16.26 | 10.41 | 16.50 |
There are several chemical alternatives to atrazine or other triazines. Tables 1 to 4 list the current alternative treatments and their approximate cost per acre. The tables show specific alternatives to atrazine; these are not intended as alternatives to a total weed control program.
For postemergence weed control in fields with conventional or reduced tillage, 2,4-D is an extremely competitive product in terms of price per acre, but be cautious of drift to nontarget vegetation (Table 4) especially with ester formulations. Mixtures of 2,4-D and Banvel have been extremely consistent in field corn over the years (Figure 1) and competitive on a per acre basis (Table 4). Proper herbicide combinations can increase your chances of successful weed control. Figure 2, based on results from a Pesticide Impact Assessment Study published by the University of Illinois, outlines the success rates of various tank mixes. Mixing atrazine with Buctril or Banvel is likely to yield better weed control than use of either of those products alone. Excellent results have also been obtained when atrazine is combined with 2,4-D.
Figure 1
Control of broadleaf weeds with Banvel and 2,4-D.
Figure 2
Control of broadleaf weeds with and without atrazine.
If you eliminate tillage before planting, you must control undesirable vegetation with herbicides at or before planting. Eliminating or reducing tillage puts a greater reliance on chemical weed control. Greater emphasis may be placed on pre-plant or post-plant soil-applied herbicides that are not incorporated into the soil or on foliar-applied herbicides. Generally speaking, Roundup provides better control of large weeds, and Gramoxone provides better control of small weeds (Tables 1 and 2). Banvel and 2,4-D are superior if leguminous cover crops or annual broadleaf weeds are the dominant species present.
Where primary tillage is minimized, soil residual herbicides may reduce the need for a burndown herbicide. However, early pre-plant applications made more than 15 days before planting may require additional preemergence or postemergence herbicides for satisfactory weed control after planting.
Soybean stubble is often ideal for no-till production. Burndown plus preemergence or postemergence herbicides can often provide adequate control. Consult Tables 1, 2 and 3 for burndown and preemergence alternatives to atrazine.
No-till crop production does not necessarily reduce atrazine runoff unless water infiltration is increased. In no-till production, some large-seeded broadleaf weeds such as cocklebur will be less problematic, but perennial weeds and small-seeded weeds such as pigweeds become more of a problem.
In conventional tillage, consider using Broadstrike Plus as an alternative to atrazine as a pre-plant incorporated or preemergence treatment (Table 3). Use this product as a supplement to your pre-plant incorporated or preemergence grass control herbicide. There are several postemergence products to substitute for, or tank mix with, atrazine (Table 4). Typically the rate of application for atrazine in tank mixes is 1 pounds a.i. per acre at a cost of $3 to $4 per acre. This makes it possible to supplement the postemergence weed control at very little cost. The labeled atrazine tank mix partners in field corn are Accent, Banvel/Clarity, Basagran, Bladex, Buctril, Prowl, Pursuit (on IT/IR [imidazolinone-tolerant or -resistant] corn), and Tough. The labeled atrazine tank mix partners in grain sorghum are Basagran and Buctril.
Integrated pest management programs combine chemical use with many other production practices to manage pests in ways that are both economically and environmentally sound. These programs include such practices as crop rotation to avoid the buildup of pest populations and to maintain or improve soil conditions, the use of alternative pest-control products and pest-resistant varieties, and careful pest monitoring to ensure that chemical methods are used only when needed.
Scout your fields early and often and select the herbicide based on the weeds present. Proper management of your fields is essential. Atrazine is useful as a stand-alone product and as a tank mix partner. But unless we practice good land stewardship, we may lose this important product.
G4851, new May 1996