Effect of Soybean (Glycine max) Row Spacing on Chemical Control of Sicklepod (Cassia obtusifolia)

Sicklepod control with seven chemical treatments was evaluated in 25-cm and 97-cm soybean row widths. Metribuzin applied preplant incorporated followed by metribuzin applied preemergence, and metribuzin applied preplant incorporated followed by either imazaquin or chlorimuron applied postemergence controlled sicklepod over 90% early in the season, and row spacing did not influence control at that evaluation. In late season ratings, all herbicide treatments controlled sicklepod better in 25-cm rows than in 97-cm rows. However, only imazaquin applied sequentially or metribuzin followed by chlorimuron in 25-cm rows controlled sicklepod greater than 80% late in the season. Sicklepod control in 25-cm row soybean with either imazaquin or metribuzin plus chlorimuron applied preplant incorporated was equivalent to or better than sequential preemergence and postemergence treatments of these three herbicides in 97-cm rows. All treatments resulted in lower yields than the weed-free check in the 97-cm rows, whereas all herbicide treatments except the sequential application of metribuzin gave yields equivalent to the weed free check in 25-cm rows.