Eclipta (Eclipta prostrata L.) Control in Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.)1

Field experiments were conducted from 1991 to 1993 to evaluate eclipta, Eclipta prostrata L., control and peanut, Arachis hypogaea L., response to herbicide treatments. Fomesafen {5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoro-methyl)phenoxy]-N-(methylsulfonyl)-2-nitrobenzamide} applied at cracking was the only preemergence-applied herbicide which provided season-long control (>84%). Herbicides applied postemergence were more effective when the eclipta was less than 5 cm in height. The most consistent early postemergence treatments were bromoxynil (3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile), bentazon [3-(1-methylethyl)-(1H)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazm-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide], and bentazon + acifluorfen {5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoic acid} + 2,4-DB [4-(2,4-dichloro-phenoxy)butanoic acid]. Various other early postemergence followed by late postemergence sequential treatments also were equally effective. Minor peanut injury was observed at the early season rating from several herbicides; however, all injury had disappeared by the late season rating. Eclipta control did not consistently improve peanut pod yield.