Study To Focus On Consistent Results From Liberty
Dr. Larry Steckel, extension weed specialist with the University of Tennessee discusses
Liberty herbicide and it’s use in cotton to manage pigweeds.
Photo by John LaRose, Jr.
BETTY VALLE GEGG-NAEGER
MidAmerica Farmer Grower
MILAN, TENN.
Cotton weed control using Liberty herbicide was discussed by Dr. Larry Steckel, extension weed specialist with the University of Tennessee.
“Liberty is one of the main herbicides we’re using in our cotton to try to manage pigweeds,” he said. “When it comes to pigweed management with Liberty, it can be a very good tool but it can also be a pretty temperamental herbicide. Under the wrong environmental conditions it doesn’t work very well so we’re trying to highlight a lot of those environmental conditions and how to work around them in order to get the best efficacy from Liberty in your weed control program.”
The time of day Liberty is applied is a huge factor. Research studies show that if Liberty is applied to pigweed of any size from two hours after the sun comes up to two hours after it sets will provide the most consistent weed control.
“Temperature also has a big effect,” Steckel said. “We had a spot in mid-May where it got very cool, 50 degree nights, and it didn’t work as well then. It also has a four-hour rain fast period, and in this year when we’ve had so much rain throughout the spring it’s been a struggle to find that window that Liberty is going to give you good control.
”Trying to cram it into those few days it does work, not spraying too late at night or too early in the morning to get good control can be difficult in a spring like we had in 2014. ∆
BETTY VALLE GEGG-NAEGER: Senior Staff Writer, MidAmerica Farmer Grower