Saflufenacil is a new herbicide from BASF for residual broadleaf
weed control in corn and other crops (Sikkema et al., 2008; Soltani
et al., 2009). This herbicide is highly effective on dicotyledon weeds
with both residual and contact activity (Liebl et al., 2008). Consequently,
saflufenacil effectiveness on broadleaf control could be
explored in rice weed management programs especially in
combination with imazethapyr and other compounds where
additional activity on dicotyledon weeds is needed. However, crop
tolerance, efficacy and herbicide interactions would need to be
evaluated before saflufenacil can be used as an effective tool for
controlling weeds in rice.
In rice, tank-mix combinations of saflufenacil with imazethapyr
would require the use of postemergence (POST) applications due to
the labeled recommendations of imazethapyr. Sikkema et al. (2008)
indicated that POST applications of saflufenacil caused unacceptable
injury and yield reduction in barley, oats and wheat. Saflufenacil
applied without adjuvant at spike and 2- to 3-leaf stages
resulted in acceptable corn tolerance, however, crop injury
increased considerably and yield loss was observed when adjuvant
was included in the treatment (Soltani et al., 2009). Hence, experimentation
with applications of saflufenacil at different growth
stages would be required to indicate the rice response to POST
treatments and the feasibility for its use in rice.