Abstract
Eight herbicides were evaluated for phytotoxicity to field grown ‘Candidium’ caladiums (Caladium × hortulanum Birdsey) in 1983. The 4 most promising or currently used herbicides were evaluated for weed control and phytotoxicity in 1984. During 1984, 4 applications of 2.24 kg/ha alachlor, 2.24 kg/ha simazine, 1.68 kg/ha oryzalin, and 0.56 kg/ha oxyfluorfen, all in combination with 1 postemergence application of 0.28 kg/ha fluazifop-butyl, were applied to caladiums. Alachlor and oxyfluorfen provided poor weed control and reduced plant vigor, tuber weights, and tuber size in 1984. Simazine provided good weed control, but reduced plant vigor and yield. Oryazlin provided excellent weed control without crop injury. Chemical names used: 2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl)acetamide (alachlor); 6-chloro-N,N’-diethyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine (simazine); 4-(dipropylamino)-3,5-dinitrobenzene sulfonamide (oryzalin); 2-chloro-l-(3-ethoxy-4-nitrophenoxy)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (oxyfluorfen); butyl-2-[4-[[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy] phenoxy] propanoate (fluazifop-butyl).