Chemical control of stalk regrowth in glyphosate-resistant transgenic cotton

ABSTRACT Cotton stalk regrowth must be controlled after harvest to ensure the phytosanitary quality and sustainability of cotton farming systems. Mechanical destruction generally does not conform to the no-tillage system, and the control of cotton stalk regrowth by herbicides is little studied in Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of herbicides to control glyphosate-resistant transgenic cotton stalk regrowth. The study was conducted in three environments of the Brazilian Cerrado region, two in Santa Helena de Goias (SHGO), during 2013 and 2014, and one in Luis Eduardo Magalhaes (LEM-BA) in 2014. In each of the three environments, the experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block with four replications. Each experiment consisted of different combinations of herbicides and one untreated control. Cotton stalk regrowth was influenced by the three environments. Two sequential 2,4-D amine applications, each with 1,000 g ha-1 of acid equivalent, resulted in better cotton stalk destruction, albeit with 4.9, 16.9 and 36.9% of cotton stalk regrowth in SHGO 2013 and 2014, and LEM-BA 2014, respectively. A single application of 2,4-D amine and a 2,4-D amine spraying followed by the application of carfentrazone-ethyl, paraquat, saflufenacil, paraquat + diuron or glufosinate-ammonium are not effective to control glyphosate-resistant transgenic cotton stalk regrowth. The best destruction of cotton stalk regrowth occurs with two sequential applications of 2,4-D amine.