Spray drift and efficacy from glyphosate and 2,4-D applications with adjuvants

Abstract

Weed plants are one of main factors that affect the production of oilseed crops. Their management have been based on chemical control with herbicides, like glyphosate and 2,4-D, due to usefulness and efficiency of applications. However, their use must be managed correctly to mitigate the spray drift. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate efficacy and spray drift from glyphosate and 2,4-D applications with adjuvants. The drift evaluation of herbicide solutions was conducted in a split-plot arranged in a randomized block design with five replications. Main plots consisted of three herbicide solutions at 150 L ha^-1 (glyphosate + 2,4-D, glyphosate + 2,4-D + sodium lauryl ether sulphate, and glyphosate + 2,4-D + fatty acid esters). Sub-plots consisted of five downwind distances (1 to 10 m) from the sprayed area. It was used a fluorecent tracer and drift colectors. The efficacy trial was performed in a randomized block design with four replications in a 3 x 2 factorial scheme, being the same herbicide solutions and two carrier volumes (75 and 150 L ha^-1). Droplet spectrum and weed depositon were evaluated and physicochemical properties of the herbicide solutions were characterized. Glyphosate + 2,4-D with or without adjuvants, sprayed using 75 or 150 L ha^-1, resulted in similar deposition of tracer on weeds and their control. Those herbicides associated or not with sodium lauryl ether sulphate and fatty acid esters produce similar droplet spectrum and deposition of tracer on drift collectors.