Weed Control in Okra
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Weed Control in Okra

   

Weed Control in Okra1

William M. Stall2

Okra is grown throughout the state during the warm season of the year. During this time, warm-season annual weeds can be a serious problem in the field.

Herbicides labeled for use in okra are severely limited (see Table 1 ). Several have not been relabeled during the reregistration process.

Roundup may be used to reduce the weed population in the field, either as a broadcast spray or as a spot treatment when applied to emerged and growing weeds before okra planting.

Trifluralin (Treflan, etc) is the only preplant incorporated (preemergent to weeds) treatment now labeled in okra.

Cultivation is commonly used in okra, either with sweeps or rolling cultivators. Care should be taken not to throw soil too far up on the okra stems. This practice can increase stem rot and stem decay.

In some areas of the state, okra has been planted as a second crop, behind mulched vegetables, after the mulch has been removed.

This production practice has been quite successful, but okra must not be planted as a second crop into soil containing residual herbicides from the first crop that are phytotoxic to okra. Read the label of each herbicide to find out the length of time that must elapse before non labeled crops may be planted in the field.

Tables

Table 1. Chemical weed controls: okra.

Herbicide

Labeled

crops

Time of application

to crop

Rates (lbs. AI./Acre)

Mineral

Muck
Carfentrazone

(Aim)


 Okra


 Preplant

Directed-hooded Row-middles


 0.031


 0.031
Remarks: Aim may be applied as a preplant burndown treatment and/or as a post-directed hooded burn-down application to row middles for the burndown of emerged broadleaf weeds. May be tank mixed with other registered herbicides. May be applied at up to 2 oz (0.031 lb ai). Use a quality spray adjuvant such as crop oil concentrate (coc) or non-ionic surfactant at recommended rates.
Glyphosate (Roundup, Durango, Touchdown, Glyphomax)


 Okra
Chemical fallow

Preplant, pre emergence, Pretransplant


 0.3 - 1.0


 ----
Remarks: Roundup, Glyphomax and touchdown have several formulations. Check the label of each for specific labeling directions.
Lactofen

(Cobra)


 Okra
Row -middles
0.25-0.5
----
Remarks: Third Party label for use post emergence, shielded or hooded to row middles. Apply 16 to 32 fluid oz per acre. a minimum of 24 fl oz is required for residual control. add a CoC or non-ionic surfactant for control of emerged weeds. 1 post application may be made per growing season. Cobra contacting green foliage or fruit can cause excessive injury. Drift of Cobra treated soil particles onto plants can cause contact injury. Do not apply within 30 days of harvest. The supplemental label must be in the possession of the user at the time of application.
Pelargonic Acid

(Scythe)


 Okra
Preplant

Preemergence

Directed-Shielded


 3-10% v/v
3-10% v/v
Remarks: Product is a contact, non-selective, foliar applied herbicide. There is no residual activity. May be tank mixed with glyphosate. May be tank mixed with trefluralin for soil residual activity. Consult label for rates and other information.
Trifluralin (Several Brands)


 Okra
Preplant incorporated


 0.5 - 0.75
----
Remarks: Controls germinating annuals, especially grasses. Incorporate 4/ or less within 8 hours. Results in Florida are erratic on soils with low organic matter and clay contents. Note precautions against planting non-registered crops within 5 months.

Footnotes

1. This document is HS192, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Last revision date: November, 2007. Please visit the EDIS Website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. William M. Stall, professor, Horticultural Sciences Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.

The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. It is not a guarantee or warranty of the products named and does not signify that they are approved to the exclusion of others of suitable composition.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.


Copyright Information

This document is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication.