Influence of Glufosinate Rate, Ammonium Sulfate, and Weed Height on Annual Broadleaf Weed Control

Weed control efficacy with contact herbicides can depend on weed height at application. Four field experiments were conducted at sites with multiple weed species at different heights to determine the effect of weed height, glufosinate rate, and the addition of ammonium sulfate (AMS) on annual broadleaf weed control in soybean in southwestern Ontario, Canada, during 2021 and 2022. Glufosinate was applied at 300 or 500 g ai ha-1 without or with 6.50 L ha-1 of AMS to 5, 10, and 15 cm tall common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik.), and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.). Glufosinate provided excellent common ragweed control (> 98%) at both rates, without and with AMS, and at all three heights 4 weeks application (WAA). In contrast, glufosinate efficacy declined when applied to common lambsquarters, velvetleaf, and redroot pigweed > 5 cm in height. The addition of AMS to glufosinate improved common lambsquarters control. Increasing the rate of glufosinate to 500 g ai ha-1 and the addition of AMS improved control of velvetleaf and redroot pigweed. The results of this study demonstrate that the effect of glufosinate rate, AMS addition, and weed height at application timing is weed species-specific. In general, glufosinate (300 g ai ha-1) controlled common annual broadleaf weeds if weeds were < 5 cm in height; otherwise, glufosinate needed to be applied at 500 g ai ha-1 with AMS for control of annual broadleaf weeds, especially common lambsquarters, velvetleaf and redroot pigweed.