WEEDS AND THEIR CONTROL

WEEDS AND THEIR CONTROL

Peanut producers in eastern New Mexico must contend with a diverse collection of weeds, from annuals to perennials, and from grasses to broadleafs. They may be tall or prostrate weeds. They may be highly competitive or only slightly competitive.

Selecting the correct herbicides and using these herbicides in a way that prevents injury to the peanut plant is important to the producer.

There are four basic classes of herbicides to control weeds in peanuts. These include pre-plant, pre-emergence, ground-cracking, and post-emergence herbicides. Pre-plant herbicides are the most commonly used herbicides in eastern New Mexico. Pre-emergence and ground-cracking herbicides are the next most popular choices. Most peanut producers in the eastern New Mexico region use post-emergence herbicides only to control problem weeds not effectively controlled by other herbicide applications.

Table 2 lists common herbicides registered for use on peanuts in New Mexico. The time of application and the weeds they are effective against also are included. The producer should know what weeds the herbicide is designed to kill, and what weeds are a problem in the field.