Field studies were conducted in south Texas from 1994 through 1997 to evalu
ate soil-applied herbicides for weed control, sesame tolerance, and yield.
Ethalfluralin at 1.26 kg/ha, imazethapyr at 0.04 and 0.07 kg/ha, and pendim
ethalin at 1.12 kg/ha reduced sesame plant height up to 66% when compared w
ith the untreated check while pendimethalin, trifluralin, ethalfluralin, an
d imazethapyr reduced sesame plant stands 8-98% when compared with the untr
eated check. Trifluralin, ethalfluralin at 0.63 kg/ha, and metolachlor at 3
.36 kg/ha increased yield up to 80% over the untreated check. Imazethapyr a
nd metolachlor provided the most consistent Need control ( > 80%), while me
tolachlor provided the best weed control and least sesame injury. The dinit
roaniline herbicides are options for weed control but crop safety is a conc
ern if these herbicides are incorporated too deep in a shallow planted crop
. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.