Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides in the United States (including in tree fruits) for the post-emergent weed management. First registered under the trade name Roundup in 1974, glyphosate became a popular crop protection chemical due to its systemic nature, broad spectrum of weed control, and lack of soil residual activity.

Glyphosate came off patent in 2000 and is currently marketed under dozens of different trade names (such as Durango, Rodeo, Roundup PowerMax, Touchdown, among others) in more than 100 crops.

Glyphosate lacks soil activity. According to Zhou et al. (2006): “Clay mineral type and content, organic matter fraction, pH, and cation exchange capacity are potential factors that may affect herbicide adsorption.”

Soil dust that settles on weed leaf surfaces (Figure 1) or dirt that is deposited on weeds from the tires of farm vehicles can negatively impact glyphosate performance because of binding and subsequent inactivation (i.e. binding of the glyphosate to the soil particles, which prevents uptake by the plants).

Figure 1. Dust deposits on field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) leaves.
Figure 1. Dust deposits on field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) leaves.

Zhou et al. (2006) conducted a series of studies to describe the effects of dust on glyphosate efficacy. In one trial, they evaluated how the control of two weed species (eastern black (Solanum ptychanthum) and hairy (Solanum sarrachoides) nightshades) were affected by dust amounts. Results showed that increased rates of dust applied to the surface of weed leaves (prior to or within 15 minutes after glyphosate applications) resulted in reduced control (Figure 2).

Additional studies demonstrated that the use of adjuvants (ammonium sulfate, a non-ionic surfactant, and an organosilicone surfactant) were not able to completely overcome the effect of dust. A similar type of trial was conducted by Boerboom et al. (2006) at two field locations in Wisconsin. Dust (generated using a lawn mower or leaf blower was deposited over the top of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album). Dust was removed from ½ of the plots with water and the entire trial was sprayed glyphosate. At both locations, the application of dust visually reduced common lambsquarters relative to the plots that had the dust washed away with water.

Figure 2. Reductions (percentage point changes) in weed control by glyphosate as affected by the rate of a silty clay dust applied to the leaves of eastern black and hairy nightshade. Greater numbers on the Y-axis indicated greater reductions in control (i.e. control was worse).
Figure 2. Reductions (percentage point changes) in weed control by glyphosate as affected by the rate of a silty clay dust applied to the leaves of eastern black and hairy nightshade. Greater numbers on the Y-axis indicated greater reductions in control (i.e. control was worse). Adapted from Zhou et al. (2006) Weed Science 54:1132-1136.

In addition to dust on plant surfaces, soil particles in spray water can also bind to glyphosate and reduce herbicide efficacy. As such, only clean water should be used to fill spray tanks.

In summary:

  • Be mindful of how soil disturbance (from in-orchard activities, from road traffic) affects dust production.
  • Make glyphosate applications in advance of periods when dust production may be heightened.
  • Sprinkler irrigation may be able to remove some of the dust from leaves. Glyphosate applications should be made after weed leaves have dried and before more dust can be deposited.

 – Lynn M. Sosnoskie, Washington State University

Source: Washington State University