Soil-incorporated trifluralin protects cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) from root-absorbed herbicides

Mechanical incorporation of a tank mixture of trifluralin in combination with fluometuron, diuron or prometryne in the soil to a depth of 10 cm protected emerging cotton from the damage caused by these herbicides in the absence of trifluralin. The incorporated tank mixtures, which were activated by sprinkler irrigation, controlled weeds which were tolerant to trifluralin alone. The different reaction of weeds and cotton to the soil-incorporated herbicide mixtures corresponded to the reaction of their root systems to trifluralin. Weeds whose root system was shortened significantly by trifluralin were sensitive to the tank-mixed, soil-incorporated herbicides.