Preemergence Control of Doveweed (Murdannia nudiflora) in Container-Grown Nursery Crops

Abstract Preemergence herbicides were evaluated for control of doveweed (Murdannia nudiflora), a summer annual weed of increasing importance in nurseries of the southeastern United States. In the first experiments, broad-spectrum nursery herbicides OH2 (oxyfluorfen + pendimethalin), Snapshot TG (isoxaben + trifluralin), and BroadStar (flumioxazin) were compared. OH2 and Snapshot provided poor and variable control whereas BroadStar controlled doveweed 82 to 100%. In the second set of experiments, recommended rates of all major active ingredients labeled for use in container nursery crops and landscape plantings were compared for control of doveweed. Doveweed was controlled ≥ 95% by BroadStar, Pennant Magnum (s-metolachlor), and Tower (dimethenamid-p). Barricade (prodiamine), Dimension (dithiopyr), Gallery (isoxaben), OH2, Pendulum (pendimethalin), Regal O-O (oxyfluorfen + oxadiazon), Ronstar (oxadiazon), Rout (oxyfluorfen + oryzalin), Showcase (trifluralin + isoxaben + oxyfluorfen), Snapshot TG, and Surflan (oryzalin) did not control doveweed.