Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2017
A 50:50 mixture of phenmedipham (methyl m-hydroxycarbanilate m-methylcarbanilate) and desmedipham [ethyl m-hydroxycarbanilate carbanilate (ester)] was applied at 1.1, 2.2, and 4.4 kg/ha to weed-free sugarbeets (Beta vulgaris L. ‘Mono-HyD2’) at three growth stages in the morning and afternoon to evaluate factors associated with phytotoxicity. Sugarbeet stand loss from herbicide application had a much greater effect on yield than temporary vigor loss. Increasing herbicide rate always increased stand loss. Spraying in the afternoon was much less injurious than spraying in the morning when maximum temperature during the day exceeded 22 C. Excessive stand loss occurred, even with the 1.1 kg/ha rate and 4 to 6 leaf sugarbeets, when sprayed on the morning of a day with maximum temperature of 30 C or greater. Yield loss was determined by percent stand loss and by sugarbeet stand density prior to herbicide application. Significant sucrose yield loss occurred with all rates when applied in the morning to a marginal sugarbeet stand.