Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2017
Experiments were conducted in pots and in the field to determine the influence of seed depth on seedling emergence pattern and control of Mexican sunflower with or without imazethapyr plus pendimethalin. Mexican sunflower seeds were placed at 0-, 2.5-, 5-, 7.5-, and 10-cm soil depths, and imazethapyr–pendimethalin mixture was applied PRE at 0, 0.05 + 0.65, 0.09 + 1.31, and 0.18 + 2.62 kg ae (+ ai)/ha. Mexican sunflower emergence was 57, 30, 14, 3, and 2% from 0-, 2.5-, 5-, 7.5-, and 10-cm seed depths, respectively. Seedling emergence started 2 to 3 d after planting and continued for 4 to 5 d. At 0- to 5-cm seed depths, 84 to 100% of total seedling emergence occurred within 3 d after the first seedling emerged, but emergence rate was less from 7.5- and 10-cm seed depths. Imazethapyr plus pendimethalin at 0.05 + 0.65 and 0.09 + 1.31 kg/ha had no effect on seedling emergence in Mexican sunflower, but subsequent growth was severely inhibited regardless of seed depth. The herbicide treatments were more injurious to Mexican sunflower seedlings that emerged from 5- to 10-cm depths than to those that emerged from 0 and 2.5 cm. Burying seeds 7.5 cm deep or more is a potential control measure for Mexican sunflower, and the deeper the emergence depth, the more susceptible the seedling is to imazethapyr plus pendimethalin.