G.L. Graham1, A. Smith1 and P.
Scott2
Abstract: Borage (Borago officinalis) is a potential new oilseed crop
for New Brunswick producers. Lack of herbicide options within borage production
has been mentioned as a major limiting factor to commercial production of this
crop. A trial was initiated near Richmond Corner, NB to evaluate in-crop
herbicides for control of weeds in borage. Linuron, imazethapyr, s-metolachlor,
clopyralid and glyphosate showed crop injury at the rates and timings
evaluated. Trifluralin and sethoxydim were the only treatments which did not
cause significant borage injury by the final rating. High levels of crop injury
were shown in the glyphosate treatment because the application timing was late
for a pre-emergent treatment. Glyphosate offered the highest level of weed
control throughout the season, showing that the removal of early weed
competition allowed the borage crop to be competitive with later emerging
weeds. Trifluralin gave the best combination of weed control and borage
tolerance within this experiment. Crop tolerance was excellent for sethoxydim,
but weed control ratings were low due to a lack of grassy weeds within the
plots (less than 5% of the treatment area). Additional treatments and timings
should be evaluated for this crop, with the pre-emergent window offering the
most promise for control from a commercial standpoint.
1NB Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Crop Development Branch, P. O. Box 6000, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5H1 2Potato Development Centre, NB Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture, 39 Barker Lane Wicklow, NB E7L 3S4
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