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Evaluation of Registered Herbicide Options for Weed Control in Flax (Linum usitatissimum)

Abstract: A trial was initiated near Scotch Settlement, NB to determine the optimal herbicide application program for flax production in the Maritime region. The herbicides tested were bentazon, MCPA amine, bromoxynil plus MCPA ester, clethodim plus MCPA amine and sethoxydim plus MCPA amine, applied at label rates. An untreated control was included for weed control and crop injury comparisons. Visual evaluations of crop injury and weed control were recorded. Flax emergence was variable over the plot area, leading to a range of plant sizes at application. Therefore, applications made in this experiment may have been too early for optimal crop tolerance and may have contributed to early crop injury. This level of injury dissipated by crop harvest, as no delay in maturity was noted. Weed pressure was low over the plot area. No difference was found between the two grass herbicides tested, clethodim and sethoxydim. Early season broadleaf control appeared to be increased with MCPA amine, although the other broadleaf herbicides tested had similar weed control ratings by the next rating date. Specific broadleaf product recommendations will be dependant on the weed population within specific fields. Future experiments are needed to explore specific weed problems within flax production in order to evaluate innovative herbicide chemistries and to explore crop desiccants and timings.