Article contents
The Effect of Sodium 2,4–Dichlorophenoxyethyl Sulfate on the Growth and Yield of Strawberries
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2017
Extract
Sodium 2,4–dichlorophenoxyethyl sulfate (hereafter designated as SES) has been widely tested for herbicidal use in pre- and post-emergence applications on seeded and vegetatively propagated crops. Several investigators have found this chemical to be particularly valuable for control of annual weeds in strawberries. Their reports indicate satisfactory weed control, but for the most part contain no critical evaluation of the effect of the chemical on the strawberry plants. Field tests conducted on crops other than strawberries have indicated some crop responses which may be characteristic of the general effects to be expected from application of SES to crop plants. More basic studies have shown no hormone response from application of SES to tomato foliage. In fact, the chemical per se was found to be herbicidally inactive, undergoing some change in the soil to attain its active form. The change from inactive to active form was found to occur in nonsterile soils over a range of pH from 3 to 7, and in sterile soils from pH 3 to 4. This change was postulated to be an acid hydrolysis of the ethyl sulfate form of the chemical to an active form, either in an acid soil or as a result of acid secretions of bacteria and fungi. Further research has indicated that SES is hydrolyzed to sodium 2,4–dichlorophenoxy ethanol and sodium bisulfite and that further reaction in the soil may lead to 2,4–dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid. The ethanol has been shown to be highly toxic to germinating seeds, but only 1/100 as toxic as 2,4–D when applied to tomato foliage.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © 1953 Weed Science Society of America
References
Literature Cited
- 1
- Cited by