Field experiments were conducted in 1988 and 1989 to evaluate timing of POST herbicide application in peanut for annual broadleaf weed control, peanut yield, and net returns. Bentazon tank-mixtures with either acifluorfen or paraquat controlled common lambsquarters, prickly sida, and morningglory species equally when applied either at ground-cracking (GC) or 2 wk after ground-cracking (2WGC). Paraquat controlled common lambsquarters least (32 to 33%). Bentazon plus acifluorfen plus BCH 81508S controlled 82% common lambsquarters at 2WGC compared with 66% control from bentazon plus acifluorfen plus a crop oil concentrate. Lactofen controlled 86% common lambsquarters when applied at GC compared to 34% at 2WGC. All applications applied at 4 wk after GC (4WGC) controlled essentially no annual broadleaf weeds. Higher yields and net returns were generally obtained with earlier herbicide applications. Bentazon tank-mixtures with acifluorfen provided equivalent peanut yields and net returns for GC and 2WGC applications.
