Field experiments were conducted in 2000 and 2001 near Painter, VA, to evaluate the potential of sulfentrazone for use in potato. Sulfentrazone was applied at 0.11, 0.14, 0.21, and 0.28 kg ai/ha preemergence (PRE) alone or in combination with metolachlor or metribuzin, or at emergence (AT EMERG) of potato to simulate a delayed PRE application where the herbicide would come into contact with potato foliage. Potato injury from sulfentrazone PRE at rates of up to 0.21 kg/ha was generally similar to injury from metribuzin, metolachlor, or metribuzin plus metolachlor PRE. However, AT EMERG applications resulted in excessive injury that ranged from 60 to 86%. AT EMERG applications also caused decreased potato height and alterations in potato-flowering patterns. Sulfentrazone at either application timing controlled common lambsquarters at least 98% even at the lowest rates and was more effective than metribuzin or metolachlor alone. Higher rates of sulfentrazone (0.28 kg/ha) also controlled goosegrass and large crabgrass. However, sulfentrazone at 0.28 kg/ha controlled common ragweed only 58%. Total potato yield and grade with sulfentrazone PRE applications were similar to those of potato treated with metribuzin, metolachlor, or metribuzin plus metolachlor in both years. Potato injury from AT EMERG applications of sulfentrazone plus metolachlor decreased total potato yield and caused changes in the grade distribution of B-size, small A–size, and extra-large potato in 2000.

Potato exhibits adequate tolerance to preemergence applications of sulfentrazone at rates up to 0.28 kg ai ha−1. Sulfentrazone also controls several troublesome weeds such as common lambsquarters but may be less effective against jimsonweed. Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate differential tolerance to root-absorbed [14C]sulfentrazone by potato, common lambsquarters, and jimsonweed. Common lambsquarters and jimsonweed absorption of [14C]sulfentrazone g−1 fresh weight was more than twofold that in potato after 24-h exposure. After 48-h exposure, sulfentrazone absorption by common lambsquarters was nearly twofold that in jimsonweed and nearly threefold that in potato. Sulfentrazone movement from roots to shoots was also greater in common lambsquarters than in jimsonweed and potato after 6 h. Both weed species exhibited nearly a twofold increase in sulfentrazone translocation from roots to shoots compared with potato after 12, 24, and 48 h. Minor differences in sulfentrazone metabolism in roots were noted among species after 6 h. Metabolism in roots and shoots was similar in all species after 12, 24, and 48 h. Because the enzyme on which sulfentrazone acts, protoporphyrinogen oxidase, is located in shoot tissue, translocation to shoots is essential for sulfentrazone toxicity. Therefore, differential root absorption and differential translocation of sulfentrazone from roots to shoots are the proposed primary mechanisms of differential sulfentrazone tolerance among potato, common lambsquarters, and jimsonweed.