Lumax (R): An alternative to atrazine for pre- and post-emergence control of weeds in sugarcane

摘要

Atrazine has successfully been used for more than 40 years in various tank-mixes for both pre- and post-emergence control of weeds in sugarcane. However, the product is banned in the EU for environmental reasons. Lumax, consisting of three active ingredients namely mesotrione (0.0375 kg a.i./L), terbutylazine (0.125 kg a.i./L) and s-metolachlor (0.375 kg a.i./L), has been evaluated as a substitute for atrazine in Mauritius in ten field trials in both plant and ratoon sugarcane. Lumax at rates varying between 3.5 and 5.0 L/ha proved effective on a wide spectrum of broad-leaved weeds and some grasses, including Digitaria horizontalis. In general, Lumax was superior to the standard s-metolachlor + atrazine and comparable to the tank-mixes tebuthiuron + atrazine and oxyfluorfen + diuron. In post-emergence of weeds, although Lumax tank-mixed with 2,4-D amine salt showed a better control of weeds than atrazine tank-mixed with s-metolachlor + 2,4-D amine salt, it was slightly inferior to the other standards containing hexazinone or tebuthiuron. In all situations, Lumax provided a residual activity varying between 10 and 12 weeks and showed no phytotoxicity on the various sugarcane varieties tested. Lumax has been recommended as an alternative to atrazine at rates varying between 4.0 and 5.0 L/ha.