Sugarbeet

Pest Management Guidelines

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Cheeseweed infestation, little mallow infestation, Malva parviflora

Herbicide Treatment Table

(Reviewed 11/05, updated 1/13)

In this Guideline: More about weeds in sugarbeet:
Common name Amount R.E.I.‡ P.H.I.‡
(trade name) per acre (hours) (days)
  Calculate impact of pesticide on air quality
The following materials are listed in alphabetical order. When choosing a pesticide, consider information relating to environmental impact. Not all registered pesticides are listed. Always read the label of the product being used.
 
BEFORE PLANTING
Preplant foliar
 
A. GLYPHOSATE 0.5–1.0 lb a.i. see comments NA
  (Roundup, Touchdown)
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 9
  COMMENTS: Apply to emerged annual weeds at least 3 days before sowing crop or before it emerges. Weeds should be less than 4 inches tall and vigorously growing. Observe label restrictions for application. Restricted entry interval (REI) for Roundup is 4 hours and for Touchdown 12 hours.
 
B. PARAQUAT* 0.5–0.1 lb a.i. 24 NA
  (Gramoxone Inteon)
  . . . PLUS . . .
  surfactant 8 oz/100 gal    
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 22
  COMMENTS: Apply to emerged annual weeds before sowing crop or before it emerges. Grasses after tillering not well controlled. Avoid drift from treated area. Flush all spray equipment directly after use; paraquat may be corrosive to aluminum.
 
Preplant incorporated
 
A. CYCLOATE 3–3.99 lb a.i. 12 NA
  (Ro-Neet) 6E
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 8
  COMMENTS: Incorporate into soil immediately after application; use of power driven tiller preferred. Use only in mineral soils; lower rate in sandy soil, higher rate in heavy soils. May slow beet germination and seedling growth. Make only 1 application/growing season.
 
B. ETHOFUMESATE 1–2 lb a.i. 12 NA
  (Nortron) SC
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 8
  COMMENTS: Incorporate 1 to 2 inches deep with power-driven tiller. Temporary stunting with leaf fusion may occur.
 
C. PYRAZON 3–3.5 lb a.i. 12 0
  (Pyramin) DF
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: not available
  COMMENTS: Also known as chloridazon. Incorporate 1-2 in. deep with power driven tiller. If no rain falls within 5-10 days, furrow irrigate to thoroughly wet bed top. Do not use in sands, loamy sands, muck, or peat soils. Use lower rate on low organic matter sandy loam soils. Do not sprinkler irrigate until beets have 2 true leaves. Pyrazon is prone to settling out in the spray tank, so agitate continuously to avoid uneven application.
 
D. PYRAZON 2.99 lb a.i. 12 0
  (Pyramin) DF
  . . . PLUS . . .
  ETHOFUMESATE 1.5–1.9 lb a.i. 12 90
  (Nortron)
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: (not available) plus 8
  COMMENTS: Incorporate 1-2 in. deep with power-driven tiller. If no rain falls within 5-10 days furrow irrigate to thoroughly wet bed top. Do not use in sands, loamy sands, muck, or peat soils. Use lower rate on low organic matter sandy loam soils. Do not sprinkler irrigate until beets have 2 true leaves. Temporary stunting and leaf fusion may occur. Pyrazon, also known as chloridazon, is prone to settling out in the spray tank; agitate continuously to avoid uneven application. For tank mixes, observe all directions for use on all labels, and employ the most restrictive limits and precautions. Never exceed the maximum a.i. on any label when tank mixing products that contain the same a.i.
 
AFTER PLANTING
Preemergence (Herbicides applied after planting but before irrigation)
 
A. ETHOFUMESATE 1.125–3.75 lb a.i. 12 NA
  (Nortron SC)
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 8
  COMMENTS: Temporary stunting with leaf fusion and twisting may occur.
 
B. PYRAZON 3–3.5 lb a.i. 12 NA
  (Pyramin) DF
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: not available
  COMMENTS: Also known as chloridazon. If no rain falls within 5-10 days, sprinkler irrigate; do not use more than 0.75 in. of water per set until beets have 2 true leaves. If significant rainfall occurs after treatment, the risk of crop injury is increased. Do not use in sands, loamy sands, muck, or peat soils. Use lower rate on low organic matter sandy loam soils. Pyrazon is prone to settling out in the spray tank; agitate continuously to avoid uneven application.
 
C. PYRAZON 2.99 lb a.i. 12 0
  (Pyramin) DF
  . . . PLUS . . .
  ETHOFUMESATE 1.5–1.9 lb a.i. 12 90
  (Nortron) SC
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: (not available) plus 8
  COMMENTS: If no rain falls within 5 -10 days, sprinkler irrigate; do not use more than 0.75 in. of water per set until beets have 2 true leaves. Do not use in sands, loamy sands, muck, or peat soils. Use lower rate on low organic matter sandy loam soils. Temporary stunting, with leaf fusion and twisting, may occur. Pyrazon, also known as chloridazon, is prone to settling out in the spray tank so agitate continuously to avoid uneven application. For tank mixes, observe all directions for use on all labels, and employ the most restrictive limits and precautions. Never exceed the maximum a.i. on any label when tank mixing products that contain the same a.i.
 
Postemergence (seedling stages)
 
A. CLETHODIM 0.09–0.2425 lb a.i. 24 40
  (Select Max)
  . . . PLUS . . .
  N/S SURFACTANT
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 1
  COMMENTS: Keep spray volume at 20-30 gpa for best activity. Adequate soil moisture required for best activity. Do not mix with other herbicides. Controls annual bluegrass when plants have fewer than 8 leaves. Perennial grasses may require repeat applications.
 
B. CLOPYRALID 0.1–0.2425 lb a.i. 12 45
  (Stinger)
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 4
  COMMENTS: Apply when crop and weeds are at cotyledon stage of growth; delayed application can increase risk of crop injury. Effective for controlling velvetleaf and cocklebur. It can be tank-mixed with UpBeet, Betamix, or Progress for broader weed control. Do not exceed 0.25 lb/acre/season. Refer to label for significant plant-back restrictions.
 
C. DESMEDIPHAM 1.0–1.21875 lb a.i. 24 75
  (Betanex)
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 5
  COMMENTS: Temporary sugarbeet stunting may occur, with possible sugarbeet kill at temperatures over 85°F. Adequate soil moisture must be present at application, or furrow irrigate after treatment. If pigweed is the primary species, desmedipham alone provides better control than in a mixture with phenmedipham. Does not have soil activity.
 
D. PHENMEDIPHAM + DESMEDIPHAM 0.24–0.75 lb a.i. 24 75
  (Betamix)
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 5/5
  COMMENTS: Temporary sugarbeet stunting may occur, with possible sugarbeet kill at temperatures over 85°F. Treat cotyledon-stage beets for best results. Control is erratic if weeds are larger than 2-leaf stage. Adequate soil moisture must be present at application, or furrow irrigate after treatment. Application after 3:00 pm increases safety to crop. Split applications about 7 days apart (50% of rate applied at each application) are safer and more effective than single applications. Do not exceed 0.5 lb/acre at the first application when applying to cotyledon-stage beets.
 
E. PHENMEDIPHAM + DESMEDIPHAM 0.24 lb a.i. 24 75
  (Betamix)
  . . . PLUS . . .
  ETHOFUMESATE 0.125 lb a.i. 12 90
  (Nortron)
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 5/5/ plus 8
  COMMENTS: Temporary sugarbeet stunting may occur, with possible sugarbeet kill at temperatures over 85°F. Treat cotyledon-stage beets for best results. Control is erratic if weeds are larger than 2-leaf stage. Adequate soil moisture must be present at application, or furrow irrigate after treatment. Application after 3:00 pm increases safety to crop. Split applications about 7 days apart (50% of rate applied at each application) are safer and more effective than single applications. Do not exceed 0.5 lb/acre at the first application when applying to cotyledon-stage beets. This mixture can provide improved control of difficult-to-control weeds such as knotweed. For tank mixes, observe all directions for use on all labels, and employ the most restrictive limits and precautions. Never exceed the maximum a.i. on any label when tank mixing products that contain the same a.i.
 
F. PHENMEDIPHAM + DESMEDIPHAM + ETHOFUMESATE 0.25–0.75 lb a.i. 48 75
  (Progress)
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 5/5/8
  COMMENTS: A premixed herbicide applied as a split-sequential application 7 to 10 days apart, beginning at the crop and weed cotyledon stage. Can be tank-mixed with UpBeet and Stinger for broader weed control.
 
G. PYRAZON 2.99 lb a.i. 12 0
  (Pyramin) DF
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: not available
  COMMENTS: Also known as chloridazon. Use on small broadleaf weed seedlings in the 2- to 4-leaf stage during the cool season (below 70°F). If no rain falls, irrigate within 4 days to move the herbicide into the weed root zone. Controls certain weeds resistant to mixtures of phenmedipham/desmedipham. Pyrazon requires continuous agitation of the spray tank to prevent uneven application.
 
H. SETHOXYDIM 0.25–0.45 lb a.i. 12 60
  (Poast)
  . . . PLUS . . .
  COC adjuvant 1 qt/acre    
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 1
  COMMENTS: Keep spray volume 20-30 gpa low for best activity. Adequate soil moisture required for best activity. Do not mix with other herbicides. High spray volume leads to reduced activity; follow label restrictions in relation to spray volume to use. Will not control annual bluegrass; perennial grasses may require repeat treatments.
 
I. TRIFLUSULFURON METHYL 0.016–0.031 lb a.i. 4 60
  (UpBeet)
  . . . PLUS . . .
  N/S SURFACTANT
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 2
  COMMENTS: Apply as a split-sequential application 5-10 days apart, beginning at the cotyledon stage of the crop and weeds. Two applications required in most cases for effective control. It may be tank-mixed with Betamix, Progress, or Stinger to broaden weed control. Do not mix with grass herbicides (Poast or Prism). Use with caution to prevent weed resistance following other ALS-inhibiting herbicides, such as Raptor, Staple, or Matrix.
 
LAYBY (after thinning)
 
A. EPTC 2 lb a.i. 12 49
  (Eptam)
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 8
  COMMENTS: Inject into irrigation water; use only where uniform irrigation can be achieved. Will not control emerged seedlings or established plants. Do not permit treated water to run off field or use it for irrigating other crops. Follow-up repeat application is required for best activity.
    . . . or . . .    
    3 lb a.i    
  COMMENTS: Must be thoroughly incorporated into soil.
 
B. TRIFLURALIN 0.75 lb a.i. 12 NA
  (Treflan)
  WSSA MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3
  COMMENTS: Incorporate into soil immediately after application; use of ground-driven rolling cultivator is preferred. Avoid piling treated soil into the beet crowns. Field must be weed-free at treatment; does not control emerged weeds.
 
‡ Restricted entry interval (R.E.I.) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without protective clothing. Preharvest interval (P.H.I.) is the number of days from treatment to harvest. In some cases the REI exceeds the PHI. The longer of two intervals is the minimum time that must elapse before harvest.
* Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.
1 Group numbers are assigned by the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) according to different modes of action. Although weeds may exhibit multiple resistance across many groups, mode of action numbers are useful in planning mixtures or rotations of herbicides with different modes of action. For more information, see http://www.hracglobal.com.
NA Not applicable.

[Precautions]

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Sugarbeet
UC ANR Publication 3469

Weeds
K. J. Hembree, UC Cooperative Extension, Fresno County
Acknowledgment for contributions to Weeds:
R. F. Norris, Vegetable Crops/Weed Science, UC Davis

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