Mowing Associated to Chemical Control for Glyphosate-Resistant Cotton Stalk Destruction

Post-harvest cotton stalk control is mandatory in many cotton producing countries, and the major methods used for this practice are mechanical and chemical (glyphosate and 2,4-D as the most usual herbicides applied), or a combination of both. However, the adoption of glyphosate-resistant cotton varieties by growers have required the development of alternative chemical treatments. Six trials were conducted to evaluate systems combining mowing and chemical control of glyphosate-resistant cotton stalks. Experiments conducted in 2014 were installed in randomized complete block design with nineteen treatments and four replicates. In 2015, the experiments were also conducted in randomized complete block design with eleven treatments and four replicates. Herbicide treatments were applied after cotton stalk mowing. Cotton stalk control varied according to rainfall regime after herbicide application. A single herbicide application to stub regrowth plants did not provide acceptable efficacy in cotton stalk destruction, independently of the treatment used. The best options for glyphosate-resistant cotton stalk control consisted of 2,4-D application immediately after mowing, followed by sequential application of combinations of 2,4-D with flumiclorac, carfentrazone or imazethapyr.