Abstract: Studies were conducted in 1996 and 1997 to determine the effect of irrigation systems used to produce transplants on subsequent tolerance of banana and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) transplants to field-applied herbicides. The irrigation systems were overhead (OH), ebb and flood (EF), and float (F). At 2 and 4 wk, banana and bell pepper injury was greatest from clomazone (1.1 kg/ha) treatments. Banana and bell pepper yield were not influenced by herbicide treatment. Although crop injury was greater in 1997, there was no herbicide or irrigation system interaction with year. OH and EF irrigated banana pepper and OH irrigated bell pepper produced the greatest total yield over two harvests, whereas F irrigated pepper yielded the least. F irrigated bell pepper plants had reduced early total yield and fancy fruits relative to other irrigation treatments. F irrigated plants yielded 32 and 22% less than OH irrigated plants in banana and bell pepper, respectively. Stand counts at 3 wk after planting (WAP) show that, unlike OH and EF treatments, F treatments lost 240 to 330 plants/ha. Differences in stand among treatments were greater in 1997 than 1996. Based on our study, the OH irrigated system appears to be the best system for producing bell pepper transplants with the greatest total yield. With banana pepper, both OH and EF irrigated systems appear to produce banana pepper transplants with the greatest total yield. Also, pepper transplant tolerance to herbicides is not affected by the irrigation system used to produce transplants.
Nomenclature: Clomazone, 2-[(2-chlorophenyl)methyl]-4,4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone; napropamide, N,N-diethyl-2-(1-napthalenyloxy)propanamide; trifluralin, 2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenamine; pepper, Capsicum annuum L.
Additional index words: Overhead irrigation, float irrigation, ebb and flow irrigation, bell pepper, banana pepper, herbicide tolerance.
Abbreviations: DAP, days after planting; EC, emulsifiable concentrate; EF, ebb and flood; F, float; ME, microencapsulated; OH, overhead; PPI, preplant incorporated; PRE, premergence; WAP, weeks after planting.
