A Comparison of Volumes and Types of Carrier, Rate and Method of Application of Several 2, 4-D Estems on Wheat

During the summer of 1953, 168,000 acres of small grain were sprayed with 2.4-D by airplane in South Dakota. Of this amount 120,000 acres were wheat. Approximately the same number of acres were sprayed in the previous years. Several cases of damage to crops following serial application of 2.4-D have been reported. In most cases, the damage resulted from an application of an ester of 2.4-D in oil. Since very little research data concerning such applications were available, it seemed that present recommendations should be reviewed critically in order to determine if they are adapted to serial application. The purpose of this study is fourfold: first, to determine if wheat yields are lower when serial applications of 2.4-D are made than when applications are made with ground equipment; second, to compare oil and water as carriers in application of 2.4-D; third, to determine the effect of volume of carrier on spray retention by wheat and whether amount retained had any effects on the crop yield; fourth, to compare three ester formulations of 2.4-D as to effect on crops and weeds.