Minimizing Off-Target Movement of Florpyrauxifen-benzyl to Drill-Seeded Soybean.

The commercial launch of florpyrauxifen-benzyl (Loyant™) in 2018 was followed by observed soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] injury due to off-target movement of the herbicide. Hence, a field experiment was conducted in 2020 and 2021 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, to evaluate soybean injury following low rates (0 to 0.094 oz ai/ac) of florpyrauxifen-benzyl applied either as a liquid spray or coated on urea at the V3 growth stage. In both years, soybean response was evaluated at 21 days after applications of florpyrauxifen-benzyl were made to drill-seeded (7-in. rows) soybean. In both years, the greatest soybean injury (100%) was observed following sprayed applications of florpyrauxifen-benzyl at 0.094 oz ai/ac. However, when florpyrauxifen-benzyl was coated on urea at 0.094 oz ai/ac, only 24% and 19% visual soybean injury was observed in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Regardless of year, coating florpyrauxifen-benzyl on urea was less injurious to soybean when compared to sprayed applications at every herbicide rate and rating timing. Likewise, no deleterious effect on yield was observed when florpyrauxifen-benzyl was coated on urea, but all sprayed applications negatively impacted yield. Overall, coating florpyrauxifen-benzyl on urea reduced soybean injury by 68 to 94 and 64 to 92 percentage points at 21 days after treatment in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Coating florpyrauxifen-benzyl on urea appears to substantially reduce soybean injury and the risk of an off-target movement occurrence. Future research is needed to establish the effectiveness of this application technique on weed control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]