EVALUATION OF MH FREE
CHEMICALS FOR SUCKER
CONTROL
Gary Palmer, Bob Pearce & Andy Bailey
University of Kentucky
MH Free Tobacco - 2005
Trials were conducted in Jessamine County to study the
mechanical application of sucker control chemicals that
do not contain Maleic Hydrazide. Control has been well
documented with methods that run Butralin, Flupro or
Prime+ down the stalk. However, such methods are
slower and labor intensive and not likely to be adopted by
larger growers.
Spraying with Coarse Nozzles
MH Free Tobacco Trial
Location Day
Chemical
Boom
Nozzle Drought
Sucker
Control
Comments
FairPoor
Two - Three 4-7"
suckers in 1/2 of
plants in top
Home
16
Prime +
Straight TG-3
Low
Dodd
16
Butralin
Straight TG-3
Moderate Good
Occasional 4-7" sucker
Dodd
16
Prime +
Straight TG-3
Moderate Good
Occasional 4-7" sucker
LowModerate Excellent
Few suckers
Moderate Good
Occasional 4-7" sucker
Dodd
16
Butralin
3
nozzle
Dodd
16
Prime +
Straight TG-3
TG-3&
TG-5
MH Free Tobacco Trial
Location
Creek*
ByPass
ByPass
Shop
Day Chemical Boom
9
Prime +
15
FA+
Flupro
15
14
Prime +
Prime +
Straight
Straight
Straight
Straight
Nozzle Drought
TG-5
TG-5
TG-5
TG-5
Sucker
Control
Comments
Moderate
High
Good
Occasional 4-7"
sucker
0-Low
Poor
Two 5-9" in tops of
most plants
Poor
Three or more
suckers in tops
of most plants
Fair
Two - Three 5-9"
suckers in 1/3
of plants in top
0-Low
0-Low
Summary - 2005
• Although initial results were encouraging,
none of the treatments provide acceptable
control in the end.
MH Free Tobacco - 2006
1) Chemicals Trial
No
1st
1 Butralin
2nd 7 days Rate
Rate
3rd 14 days Rate
1 gal
Butralin*
2 Royaltac-M 2 gal
Butralin
3 Royaltac-M 2 gal
Royal MH-30 1.5 gal
4 Royaltac-M 2 gal
Royaltac-M
2 gal
Royaltac-M + 2 gal
Butralin
1 gal
5 Royaltac-M 2 gal
1 gal
2) Topping Study
Treatment
Initial
3 days
1
Normal Topping
2
High Top (8-10 leaf)
Retop to Normal
3
Not Topped
Top to Normal
* Not applied due to weather
1 gal
MH Free Tobacco - 2006
3) Nozzle Study
No.
Size
PSI
MPH
1
3-4-3
25
2
2
5-5-5
25
4
3
5-6-5
30
4
All treatments were applied with a CO2 backpack with an overthe –shoulder two row boom. Plots were 40 ft by 2 rows (40”
rows) in a randomized complete block design with four
replications.
Comparison of Sucker Control
Treatments on Degree of Control
Harrison Co. - Ricci Rowland Farm
100
95
80
60
60
%
42.5
40
27.5
30
24
20
0
Butralin RTM fb RTM fb RTM fb RTM fb
But
MH
RTM RTM+B
LSD
RTM=Royal Tac M, But=Butralin, MH= Royal MH-30, fb=followed by at 7 days
Comparison of Sucker Control
Treatments on Yield of Burley Tobacco
Harrison Co. - Ricci Rowland Farm
Yield lb/A
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
2361
2522
2597
2512
2613
285
223
367
253
261
327
185
716
688
837
747
870
190
1097
1135
1166
1146
1046
308
324
332
341
357
370
53
500
0
in
l
ra
t
Bu
M
T
R
t
u
B
fb
H
M
T
R
+B
M
T
R
fb
M
fb
M
T
R
M
T
R
fb
D
S
L
M
T
R
RTM=Royal Tac M, But=Butralin, MH= Royal MH-30, fb=followed by at 7 days
MH Free Topping Study
Harrison Co. - Ricci Rowland Farm
2384
2500
2194
2268
354
363
312
2000
291
98
Yield lb/A
493
481
1500
485
TOTAL
TIPS
LEAF
LUGS
FLYINGS
86
1000
1189
778
808
581
612
2
3
246
500
391
186
0
1
TR
T
First Top
Re-top
1
Normal Topping
None
2
High Top (8-10" leaf)
Re-top to Normal 3 days
3
Not Topped
Top to Normal 3 days
LSD
Sucker
Control
Rating
Fair
4.75
Moderate
4.5
Poor
3.25
MH Free Nozzle Study
Harrison Co. - Ricci Rowland Farm
2667
2542
2670
2500
397
340
477
136
2000
630
745
692
147
1141
1177
255
357
316
323
121
1
2
3
LSD
Yield lb/A
3000
387
1500
1000
1283
500
0
Nozzle type
PSI
Speed
Rating
(0-10 best)
1
TG-3 – TG-4 – TG-3
30
2 mph
5
2
TG-5 – TG-5 – TG-5
25
4 mph
3
3
TG-5 – TG-6 – TG-5
25
4 mph
3
TRT
TOTAL
TIPS
LEAF
LUGS
FLYINGS
Summary - 2006
• Although initial results were encouraging,
none of the treatments provide acceptable
control in the end except for the one
containing MH.
Sucker Control Trials - 2007
• The Regional Sucker Control Trials are conducted under
the auspices of the Regional Growth Regulator Committee
of the Tobacco Worker’s Conference. Treatments proposed
by the committee were treatments 1-7. Treatment 8 was
added for this study only.
Regional Sucker Control
Treatments*
1st Treatment (Elongated Bud)
2nd Treatment (At topping – 10-25% bloom)
1
Untreated Check
2
Royal MH-30 (2 gal/a)
3
Royal MH-30 (1.5 gal/a)
4
Royal MH-30 (1.5 gal/a + Flupro 0.5 gal/a)
5
Royal MH-30 (1.5 gal/a + Butralin 0.5 gal/a)
6 Off-shoot T (3%)
Off-shoot T (4%) + Butralin (0.5 gal/a)
7
Butralin (1 gal/a)
8 Off-shoot T (3%)
Off-shoot T (4%) +Butralin (1 gal/a)
* 60 gal/a at 2.4 mph and 30 psi using a West Texas Lee high clearance sprayer
Treatments were scheduled for 5 days apart but were applied 7 days apart due to weather.
Treatment 8 was added to the RSC treatments.
Comparison of Sucker Control
Treatments at Two Weeks after Application
UK Spindletop Farm
96.25
100
100
91.25
81.25
77.5
80
60
60
45
%
40
32
20
0
0
C
UT
H2
M
*
H1
M
.5
H
M
5
F.
5
1.
H
M
5
B.
5
1.
O
bO
f
3
4B
.5
B1
O
bO
3f
4B
1
D
LS
(MH= Royal MH-30, F=Flupro, B=Butralin,) in (gal) O=Off-Shoot-T in (%),
UTC=untreated check, fb=followed by at 7 days. *=Sprayer malfunctioned
The Effects of Sucker Treatment
on Sucker Number per Plant
UK Spindletop Farm
Suckers/Plant
10
8
6.875
6
3.425
4
2.1
2
0.4
0.35
1.94
0.675
0.3
0.675
0
C
T
U
H2
M
*
.5
1
H
M
H
M
.5
F
5
1.
H
M
.5
B
5
1.
O
bO
f
3
.5
B
4
B1
O
bO
f
3
4B
1
D
LS
(MH= Royal MH-30, F=Flupro, B=Butralin,) in (gal) O=Off-Shoot-T in (%),
UTC=untreated check fb=followed by at 7 days. *=Sprayer malfunctioned
The Effects of Sucker Treatment
on Sucker Weight
UK Spindletop Farm
600
500
400
(g)
300
200
100
0
UTC
MH2*
MH1.5
MH1.5
F.5
MH1.5
B.5
O3fbO4
B.5
B1
O3fbO4
B1
LSD
Wt/plt
522.5
216.62
9.38
3.87
6.38
92.13
182.38
77.38
164.86
Wt/Sucker
76.68
38.25
18.13
20.4
14.85
162
84.38
101.83
53.46
(MH= Royal MH-30, F=Flupro, B=Butralin,) in (gal) O=Off-Shoot-T in (%),
UTC=untreated check, fb=followed by at 7 days. *=Sprayer malfunctioned
The Effects of Sucker
Treatment on Yield
UK Spindletop Farm
Summary
• A sprayer malfunction produced results that were not
characteristic of the past performance of MH at 2 gal/a.
• Treatments 3 (MH at 1.5 gal/a), 4 (MH at 1.5 gal/a + Flupro at
0.5 gal/a), & 5 (MH at 1.5 gal/a + Butralin at 0.5 gal/a) were all
excellent treatments.
• Both the Off-shoot T followed by Off-shoot T + Butralin at
0.5 gal/a & Off-shoot T followed by Off-shoot T + Butralin at
1 gal/a were acceptable, but not as clean as MH containing
treatments 3-5.
• Butralin at 1 gal/a by itself was as good as when Off-shoot T
was added.
MH Free Trials - 2007
• All Treatments were made with a West Texas Lee high
clearance sprayer using a three nozzle arrangement in a
TG-3 – TG-5 – TG-3 configuration and an application volume
of 60 gal/a. Applicator speed was 2.4 mph at 30 psi. Plots
were 30 ft by 2 rows (42” rows) in a randomized complete
block design with four replications.
MH Free Trails
Treatments
2nd Treatment At topping
( 10-25% bloom)
3rd Treatment
5 days post top
1 Off-Shoot T 3%
Off-Shoot T 4%
Butralin 1
2 Off-Shoot T 4%
Off-Shoot T 4%
Butralin 1
3 Off-Shoot T 4%
Butralin 1
4 Off-Shoot T 4%
Off-Shoot T 4%+Butralin 1
5 Off-Shoot T 4%
Off-Shoot T 4%+Butralin 1
Butralin 1
6 Off-Shoot T 4%
Flupro 1
Butralin 1
7 Off-Shoot T 4%
Butralin 1
Butralin 1
8 Off-Shoot T 4%
Royal MH 1.5
9 Off-Shoot T 4%
Butralin 0.5+Royal MH1.5
1st Treatment
(Elongated Bud)
10 Untreated Check
* 60 gal/a at 2.4 mph and 30 psi using a West Texas Lee high clearance sprayer
Treatments were applied 5 days apart
MH Free Trials
Comparison of Sucker Control Treatments
UK Coldstream Farm
100
89.5
96.5
95.75 99.75 97.75 93.5
90
100
100
80
60
%
40
20
0
5.83
0
O
O
3-
B1
4
O
O
4-
B1
4
O
B1
4
O
O
4-
4
1
+B
O
O
4-
4
B1
1
+B
O
-B
1
F
4-
1
O
B
4-
B1
1
O
M
4-
.5
H1
O
B
4-
.5
1
H
M
+
1
C
UT
D
LS
(MH= Royal MH-30, F=Flupro, B=Butralin,) in (gal) O=Off-Shoot-T in (%),
UTC=untreated check (-) followed by at 5 days.
05
.
0
MH Free Trials
The Effects of Sucker Treatment
on Sucker Number per Plant
UK Coldstream Farm
Suckers/Plant
10.00
8.00
5.63
6.00
4.00
2.00
1.99
1.63
0.54
0.96
0.75
0.08
0.21
0.38
0.00
O
O
3-
B1
4
O
O
4-
B1
4
O
B1
4
O
O
4-
B1
+
4
O
O
4-
4
B1
1
B
+
O
-B
1
F
4-
1
O
B
4-
B1
1
O
M
4-
0.00
.5
1
H
O
B
4-
0.00
.5
1
H
M
1+
C
T
U
D
LS
(MH= Royal MH-30, F=Flupro, B=Butralin,) in (gal)
UTC=untreated check O=Off-Shoot-T in (%), (-) followed by at 5 days
0.
05
MH Free Trials
The Effects of Sucker Treatment
on Sucker Weight
UK Coldstream Farm
300
200
(g)
100
0
O4O4O3-O4- O4-O4O4O4-F1- O4-B1- O4O4-B1
O4+B1B1+MH
B1
B1
O4+B1
B1
B1
MH1.5
B1
1.5
UTC
LSD
0.05
Wt/plt
97.3
17.5
47.5
48.8
1.9
13.8
13.3
0.0
0.0
300.0
69.9
Wt/Sucker
63.8
37.5
43.9
36.2
5.6
61.7
34.4
0.0
0.0
63.6
49.2
(MH= Royal MH-30, F=Flupro, B=Butralin,) in (gal) O=Off-Shoot-T in (%),
UTC=untreated check, (-) followed by at 5 days.
MH Free Trials: The Effects of Sucker
Treatment on Sucker Weight
UK Coldstream Farm
(MH= Royal MH-30, F=Flupro, B=Butralin,) in (gal) O=Off-Shoot-T in (%),
UTC=untreated check, (-) followed by at 5 days.
Summary
• Treatments with MH produced 100% control
• Results from Off-shoot T at 4% followed by a tank mix of
Off-shoot T + Butralin at 1 gal/a followed by Butralin at 1
gal/a were close to those containing MH.
• Results from the above treatment were not statistically
better than
– Off-shoot T at 4% fb Off-shoot T 4% fb Butralin 1
– Off-shoot T at 4% fb Off-shoot T 4% + Butralin 1
– Off-shoot T at 4% fb Flupro 1 fb Butralin 1
– Off-shoot T at 4% fb Butralin 1 fb Butralin 1
•
A 3% concentration of Off-shoot T applied before topping
did not perform as well as a 4% concentration.
MH-Free Nozzle Study - 2007
•
Application technique changed a MH-Free sucker control program
from unsuccessful to successful. Nozzle size was studied as part
of the overall application technique trial. While a rundown method
is known to work successfully, mechanical application has proven
difficult to achieve acceptable results. All treatments were applied
with a CO2 backpack with an over-the –shoulder two row boom
with a TG-(3-5-3) arrangement. Plots were 40 ft by 2 rows (42”
rows) in a randomized complete block design with four
replications.
•
Treatments consisted of 4% Off-shoot T at elongated bud
followed by a combination of Off-shoot T at 4 % plus Butralin at 1
gal /a.
MH-Free Nozzle Study Treatments
Nozzles Arrangement
PSI
MPH
Gal
1 TG-3 - TG-5 - TG-3
30
2
60
2 TG-3 - TG-5 - TG-3
30
3
50
3 TG-5 - TG-5 - TG-5
30
3
60
4 TG-5 - TG-6 - TG-5
30
3
60
All treatments were applied with a CO2 backpack with an over-the –shoulder two
row boom. Plots were 40 ft by 2 rows (42” rows) in a randomized complete block
design with four replications. Treatments consisted of 4% Off-shoot T at elongated
bud followed by a combination of Off-shoot T at 4 % plus Butralin at 1 gal /a.
Effects of Nozzle Size on Sucker Control
All Nozzles were TG full cone nozzles
Effects of Nozzle Size on Sucker per Plant
1 Suckers per
Plant
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.225
0.2
0.175
3-5-3 (50)
5-5-5 (60)
0.2
0.125
0.147
5-6-5 (60)
LSD 0.05
0
3-5-3 (60)
Nozzles (Gal/a)
All Nozzles were TG full cone nozzles
Summary
• Yields are not yet available
• Percent control and suckers per plant were not
significantly different
Acknowledgement
• Financial Support
– Chemtura Corporation
• Establishment, Plot Maintenance, Data
Collection
– Dr. Bob Pearce & Edwin Ritchie
• Treatments
– Interns: Austin Perkins & Keith Johnson
• Equipment
– Dr. Kenny Seebold