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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 March 2026
Saflufenacil, a protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO)-inhibiting herbicide, has been reformulated as a microencapsulation for preemergence and postemergence applications in corn, with the primary purpose of the encapsulation to reduce the risk of corn injury from foliar applications. Field experiments on corn were conducted in 2023, 2024, and 2025 to evaluate the efficacy of encapsulated saflufenacil alone and in the formulated premixture with pyroxasulfone for residual broadleaf weed control and crop injury. Applications of encapsulated saflufenacil across a dose range resulted in incomplete control (less than 60%) of giant ragweed. Combinations of the encapsulated saflufenacil + pyroxasulfone premixture with atrazine were efficacious in controlling giant ragweed up to 28 days after planting (DAP), but efficacy declined sharply by 42 DAP. The reduced efficacy on giant ragweed was attributed to a lack of activating rainfall for the encapsulated saflufenacil. Conversely, encapsulated saflufenacil applications, with or without pyroxasulfone, were highly efficacious (83 to 99% control) on the small-seeded broadleaf species waterhemp and common lambsquarters. Furthermore, the most extensive weed control with encapsulated saflufenacil resulted from sequential applications (PRE/POST) of residual herbicide. Overall, encapsulated saflufenacil was effective in controlling small-seeded broadleaf weeds until a POST application was performed. However, additional herbicides in a mixture may be needed to manage large-seeded broadleaf species, such as giant ragweed. Regardless of the target species, management of problematic, herbicide-resistant weeds with encapsulated saflufenacil should focus on combinations with other effective herbicides in both PRE and POST applications, in addition to other weed control tactics.