Field experiments were conducted at three locations in 2000 and 2001 to evaluate what effect soil characteristics have on sensitivity of two corn hybrids to soil-applied isoxaflutole plus flufenacet. Soil types were a Flanagan silt loam with 3.9% organic matter (OM), a Drummer silty clay loam with 5.0% OM, and a Cisne silt loam with 2.1% OM. Soil pH was adjusted to four target levels, < 6.0, 6.0 to 6.5, 6.6 to 7.0, and > 7.0, at each location. Isoxaflutole plus flufenacet treatments consisted of the recommended rate (1 ×) and two times (2 ×), and four times (4 ×) the recommended rates based on soil type. Additional treatments included 1 × and 2 × isoxaflutole plus flufenacet with 1.1 kg/ha atrazine and S-metolachor plus atrazine as a control treatment. Corn hybrid ‘Garst 8366’ (G8366) was more sensitive to soil-applied isoxaflutole plus flufenacet compared with ‘Garst 8600’ (G8600). Corn injury occurred only at two of three locations. Addition of atrazine to the 1 × and 2 × isoxaflutole plus flufenacet treatments showed a trend (P = 0.15) toward increased injury and reduced yield only for the G8366 on the Cisne soil. The 4 × rate of the premixture reduced yield 9 to 49% at two locations. Yields were reduced at the low-OM (2.1%) location, regardless of hybrid or application rate. At two locations, there was a negative linear relationship between soil pH and corn grain yield, particularly at the 4 × rate. Corn visual injury and yield reductions were greatest from herbicide applications to low-OM soils with high pH levels.

Nomenclature: Atrazine; flufenacet; isoxaflutole; S-metolachor; corn, Zea mays L. ‘Garst 8600’ (G8600), ‘Garst 8366’ (G8366).

Additional index words: Acetamide, crop safety, isoxazole, phytotoxicity, soil pH, soil OM.

Abbreviations: CEC, cation exchange capacity; DAP, days after planting; OM, organic matter; UAN, urea–ammonium nitrate.