Agriculture: Strawberry Pest Management Guidelines

Herbicide Treatment Table

Common name Amount per acre REI‡ PHI‡
(Example trade name)   (hours) (days)
Not all registered pesticides are listed. The following are listed alphabetically. When choosing a pesticide, consider information relating to environmental impact, resistance management, the pesticide's properties, and application timing. Tank mixes may be necessary to achieve desired control; see the Susceptibility of Weeds to Herbicide Control for information on specific weed control. Always read the label of the product being used.
 
FUMIGANTS
Note: Fumigants such as those products listed below are a source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) but minimally reactive with other air contaminants that form ozone.
A. METHYL BROMIDE*§/CHLOROPICRIN*§
  (Tri-Con 50/50) 300–400 lb See label 0
  COMMENTS: Methyl bromide use is allowed only in strawberry nurseries through the quarantine and pre-shipment (QPS) exemption.
 
B. SEQUENTIAL APPLICATION
  First, apply one of the following
1,3-DICHLOROPROPENE*§/CHLOROPICRIN*§
  (Telone C35) Label rates See label 0
  (Pic-Clor 60) Label rates See label 0
  (InLine) Label rates (drip) See label 0
  COMMENTS: Effective for control of nematodes, soilborne fungal pathogens, and insects. Use higher rates or impermeable films to improve weed and nematode control. InLine application requires a plastic tarp. One gallon of Telone C35 or InLine weighs 11.2 lb; one gallon of Pic-Clor weighs 12.1 lb.
  . . . or . . .
CHLOROPICRIN*§
  (Tri-Clor EC) Label rates (drip) See label 0
  COMMENTS: A liquid that diffuses as a gas through soil. Very effective for control of soilborne fungal pathogens and insects. Drip irrigation requires an emulsifier. For shank fumigation, use higher rates or impermeable films to improve weed and nematode control. For drip fumigation the use of VIF will improve both nematode and weed control. One gallon of Tri-Clor EC weighs 13.46 lb.
 
  Then, 5–7 days after fumigation apply one of the following
METAM SODIUM*§
  (Vapam HL, Sectagon 42) 37.5–75 gal See label 0
  COMMENTS: Water-soluble liquid that decomposes to a gaseous fumigant (methyl isothiocyanate). Efficacy affected by soil texture, moisture, temperature, and percent organic matter. One gallon of product contains 4.26 lb of metam sodium.
  . . . or . . .
METAM POTASSIUM*§
  (K-Pam HL) 30–62 gal See label 0
  COMMENTS: Water-soluble liquid that decomposes to a gaseous fumigant (methyl isothiocyanate). Efficacy affected by soil texture, moisture, temperature, and percent organic matter. One gallon of product contains 5.8 lb of metam potassium.
 
PREPLANT HERBICIDES
A. FLUMIOXAZIN 0.0956 lb a.i.    
  (Chateau SW) 3 oz 12 0
  WSSA MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 14
  COMMENTS: Apply a minimum of 30 days before transplanting and before the plastic mulch is laid; plant strawberries through the plastic mulch.
 
B. OXYFLUORFEN 0.25–0.5 lb a.i.    
  (Goal 2XL) 1–2 pt 24 0
  (GoalTender) 0.5–1 pt 24 0
  WSSA MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 14
  Comments: For fallow bed use prior to planting strawberries. If applied in fields where drip fumigation will be done, apply after beds are formed but before tarps are installed. Apply at least 30 days before transplanting for effective control of little mallow (cheeseweed) and filaree, which are not controlled well by the fumigants. To prevent injury to strawberry plants, do not use unless a plastic mulch will be installed at the time of strawberry transplanting.
 
C. PELARGONIC ACID
  (Scythe) 3–5% volume/volume 12 0
  WSSA MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 26
COMMENTS: Good for controlling weeds in furrows when fumigation is planned.
 
D. PENDIMETHALIN 1.5–3.0 pt 24 35
  (Prowl H2O)
  WSSA MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3
 
ESTABLISHED WEEDS
A. CAPRYLIC AND CAPRIC ACIDS
  (Suppress)# 3–9% volume/volume 24 0
  MODE OF ACTION: A fatty acid that disrupts a plant's waxy cuticle and cell walls, causing dehydration.
  COMMENTS: Apply to germinated weeds before crop planting and to furrows using shields to prevent contact with crop plants. Avoid windy conditions. Do not allow contact with strawberry plants, as injury will result. Use ground application; use highest rate for larger weeds.
 
B. PARAQUAT* 0.50 lb a.i.    
  (Gramoxone SL 2.0) 2 pt 24 21
  WSSA MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 22
  COMMENTS: Apply as a directed spray to the furrows using shields to prevent contact with crop plants. Avoid windy conditions. Use a nonionic surfactant or crop oil. Do not allow contact with strawberry plants as injury or excessive residues may result. Ground application 20 gal water/acre. Do not apply more than three times per season.
 
POSTPLANT
Before weeds emerge
A. FLUMIOXAZIN 0.0956 lb a.i .
  (Chateau SW) 3 oz 12 See comments
  WSSA MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 14
  COMMENTS: Apply with shielded or hooded sprayer to furrows only; do not apply over strawberry plants. Do not apply after fruit set.
 
B. NAPROPAMIDE 2–4 lb a.i.    
  (Devrinol 50DF) 4–8 lb 24 See comments
  WSSA MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 15
  COMMENTS: May be applied to newly transplanted and established crop. Do not apply after first bloom. May inhibit runners. Good for controlling weeds in the furrows following drip fumigation.
 
After weeds emerge
A. CAPRYLIC AND CAPRIC ACIDS
  (Suppress EC)# 3–9% volume/volume 24 0
  MODE OF ACTION: A fatty acid that disrupts a plant's waxy cuticle and cell walls, causing dehydration.
  COMMENTS: Apply as a directed spray to the furrow bottoms using shielded sprayer to prevent contact with strawberry plants. Avoid windy conditions. Use highest rate for larger weeds.
 
B. CARFENTRAZONE-ETHYL 0.096 lb a.i.    
  (Shark EW) 6.1 fl oz 12 0
  WSSA MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 14
 
C. CLETHODIM 0.09–0.12 lb a.i.    
  (Select Max) 12–16 fl oz 24 4
  WSSA MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 1
  COMMENTS: Apply for control of annual grasses including annual bluegrass. For repeat applications, the minimum interval between applications is 14 days. Include 0.25% volume-by-volume non-ionic surfactant (NIS) in the finished spray mix.
 
D. PARAQUAT* 0.50 lb a.i.    
  (Gramoxone SL 2.0) 2 pt 24 21
  WSSA MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 22
  COMMENTS: Apply as a directed spray to the furrow bottoms using shields to prevent contact with crop plants. Avoid windy conditions. Use of a non-ionic surfactant or crop oil is recommended. Do not allow contact with strawberry plants as injury or excessive residues may result. Ground application 20 gal water/acre. Do not apply more than three times per season.
 
E. PELARGONIC ACID
  (Scythe) 3–5% volume/volume 12 0
  WSSA MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 26
  COMMENTS: Good for controlling weeds in furrows following fumigation.
 
F. SETHOXYDIM
  (Poast) up to 2.5 pt 12 7
  WSSA MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 1
  COMMENTS: Grass weed size is critical for control but varies with species; see label. Only one application allowed per season. Not for aircraft application.
Restricted entry interval (REI) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without protective clothing. Preharvest interval (PHI) is the number of days from treatment to harvest. In some cases, the REI exceeds the PHI. The longer of two intervals is the minimum time that must elapse before harvest.
* Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.
§ Do not exceed the maximum rates allowed under the California Code of Regulations Restricted Materials Use Requirements, which may be lower than maximum label rates.
# Acceptable for use on organically grown produce.
1 Group numbers are assigned by the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) according to different modes of action. Although weeds may exhibit multiple resistance across many groups, mode of action numbers are useful in planning mixtures or rotations of herbicides with different modes of action.
Text Updated: 07/18
Treatment Table Updated: 07/18
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