Chemical weed control strategies for sweet corn in Türkiye's diverse production areas

Abstract

Sweet corn production in Türkiye is failing to match growing demand from consumers and the food industry. Weeds severely limit sweet corn production, yet only a single herbicide is registered in Türkiye. Due to labor costs, hand weeding is no longer affordable and growers are demanding cost-effective weed control strategies for sweet corn production. Nine treatments including preemergence (PRE) and/or postemergence (POST) herbicides were tested across the country’s diverse growing environments. Compared to the weedy control, all treatments increased the number of marketable ears. Only two treatments—s-metolachlor plus terbuthylazine followed by isoxaflutole plus cyprosulfamide plus theincarbazone-methyl and dimethenamid followed by mesotrione plus nicosulfuron—provided consistent late-season weed control and fully protected crop yield. This study quantifies the value that additional herbicide registrations in Türkiye could have for controlling problematic weeds in the country’s sweet corn production.