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Study indicates increased dicamba volatility when mixed with glyphosate

A University of Tennessee study shows adding glyphosate to a dicamba mixture increases the chance for dicamba volatility.

The study shows adding glyphosate to a dicamba mix lowers the pH and increases detectable dicamba air concentrations by 3 to 9 times compared to dicamba alone, which co-author Tom Mueller says points to increased volatility.

“Our data shows do not add glyphosate to the tank. That keeps your pH level higher, which is helping to reduce off-target movement. And, if possible, spray at lower temperatures.”

Similar results have been confirmed by researchers at the University of Missouri.

Mueller tells Brownfield the future of herbicide and pesticide use lies in the stewardship of dicamba applicators.

“It’s kind of like a test case. Since we can see it in off-target movement it opens up the idea of what else is out there that we don’t see.”

Mueller says dicamba is very effective on hard-to-manage weeds like waterhemp and applicators must use caution to avoid drift and keep it on the market.