A four-year study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of band or broadcast applications of fluometuron when followed by cultivation. Experiments were conducted at the Delta Branch Experiment Station in 1983 and 1984 on a Bosket very fine sandy loam and in 1987 and 1988 on a Dundee silty clay loam. Plot size was four 40-inch rows wide and 30 ft long (1983, 1984) or 20 ft long (1987, 1988). A factorial arrangement of treatments was utilized in a randomized complete block with three or four replications. Fluometuron at a broadcast rate of 1.5 lb ai/A was applied broadcast or as a 20-inch band. Both methods were followed by 0, 1, 2, or 3 cultivations. The entire experiment was treated with trifluralin at 0.75 lb ai/A preplant incorporated each year. Also a post-directed application of fluometuron at 0.8 lb ai/A + MSMA at 2 lb ai/A was applied to 6- to 8-inch cotton in all years. In 1983 and 1984, weed control was estimated by visual ratings while in 1987 and 1988, weed control was determined from weed fresh weights which were converted to percent weed fresh weight reduction as compared to the weights from untreated checks. Seed cotton yields were determined each year by machine harvesting one row of each 4-row plot.

In general, prickly sida (sida spinosa L.) control improved with increasing cultivation number for the band application only. In 1983, a band application + 2 cultivations was necessary to equal a broadcast application of fluometuron with no cultivation. Morningglory (Ipomoea spp.) control was not consistent from year to year. No differences were shown for any treatment in 1987 and 1988. However, morningglory control was, on the average, better for broadcast applications (84%) than band applications (70%) in 1983 and 1984 when averaged over cultivation. Differences in soil type or timely rainfall may account for the yearly response. Hemp sesbania (Sesbania exaltata (raf.) Rydb. ex A. W. Hill) control was best with a band or broadcast application of fluometuron followed by one cultivation.

Seed cotton yield varied from year to year due to varying environmental conditions. In 1983, the 20-inch band application of fluometuron + 2 or 3 cultivations provided yields comparable to the broadcast application with no cultivation. Two cultivations following a broadcast application of fluometuron reduced seed yields when compared to broadcast application with no cultivation. In 1984, the broadcast application with no cultivation was superior to all other treatments. Also, a band application + 2 cultivations provided better yields than 1 or 3 cultivations and was the same as the broadcast treatment + 1, 2, or 3 cultivations. In 1987 and 1988, yields were the same for all treatments except the band application + 0 cultivation, which was lower. When averaged over cultivation (excluding 0 cultivation) and year, seed cotton yields were 1924 lb/A for the band application and 2141 lb/A for the broadcast application.