Effects of herbicide mixtures and additives on Rhododendron ponticum

The possibility of increasing the activity of glyphosate, imazapyr, sulfonylurea herbicides and triclopyr against Rhododendron ponticum L. was investigated using container-grown plants. Glyphosate, imazapyr and triclopyr alone and metsulfuron-methyl with added surfactant were all phytotoxic, imazapyr and triclopyr being the most effective at the doses used. Thifensulfuron-methyl and tribenuronmethyl with 'Mixture B' were ineffective. The surfactants 'Mixture B' and 'Silwet L77' consistently increased the activity of imazapyr and metsulfuron-methyl. Mixtures of the herbicides did not lead to synergistic activity, and mixing imazapyr and triclopyr depressed the activity of each component. There was some enhancement of activity on R. ponticum when imazapyr and metsulfuron-methyl were applied sequentially, 48 h apart.