Os herbicidas aplicados em pré-plantio das mudas pré-brotadas (MPB) de cana-de-açúcar podem lixiviar e serem absorvidos pelas raízes da planta e causar fitotoxicidade, implicando em perdas de produtividade. Por isso, estudos da lixiviação do diuron e hexazinone amplamente utilizados na cana-de-açúcar associados ou não ao aminocyclopyrachlor fornecem informações sobre os possíveis impactos na seletividade à cultura. Assim, o objetivo foi avaliar a seletividade dos herbicidas diuron, hexazinone e aminocyclopyrachlor isolados e associados em MPB de cana-de-açúcar cultivar RB966928 em diferentes doses, a lixiviação em solo argiloso em campo e a lixiviação na presença de palha em condições de laboratório. Para o estudo da seletividade foram realizados dois experimentos, um em campo e outro em casa de vegetação. Os herbicidas diuron, hexazinone e aminocyclopyrachlor isolados e associados foram aplicados em quatro diferentes doses em pré-plantio das MPBs de cana-de-açúcar cultivar RB966928. As avaliações foram realizadas no tempo para as variáveis fitotoxicidade, índice SPAD, altura e número de perfilhos. Ao término do experimento em casa de vegetação foi avaliado a massa seca da parte aérea e raiz e no experimento em campo avaliado a produtividade. O experimento de lixiviação em campo foi realizado simultaneamente ao experimento de seletividade, na mesma área. Foram coletadas amostras de solo aos 30, 60 e 90 dias após a aplicação (DAA) dos herbicidas nas profundidades de 0-10, 10-20 e 20-30 cm e analisadas em laboratório por cromatografia líquida em detector de massas (LC/MS/MS) para determinação da concentração no tempo e em cada profundidade. Para a melhor compreensão da lixiviação do aminocyclopyrachlor, foi realizado um experimento em laboratório com aplicação de 14C-aminocyclopyrachlor sobre 0, 5, 10 e 20 t ha-1 de palha de cana-de-açúcar em colunas de solo e simulada precipitação. Foi determinada a lixiviação do 14C-aminocyclopyrachlor nas diferentes profundidades da coluna (0-30 cm) e no lixiviado. Como resultado dos experimentos, os herbicidas diuron, hexazinone e aminocyclopyrachlor associados foram seletivos às MPBs de cana-de-açúcar até a dose de 1299,50 + 345,00 + 80,50 g i.a. ha-1, com menor impacto na produtividade comparado aos herbicidas aplicados isolados. Em campo, o diuron associado ao hexazinone e ao aminocyclopyrachlor lixiviou menos e ficou mais retido de 0-10 cm em todas as avaliações. O hexazinone isolado ou associado lixiviou não havendo diferença entre os modos de aplicação. O aminocyclopyrachlor isolado ou associado lixiviou, com maior concentração na camada de 20-30 cm aos 90 DAA. O 14C-aminocyclopyrachlor foi detectado em todo o perfil do solo (0- 30 cm), independente da quantidade de palha de cana-de-açúcar. Contudo, 20 t ha-1 de palha aumentou a dificuldade do herbicida em ultrapassar a barreira formada pelo material. / The herbicides applied in pre-planting of the pre-sprouted seedlings (MPB) of sugarcane can be absorbed by the roots of the plant and cause phytotoxicity, implying yield loss. Therefore, studies of the leaching of diuron and hexazinone widely used in sugarcane associated or not to aminocyclopyrachlor provide information on the possible impacts to the environment as well as the effects on crop selectivity. Thus, the aim was to evaluate the selectivity of diuron, hexazinone and aminocyclopyrachlor herbicides isolated and associated in MPB of sugarcane cultivar RB966928 in different doses, the leaching in clay soil in the field and leaching in the presence of straw under laboratory conditions. For the study of the selectivity two experiments were carried out, one in the field and the other in a greenhouse, the herbicides diuron, hexazinone and aminocyclopyrachlor isolated and associated were applied in four different doses in pre-planting of the sugarcane MPBs RB966928. The evaluations were carried out in time for the variables SPAD index, height, number of tillers, phytotoxicity and at the end of the experiments dry mass of shoot and root and yield. The field leaching experiment was carried out simultaneously to the selectivity experiment, in the same area. Soil samples were collected at 30, 60 and 90 days after application (DAA) of the herbicides at depths of 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm and analyzed in laboratory in LC/MS/MS for determination of concentration in time and in each depth. To better understand the leaching of aminocyclopyrachlor, a laboratory experiment was carried out with 14Caminocyclopyrachlor on 0, 5, 10 and 20 t ha-1 of sugarcane straw in soil columns and simulated precipitation. Was determined the leaching of 14C-aminocyclopyrachlor at different depths of the column (0-30 cm) and in the leachate. As result of the experiments, the herbicides diuron, hexazinone and aminocyclopyrachlor associated were selective to the sugarcane MPBs up to the dose of 1299.50 + 345.00 + 80.50 g a.i. ha-1, with less impact in the yield compared to the herbicides applied isolated. In the field, diuron associated to the hexazinone and aminocyclopyrachlor leached less and was more retained of 0-10 cm in all evaluations. Hexazinone isolated or associated leached without difference between the modes of application. Aminocyclopyrachlor isolated or associated leached, with a higher concentration in the 20-30 cm soil layer at 90 DAA. 14C-aminocyclopyrachlor was detected throughout the soil profile (0-30 cm), regardless of the amount of sugarcane straw. However, 20 t ha-1 of straw increased the difficulty of the herbicide in overcoming the barrier formed by the material.

Os herbicidas aplicados em pré-plantio das mudas pré-brotadas (MPB) de cana-de-açúcar podem lixiviar e serem absorvidos pelas raízes da planta e causar fitotoxicidade, implicando em perdas de produtividade. Por isso, estudos da lixiviação do diuron e hexazinone amplamente utilizados na cana-de-açúcar associados ou não ao aminocyclopyrachlor fornecem informações sobre os possíveis impactos na seletividade à cultura. Assim, o objetivo foi avaliar a seletividade dos herbicidas diuron, hexazinone e aminocyclopyrachlor isolados e associados em MPB de cana-de-açúcar cultivar RB966928 em diferentes doses, a lixiviação em solo argiloso em campo e a lixiviação na presença de palha em condições de laboratório. Para o estudo da seletividade foram realizados dois experimentos, um em campo e outro em casa de vegetação. Os herbicidas diuron, hexazinone e aminocyclopyrachlor isolados e associados foram aplicados em quatro diferentes doses em pré-plantio das MPBs de cana-de-açúcar cultivar RB966928. As avaliações foram realizadas no tempo para as variáveis fitotoxicidade, índice SPAD, altura e número de perfilhos. Ao término do experimento em casa de vegetação foi avaliado a massa seca da parte aérea e raiz e no experimento em campo avaliado a produtividade. O experimento de lixiviação em campo foi realizado simultaneamente ao experimento de seletividade, na mesma área. Foram coletadas amostras de solo aos 30, 60 e 90 dias após a aplicação (DAA) dos herbicidas nas profundidades de 0-10, 10-20 e 20-30 cm e analisadas em laboratório por cromatografia líquida em detector de massas (LC/MS/MS) para determinação da concentração no tempo e em cada profundidade. Para a melhor compreensão da lixiviação do aminocyclopyrachlor, foi realizado um experimento em laboratório com aplicação de 14C-aminocyclopyrachlor sobre 0, 5, 10 e 20 t ha-1 de palha de cana-de-açúcar em colunas de solo e simulada precipitação. Foi determinada a lixiviação do 14C-aminocyclopyrachlor nas diferentes profundidades da coluna (0-30 cm) e no lixiviado. Como resultado dos experimentos, os herbicidas diuron, hexazinone e aminocyclopyrachlor associados foram seletivos às MPBs de cana-de-açúcar até a dose de 1299,50 + 345,00 + 80,50 g i.a. ha-1, com menor impacto na produtividade comparado aos herbicidas aplicados isolados. Em campo, o diuron associado ao hexazinone e ao aminocyclopyrachlor lixiviou menos e ficou mais retido de 0-10 cm em todas as avaliações. O hexazinone isolado ou associado lixiviou não havendo diferença entre os modos de aplicação. O aminocyclopyrachlor isolado ou associado lixiviou, com maior concentração na camada de 20-30 cm aos 90 DAA. O 14C-aminocyclopyrachlor foi detectado em todo o perfil do solo (0- 30 cm), independente da quantidade de palha de cana-de-açúcar. Contudo, 20 t ha-1 de palha aumentou a dificuldade do herbicida em ultrapassar a barreira formada pelo material. / The herbicides applied in pre-planting of the pre-sprouted seedlings (MPB) of sugarcane can be absorbed by the roots of the plant and cause phytotoxicity, implying yield loss. Therefore, studies of the leaching of diuron and hexazinone widely used in sugarcane associated or not to aminocyclopyrachlor provide information on the possible impacts to the environment as well as the effects on crop selectivity. Thus, the aim was to evaluate the selectivity of diuron, hexazinone and aminocyclopyrachlor herbicides isolated and associated in MPB of sugarcane cultivar RB966928 in different doses, the leaching in clay soil in the field and leaching in the presence of straw under laboratory conditions. For the study of the selectivity two experiments were carried out, one in the field and the other in a greenhouse, the herbicides diuron, hexazinone and aminocyclopyrachlor isolated and associated were applied in four different doses in pre-planting of the sugarcane MPBs RB966928. The evaluations were carried out in time for the variables SPAD index, height, number of tillers, phytotoxicity and at the end of the experiments dry mass of shoot and root and yield. The field leaching experiment was carried out simultaneously to the selectivity experiment, in the same area. Soil samples were collected at 30, 60 and 90 days after application (DAA) of the herbicides at depths of 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm and analyzed in laboratory in LC/MS/MS for determination of concentration in time and in each depth. To better understand the leaching of aminocyclopyrachlor, a laboratory experiment was carried out with 14Caminocyclopyrachlor on 0, 5, 10 and 20 t ha-1 of sugarcane straw in soil columns and simulated precipitation. Was determined the leaching of 14C-aminocyclopyrachlor at different depths of the column (0-30 cm) and in the leachate. As result of the experiments, the herbicides diuron, hexazinone and aminocyclopyrachlor associated were selective to the sugarcane MPBs up to the dose of 1299.50 + 345.00 + 80.50 g a.i. ha-1, with less impact in the yield compared to the herbicides applied isolated. In the field, diuron associated to the hexazinone and aminocyclopyrachlor leached less and was more retained of 0-10 cm in all evaluations. Hexazinone isolated or associated leached without difference between the modes of application. Aminocyclopyrachlor isolated or associated leached, with a higher concentration in the 20-30 cm soil layer at 90 DAA. 14C-aminocyclopyrachlor was detected throughout the soil profile (0-30 cm), regardless of the amount of sugarcane straw. However, 20 t ha-1 of straw increased the difficulty of the herbicide in overcoming the barrier formed by the material.

In many countries around the world, municipal sewage and industrial wastewaters are typically treated, or sometimes only partially treated, prior to their discharge into surface waters. A major anionic surfactant, Linear Alkyl benzene Sulfonate (LAS), and a degraded product of a non-ionic surfactant, Nonylphenol (NP), are frequently found in municipal wastewaters. When wastewater containing such surfactants and their degraded products is used for irrigation, it can have an effect on the sorption/desorption and movement of pesticides in soils. Therefore, a lysimeter study was conducted, in summer 2004, to assess the effect of LAS and NP on the movement of agricultural herbicides through a sandy loam soil. The degradation of the herbicides was studied in lysimeters over a ninety-day period. Irrigation water with a concentration of 12 mg L -1 of LAS and NP was used to assess their effect on the leaching of atrazine, metolachlor, and metribuzin. Moreover, a laboratory sorption experiment was undertaken to estimate the partition coefficients (kd) of the three herbicides with water containing the same concentrations of LAS and NP. Irrigation water containing low concentrations of surfactants (LAS and NP) did not increase leaching of the three herbicides. Therefore, these results would reduce the concerns regarding pesticide leaching through sandy soil brought on by LAS and NP in wastewaters for irrigation, which is becoming more important due to increasing water scarcity in the dry climate regions of the world. / Beside the lysimeter study, mathematical models can be used effectively and economically in a very short period of time for simulating herbicide concentrations into soil. PESTFADE, a one dimensional transient flow model, was used, in this study, to simulate the fate of the three herbicides in sandy soils. Another model, Artificial Neural Network (ANN), was also used over mathematical modeling due to its faster execution period and less input parameter requirements, for predicting the concentrations of the three herbicides in a sandy loam soil. The predicted concentrations, from both models were compared with the experimental results from the lysimeter study. Although slight overestimations and underestimations were observed, both models simulated herbicide concentrations in the soil profile satisfactorily.

Weed infestation of the arable land by persistent weeds is serious problem today. Very dangerous species occuring in all crops, not just only on the arable land, is "Elytrigia repens". It's spread is connected with decrease the level of tillage and with reduction of agrotechnical measures. The target of my thesis is to broadening of knowledges and to suggest other possible solutions of regulation of the occurrence of "Elytrigia repens". SO we did an herbicidal attempt at "Triticum aestivum", which was focused on chemical regulation of this weed. There were used three herbicidal products in different variants. Using of herbicidal products reduces the occurrence of weed species.

No description available.

No description available.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Agronomy / Kassim Al-Khatib / Growth chamber, greenhouse and field experiments using conventional grain sorghum were conducted to 1) evaluate the differential response of grain sorghum hybrids to POST application of mesotrione at various rates and application timings, and 2) determine the physiology of tolerance of grain sorghum hybrids to mesotrione. Sorghum response ranged from susceptible to tolerant. Mesotrione dose-response studies on four sorghum hybrids revealed that injury symptoms were greatest in Pioneer 85G01 and least in Asgrow Seneca. Mesotrione applied EPOST (early POST) injured sorghum more than when applied at MPOST (mid POST) or LPOST (late POST) timings. Observed injury symptoms were not well correlated with grain yield and were transient, thus injury did not reduce sorghum grain yield. Foliar absorption or translocation of mesotrione in tolerant hybrids did not differ with that of susceptible hybrids but metabolism was more rapid in tolerant than in susceptible hybrids. Initial grain sorghum injury was severe and will likely be a major concern to producers. Field and growth chambers studies were conducted on herbicide-resistant grain sorghum to 1) determine the effect of quizalofop rates, application timings, and herbicide tank mixes on acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase)-resistant grain sorghum injury and yield, and 2) determine if herbicide metabolism is an additional mechanism that could explain the resistance of ACCase- and acetolactate synthase (ALS)-resistant grain sorghum. Depending on rate, EPOST application caused the greatest injury while the least injury occurred with LPOST application. Crop injury from quizalofop was more prominent at rates higher than the proposed use rate (62 g ha [superscript]-1) in grain sorghum. Sorghum grain yield was not affected by quizalofop regardless of rates or application timings. Weed control was greater when quizalofop was applied with other herbicides than when applied alone. Herbicide treatments except those that included 2,4-D caused slight to no sorghum injury. Results of the quizalofop metabolism study do not support the involvement of differential metabolism in the observed response of grain sorghum to quizalofop. Rimsulfuron metabolism by ALS-resistant sorghum is more rapid than the susceptible genotypes, thus explaining the observed rapid recovery of grain sorghum plants from rimsulfuron injury in the field.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus Roth.) is a weed that causes great problems in the most wheat and grain producing areas and also in livestock practices. Until recently (1995) there were no registered chemicals for the management of ripgut brome in wheat, in South Africa. After the registration of sulfosulfuron and iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron for the management of ripgut brome in wheat, these two herbicides were widely used and in the case of wheat monocultures, it was used repeatedly. During the last few years, reports of ripgut brome that were suspected to be resistant to these chemicals, increased. With the development of herbicide resistance it is of great importance to investigate methods to confirm resistance and also to control it. The goal of this study was firstly, to confirm resistance in ripgut brome and secondly to compare growth and development of resistant ripgut brome popualtions to that of susceptible ripgut brome populations. The dormancy of Bromus seed was also investigated as were effective methods to break seed dormancy. Lastly, quicker methods to confirm resistance were investigated. A short summary of the experiments follows. In the first experiment the degree of resistance of three different ripgut brome populations were determined, by using the pot spray method. One population each of B. pectinatus and B. rigidus were also included in the study. The seed of the Bromus populations were germinated after which it was planted in plastic pots and were placed in the glasshouse until the three to four leaf stage. Subsequently the plants were treated with the following four herbicides: sulfosulfuron, iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron, imazamox and haloxyfop-R methyl ester, at seven concentrations namely, the recommended dosage, one quarter, one half, twice, four times and eight times the recommended dosage. After six weeks the percentage survival and the dry mass of the plants were determined. Results showed that the three ripgut brome populations had different degrees of resistance to sulfosulfuron and iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron, varying from no resistance to moderate resistance to strong resistance. There was no resistance to imazamox and haloxyfop-R methyl ester. The B. rigidus population exhibited strong resistance or tolerance (natural resistance) to the two sulfonylureum herbicides. In the second experiment the seed of the same Bromus populations were germinated and planted in plastic pots that were filled with three litres of river sand to determine the growth, development and seed production of the plants. The number of leaves for each plant as well as the plant height were measured weekly, until the plants became reproductive. The two resistant populations grew much faster than the susceptible population and they also produced taller plants. The susceptible population produced more leaves, but seed production was delayed considerably. This probably relates more to the plant’s adaptation to their enviroment, than to adaptation due to resistance. The susceptible population was collected from a natural environment, while the others were collected from wheat fields. In the third experiment the seed dormancy of the Bromus populations was investigated. The effect of different treatments on the dormancy of the seed was also investigated. The treatments that were applied were gibberrellic acid, fumigation with ammonia gas and an ammonia treatment combined with a cold treatment. Seed dormancy in all populations was short-lived and the cold treatment was an effective way of stimulating fresh seed to germinate. The last experiment was performed to develop a quicker method for the evaluation of resistance in Bromus spp. In this experiment the petridish method was investigated. Only sulfosulfuron and iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron were used, because resistance to them was proven earlier. Different concentrations of the herbicides were applied to the dishes with the seed and were exposed to a cold treatment before being placed in a germination chamber. The seed in al the treatments germinated and it was decided to let the seed grow for two weeks in the petri dishes to observe whether the herbicides may have a detrimental effect on the growth of the small seedlings. After two weeks there were no differences between treatments and the experiment was terminated. The study showed that resistance is present in some of the Bromus populations and that there are biological differences between populations with different degrees of resistance. However, the fact that the susceptible population comes from a completely different environment than the other populations, complicate matters and further studies are required to obtain a clearer picture. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Predikantsluis (Bromus diandrus Roth.) is ‘n onkruid wat in die meeste koringen garsproduserende gebiede, asook in sommige vee praktyke, probleme veroorsaak. Tot redelik onlangs (ongeveer 1995) was daar in Suid-Afrika geen middels geregistreer wat predikantsluis in koring kon beheer nie. Nadat sulfosulfuron en iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron vir predikantsluisbeheer in koring geregistreer is, is die twee middels op groot skaal, en in die geval van koring monokultuurstelsels, aanhoudend toegedien. Gedurende die afgelope paar jaar is berigte ontvang dat beheer van predikantsluis met die middels nie meer so doeltreffend is nie, moontlik as gevolg van onkruiddoderweerstand wat ontwikkel het. Met die ontstaan van onkruiddoderweerstand is dit belangrik om praktyke en maniere te vind om weerstand vinniger te bevestig en doeltreffend te bestuur. Die doel van hierdie studie was eerstens om weerstand in predikantsluis te bevestig en tweedens om die groei en ontwikkeling van plante afkomstig van vermoedelike weerstandbiedende predikantsluis populasies te vergelyk met plante uit ‘n vatbare populasie. Die saadproduksie en dormansie van die saad is ook ondersoek asook effektiewe metodes om dormansie te breek. Laastens is ondersoek ingestel na ‘n vinniger manier (petribakkie metode) om weerstand te bevestig. Hieronder volg ‘n oorsig oor die vier eksperimente wat uitgevoer is. In die eerste proef is die mate van weerstand van drie verskillende predikantsluis populasies bepaal, deur van die gewone potspuit metode gebruik te maak. Daar is ook een populasie elk van Bromus pectinatus en vermoedelik Bromus rigidus ingesluit in die studie. Die sade van die verskillende populasies is toegelaat om te ontkiem en daarna is dit in plastiese potjies geplant en in ‘n glashuis geplaas totdat die drie tot vier blaarstadium bereik is. Die plante is daarna gespuit met die volgende vier middels: haloksifop-R-metielester (Gallant Super), imasamoks (Cysure), iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron (Cossack) en sulfosulfuron (Monitor), teen sewe konsentrasies elk, nl. teen die aanbevole dosis, asook teen een kwart van, een helfte van, twee keer, vier keer en agt keer die aanbevole dosis. Na ses weke is die persentasie oorlewendes en die droëmassa van die plante bepaal. Resultate het getoon dat die drie predikantsluis populasies verskillende grade van weerstand teen die twee sulfonielureums (sulfosulfuron en iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) toon, dit wil sê van geen tot matig tot sterk weerstandbiedend. Daar is egter geen weerstand teen haloksifop-R-metielester (Gallant Super) en imasamoks (Cysure) waargeneem nie. Die B. rigidus populasie het sterk weerstand of toleransie (natuurlike weerstand) teen die sulfonielureum middels getoon. In die tweede proef is saad van dieselfde Bromus populasies ontkiem en oorgeplant in plastiese potte gevul met 3 liter riviersand om die groei en ontwikkeling en saadproduksie van die plante te evalueer. Die aantal blare per plant en hoogte van die plante is weekliks bepaal totdat die plante reproduktief geraak het. Hierna is die metings gestaak om te voorkom dat die saadproduksie van die plante benadeel word. Die resultate het getoon dat die twee weerstandbiedende predikantsluis populasies vinniger groei as die vatbare populasie en ook langer plante vorm, terwyl die vatbare populasie vinniger en meer blare vorm, maar langer neem om saad te vorm. Hierdie waarnemings hou egter waarskynlik meer verband met die oorsprong van die populasies as met die graad van weerstandbiedendheid. Die vatbare populasie is versamel in natuurlike veld vêr van enige landerye terwyl die ander populasies almal uit graanlande afkomstig is. In die derde proef is saaddormansie van die Bromus populasies ondersoek. Daar is ook ondersoek ingestel na verskillende behandelings om dormansie te breek. Die behandelings wat toegepas is, is ‘n gibberelienesuur behandeling teen verskillende konsentrasies, beroking met ammoniak vir verskillende tye en ‘n ammoniak behandeling tesame met ‘n koue behandeling. Die resultate het getoon dat saaddormansie van die Bromus populasies van korte duur is, maar dat kouebehandeling effektief is om ontkieming van vars saad te stimuleer. Die vierde proef is uitgevoer om vas te stel of daar vinniger evaluasiemetodes is vir die evaluasie van weerstand in Bromus spp., deur van die petribakkie metode gebruik te maak. In hierdie proef is slegs die middels iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron (Cossack) en sulfosulfuron (Monitor) gebruik, omdat daar ‘n mate van weerstand teen hulle waargeneem is in die eerste proef. Die middels is teen verskillende konsentrasies in petribakkies gevoeg, tesame met die sade en toe blootgestel aan ‘n kouebehandeling voordat dit in ‘n ontkiemingskabinet geplaas is vir ontkieming. Die sade in al die behandelings het ontkiem en daar is besluit om die saailinge uit die ontkiemingskabinet te haal en vir twee weke te laat groei sodat daar bepaal kon word of die middels ‘n effek op die groei van die plantjies het. Na twee weke kon geen verskil in die groei van die plantjies waargeneem word nie en die proef is beëindig. Die studie het getoon dat daar wel weerstand in sommige van die Bromus populasies voorkom, en dat biologiese verskille voorkom tussen predikantsluis populasies met verskillende grade van weerstand. Die feit dat die vatbare populasie uit ‘n heeltemaal verskillende omgewing kom as die ander populasies, maak definitiewe afleidings moeilik. Daar sal opvolgstudies uitgevoer moet word om van die onduidelikhede op te klaar.

Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) is the principal cool-season species within pastures of the southeastern USA and is known to have a mutualistic relationship with a fungal endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum) that produces the ergot alkaloids responsible for tall fescue toxicosis. Management of the reproductive growth of tall fescue is necessary, as the seedheads contain the highest concentrations of ergot alkaloids, and livestock have been documented to selectively graze these tissues. Recently, the herbicide Chaparral™ has been shown to be an effective method to prevent seedhead production in tall fescue pastures while also increasing steer gains at a low stocking rate. The objective of this study was to compare the impact of Chaparral on steer and pasture production under multiple grazing intensities (GI). Chaparral (0 and 140 g ha-1) and two levels of GI (low: 3300±250 kg ha-1 & moderate: 2500±250 kg ha-1) treatments were arranged in a factorial combination as RCBD with three replications. Tall fescue seedhead densities were decreased (P < 0.05) within the Chaparral-treated pastures, but efficiency of the inhibition varied slightly between growing seasons. Chaparral-treated pastures had lower (P < 0.05) forage availabilities and contained forage with higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of crude protein (CP) and in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM) during both growing season. Steers within the Chaparral-treated pastures and low GI treatment had higher average daily gains (ADG). Carrying capacities (CC) were lowest and highest within the Chaparral-low GI and control-moderate GI treatments, respectively. Estimates of CC were not different (P > 0.15) between the Chaparral-moderate GI and control-low GI treatments. The higher ADG compensated for the lower CC of the Chaparral and low GI treatments and resulted in no difference (P > 0.60) in total gain per hectare (GPH) between grazing intensities and herbicide treatments in 2011. In 2012, the GPH were higher within the control and moderate GI treatments due to a lessening in the magnitude of difference between the herbicide and GI treatments. The effects of these treatments for alleviating symptoms of tall fescue toxicosis were inconclusive due to the low levels of ergot alkaloids production.

Les systèmes intensifs de monoculture de maïs ont conduit à une contamination importante des eaux souterraines et superficielles par les pesticides sur le bassin versant Adour-Garonne. Dans une logique de gestion de ce risque environnemental, l'objectif général de cette thèse est d'apporter des éléments de compréhension de la dynamique de l'eau et du devenir de molécules herbicides sous différentes conduites culturales du maïs. Les molécules herbicides étudiées sont l'isoxaflutole et son produit de dégradation possédant l'action herbicide, le dicétonitrile, qui représentent une solution de remplacement de l'atrazine dans les programmes de désherbage. Quatre systèmes de culture du maïs, croisant deux techniques de travail du sol (technique conventionnelle avec labour vs. technique de conservation avec travail superficiel) avec deux modes de gestion de la période d'interculture (sol nu vs. sol couvert par une culture intermédiaire), sont conduits sur une parcelle agricole située sur un sol limoneux hydromorphe de la vallée alluviale de la Garonne. Les dynamiques de l'eau et des herbicides ont été suivies durant deux années (2005 et 2006) en conditions de plein champ à partir d'un dispositif instrumenté. En complément, une caractérisation détaillée de l'hétérogénéité des propriétés physiques du sol et des mécanismes impliqués dans la dissipation des pesticides, notamment la rétention et la dégradation des pesticides par le sol, a été menée en s'appuyant sur une description morphologique des compartiments de sol créés par les opérations culturales successives. Certains des paramètres obtenus ont ensuite été utilisés dans un travail de modélisation des dynamiques de l'eau et des solutés sur les modalités les plus contrastées (i.e. technique conventionnelle / sol nu et technique de conservation / sol couvert), à l'aide du modèle HYDRUS 2D. Les résultats de suivi au champ montrent un fonctionnement hydrodynamique différencié entre les systèmes de travail du sol en 2005. Un drainage plus important sous les modalités en technique conventionnelle durant la période de culture est mesuré mais demeure sans conséquence significative sur les pertes d'herbicide. En 2006, en revanche, aucun effet lié au travail du sol sur le drainage n'a été mis en évidence. Sur cette année là, les pertes d'eau et d'herbicide ont été plus faibles sous les modalités ayant reçu au préalable un couvert végétal en période d'interculture ce qui peut s'expliquer par un ralentissement de la migration de l'eau et des solutés consécutifs à un assèchement du sol par le couvert. L'étude des capacités d'infiltration en surface dans les différentes modalités a permis de mettre en évidence l'importance de la variabilité temporelle des propriétés hydrodynamiques du sol travaillé qui, selon la période à laquelle les mesures sont conduites, peut induire un biais dans l'estimation de ces propriétés. Les mesures de conductivité hydraulique réalisées dans les profils culturaux indiquent des capacités de conduction de l'eau globalement plus faibles mais plus homogènes en technique de conservation qu'en technique conventionnelle. Le travail du sol à la charrue est en effet à l'origine d'une importante variabilité verticale et latérale des propriétés physiques, variabilité que nous identifions également dans les mesures de teneur en eau immobile du sol, à l'origine d'un transport préférentiel des solutés. Au niveau des pesticides étudiés, la rétention des deux composés est corrélée à la teneur en carbone organique des compartiments de sol concernés, se traduisant par une rétention supérieure en technique de conservation. La dégradation de l'isoxaflutole étant essentiellement abiotique, le travail du sol n'a que peu d'effet sur elle et ce sont principalement les conditions du milieu qui influencent la cinétique de dégradation. En revanche, la dégradation du dicétonitrile, d'origine biologique, est plus rapide en technique de conservation et reste sensible aux conditions d'incubation. Là-encore, une variabilité verticale et latérale des propriétés de dégradation en technique conventionnelle lié au travail du sol à la charrue a été mise en évidence, alors qu'en technique de conservation, la variabilité de la dégradation du dicétonitrile est associée à la stratification verticale des matières organiques. La modélisation des phénomènes observés a tout d'abord permis de souligner une déconnection importante entre les mesures physiques réalisées en laboratoire (rétention en eau) et le fonctionnement du sol non perturbé. L'utilisation de mesures de terrain du potentiel matriciel et de la teneur en eau du sol, couplée à une étape de modélisation inverse, a abouti à une bonne représentation de la dynamique de l'eau et des solutés sous les deux modalités étudiées. Les représentations numériques ainsi obtenues indiquent des pertes en herbicide plus faibles en technique de conservation / sol couvert mais soulignent également la nécessité d'une prise en compte simultanée de l'hétérogénéité du milieu sol et du développement racinaire de la plante.