Of the many herbicides tested recently in California cole crops, FW-925 (TOK-E–25) —applied pre-emergence without incorporation—had the largest and most consistent margin of safety for direct-seeded cole crops. Such herbicides as DCPA, Glenbar, and bensulide also gave adequate control of certain weed species, along with an excellent margin of safety. Herbicides with less safety but with a wider weed control spectrum included trifluralin and CIPC. CDEC was effective on some important weed species, but had a somewhat narrower margin of safety. Combinations of herbicides—including trifluralin and FW-925 are being tested this year in uniform trials on cole crops throughout California. This is a progress report of research with new herbicides and is not to be considered a recommendation of the University of California. Many of the materials used in these tests are not registered for use in cole crops.

Many farmers cooperated by contributing land, produce, and time to make this study possible. Farm Advisors Theodore Torngren, Sacramento County; Richard Puffer, Los Angeles County; Norman Welch, Santa Cruz County; and Vincent Rabatzky, Extension Vegetable Crops Specialist, UC, Davis, also cooperated.