Postemergence Herbicides for Calendula

Calendula is an alternative oilseed crop whose seed oil is valued as a substitute for tung oil and a replacement for petroleum-based volatile organic compounds in paints and other coatings. Calendula tolerances to most POST-applied herbicides are unknown. Two POST-applied herbicides were tested for tolerance by calendula. Imazamethabenz at 0.44 kg ai ha−1 plus surfactant and desmedipham plus phenmedipham at 0.36 + 0.36 kg ai ha−1 were tolerated by calendula, but the latter herbicide must be applied after the four–leaf-pair stage of growth to avoid severe injury. Neither herbicide adversely affected calendula seed yield if applied at the four–leaf-pair stage. Because these herbicides can control several weed species, calendula tolerance to them may encourage more growers and crop advisors to test this new oilseed crop on commercial farms.