Horse-nettle
(Solanum carolinense L.)

Return to Problem Weed Index Page

Table of Contents

1. History
2. Life Cycle
3. Distinguishing Characteristics
4. Control in Corn
5. Control in Soybeans
6. Control in Winter Wheat

History

A member of the nightshade or potato family. Horse-nettle is not an overly common weed, but is certainly problematic in field crops once it has established. In general, horse-nettle prefers sandy soils.

Life Cycle

Perennial, reproducing by seed and underground rhizomes.

Distinguishing Characteristics

It is distinguished by its very spiny stems and leaves, underground roots (rhizomes), lobed leaves, white flowers and smooth yellow berries.

Horse Nettle Pictures
Each thumbnail image links to a larger image

| Top of Page |

---

Herbicide Control in Field Corn

Post Emergent Control

In conventional corn, none of the post-emergent broadleaf herbicides provide greater than 80% visual control (Table 1). However, tank-mixing a broadleaf herbicide with one of the post-emergent grass herbicides (i.e. ULTIM, ACCENT) will provide better control of horsenettle than if each product were applied alone. In "Roundup ready" (RR) corn, a sequential application with glyphosate at 1 L/ac should provide good control of horsenettle (Table 1).

Table 1. Horse-nettle control in corn using various post-emergent broadleaf herbicides.

Active Ingredient	Trade Name	% Control
glyphosate;glyphosate	glyphosate;glyphosate (RR corn only)	98
dicamba/atrazine	MARKSMAN	75
atrazine/2,4-D	SHOTGUN	72
dicamba	BANVEL II	64
primisulfuron-methyl/dicamba	SUMMIT	62
diflufenzopyr/dicamba	DISTINCT	49
prosulfuron + dicamba	PEAKPLUS	45
bromoxynil + atrazine	PARDNER or KORIL + atrazine	23
atrazine	Various Trade Names Exist	22

 

Table 2. Horse-nettle control in corn with various post-emergent tank-mixes.

Active Ingredient	Trade Name	% Control
nicosulfuron + primisulfuron-methyl/dicamba	ACCENT + SUMMIT	94
nicosulfuron/rimsulfuron + dicamba	ULTIM + BANVEL II	89
nicosulfuron/rimsulfuron + diflufenzopyr/dicamba	ULTIM + DISTINCT	89
nicosulfuron/rimsulfuron + dicamba/atrazine	ULTIM + MARKSMAN	87
nicosulfuron/rimsulfuron + prosulfuron + dicamba	ULTIM + PEAKPLUS	87

Source:
Dr. Peter Sikkema, University of Guelph.

Number of Trials:

Table 1 is based on 3 field trials in Ontario.

Table 2 is based on 5 field trials in Ontario.

Herbicide Rates:
Rates used in this trial are listed in OMAF Publication 75 - Guide to Weed Control.

Weed Stage:
Horse-nettle was in between the 2 to 8 leaf stage at the time of all post-emergent applications.

What has been your experience?
We want your feedback. Let us know what you have experienced with these or other products, as well as any other effective management strategies.

---

Herbicide Control in Soybeans

Post-Emergent Control in Soybean

Split glyphosate applications in "Roundup Ready" (RR) soybeans offer the greatest level of horse-nettle control. If growing conventional soybeans, FIRSTRATE has provided the best activity of horse-nettle, but it can only be described as supression of this difficult to control weed. Other conventional broadleaf herbicides like BLAZER and BASAGRAN FORTE, have provided poor control of horse-nettle.

 

Table 1. Horse-nettle control in soybean with glyphosate and FIRSTRATE.

Active Ingredient	Trade Name (application timing)	% Control
glyphosate;glyphosate	glyphosate; glyphosate (post - RR soys only)	98
glyphosate	glyphosate (2 L/ac post - RR soys only)	93
glyphosate + cloransulam-methyl	glyphosate (1 L/ac) + FIRSTRATE (post - RR soys only)	87
glyphosate	glyphosate (1 L/ac post - RR soys only)	84
cloransulam-methyl	FIRSTRATE (post)	78

Source:
Dr. Peter Sikkema, University of Guelph.

Number of Trials:

Table 1 is based on 6 field trials in Ontario.

Herbicide Rates:
Rates used in this trial are listed in OMAF Publication 75 - Guide to Weed Control.

Weed Stage:
Horse-nettle was in between the 2 to 8 leaf stage at the time of all post-emergent applications.

What has been your experience?
We want your feedback. Let us know what you have experienced with these or other products, as well as any other effective management strategies.

---

Herbicide Control in Winter Wheat

No research trials have evaluated the control of horse-nettle in winter wheat.

What has been your experience?
We want your feedback. Let us know what you have experienced with these or other products, as well as any other effective management strategies.

 

| Return to Problem Weed Index Page |

| Top of Page |