What's the difference using 2,4-D ester vs. 2,4-D Amine for weed control in corn?

Question

Is there anything I should be aware of or look out for between the two? Can spray either of the two for weed control in sweet corn?

Answer 1

Your state may require that you qualify for a license to apply either of these products. That is not a bad thing. Novices using powerful chemicals give chemicals a bad name.

If you are asking this question I expect you may need to qualify for a license in most states.

Answer 2

Ester is much more volitile than amine.  As a result, you can spray something in your garden and 50 feet away your grape vines will wilt and die.  Amine will still drift and must be used with great care, but isn't nearly as bad as ester.

Be careful because some sweet corn varities are very suceptable to 2-4-D damage.  You might do a little research on that.  Even ordinary field corn will develop a brittle stalk after application and a strong wind storm will snap the stalks off.

Answer 3

As previously stated, the ester formulation is considerably more volatile than the amine formulation.   Both are volatile and use in a home garden will be limited by the broad-leaf crops that are located within a few feet of the sweet corn.

I find the ester version is often more effective with the control of most annual broad-leaf and some perennial broad-leaf weeds than the amine version.  I find 1.5 pints of ester has roughly the same efficacy as 2 pints of amine.

I have used both, effectively,  in sweet corn after the plant has reached 3-5 leaf stage and before silking.  But the correct answer is simple, read the label, then follow label directions.  BTW, make sure the label is approved by your state department of agriculture (there is some variation between states).