Harvest Aid Efficacy in Guar (Cyamopsis tertragonoloba) in the Texas Plains.

Harvest Aid Efficacy in Guar (Cyamopsis tertragonoloba) in the Texas Plains

Weather conditions in the Texas High and Rolling Plains and slow dry-down of guar deem the use of harvest aids necessary to effect timely harvest and protect gum quality.  Seven commercial harvest aids and an untreated control were compared across multiple locations in 2013-2015.  Applications were rated for color change, percent dried pods and regrowth at 0, 7, 14, 28 days after application.  Samples were harvested after 28 days then analyzed for potential gum quality effects.  Two labeled active ingredients (paraquat and sodium chlorate) worked well across sites and years.  Unlabeled active ingredients diquat, carfentrazone, and glufosinate worked equally as well and merit further study and possible label changes.  While the active ingredients glyphosate and pyraflufen ethyl had little to no effect when compared to the control.   Results suggest several potential new active ingredients may also be of use as harvest aids for guar production in Texas enabling earlier harvest and potentially improved seed and gum quality.