Field studies were conducted in Clinton, NC in 2007 and 2009 to determine sweetpotato crop response and Palmer amaranth control with metribuzin and oryzalin. Treatments consisted of 140 and 202 g ai ha^-1 metribuzin applied immediately after transplanting [0 wk after transplanting (WAP)] or 2 WAP, 560 and 1121 g ha^-1 oryzalin 0 WAP, and tank mixes of metribuzin (140 or 202 g ha^-1) and oryzalin (560 or 1,121 g ha^-1) 0 WAP. At 2 WAP, metribuzin alone applied 0 WAP resulted in greater crop injury (33%) than oryzalin alone (1%), and the tank mix of metribuzin plus oryzalin resulted in greater crop injury (49%) than either herbicide applied alone. Greater crop injury occurred when metribuzin was applied at 202 g ha^-1 (54%) than 140 g ha^-1 (34%). Levels of injury were similar at 4 WAP (34, 8, and 52% for metribuzin, oryzalin, and the tank mix, respectively). At 4 WAP, injury from metribuzin was greater when it was applied 0 WAP (34%) compared to 2 WAP (18%). By 10 WAP, injury from metribuzin applied at 2 WAP was only 4%. At 4 WAP, Palmer amaranth control was excellent for all treatments and ≥98%. At 10 WAP, control among treatments ranged from 77% to 85%. Palmer amaranth control provided by metribuzin was similar for applications made 0 WAP (78%) and 2 WAP (77%). Oryzalin alone provided similar control (85%) to metribuzin alone 0 WAP, but greater control than the tank mix (77%). Neither metribuzin nor oryzalin rate differed in weed control provided at 10 WAP. Oryzalin 0 WAP and metribuzin 2 WAP provided no. 1 sweetpotato yields equivalent to the hand-weeded check. No. 1 yields of all other treatments were less than the hand-weeded check but greater than the weedy check.

Nomenclature: Metribuzin; oryzalin; Palmer amaranth, Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.; sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas L. Lam. ‘Beauregard’ and ‘Covington’