The effects of several crop rotations and herbicide programs on populations of goosegrass, stinkgrass, large crabgrass, smooth crabgrass, fall panicum, and yellow nutsedge were investigated at two sites from 1991 to 1994. Crop rotations were continuous corn, continuous soybean, corn–soybean, and corn–tomato–soybean. Herbicide programs were the split-plots and included continuous use of acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibitor herbicides, continuous use of non–ALS-inhibitor herbicides, annual rotations between ALS- and non–ALS-inhibitor herbicides, combinations of ALS- and non–ALS-inhibitor herbicides in the same year, and no herbicide. Grass and yellow nutsedge densities generally were affected by an interaction between crop rotations and herbicide programs by 1994. Goosegrass densities in 1994 were highest from the continuous use of ALS-inhibitor herbicides in the corn–tomato–soybean rotation and were generally high in 1994 in the continuous corn and corn–tomato–soybean rotations. Stinkgrass densities were highest by 1994 where imazethapyr was applied alone for four consecutive years. Stinkgrass densities were also high where imazethapyr was applied in combination with butylate for 4 yr and at Site 2 (designated Northampton) where imazaquin plus nicosulfuron was applied for 4 yr. Herbicide programs did not produce shifts in large crabgrass densities, except that densities were highest where butylate plus atrazine was applied for 4 yr. Smooth crabgrass was present in significant densities at Site 1 (designated Accomac) only where imazaquin plus nicosulfuron was used for 4 yr or at Northampton from continuous ALS-inhibitor programs. Fall panicum densities were highest by 1994 where the combination of butylate plus atrazine was applied continuously for 4 yr. Yellow nutsedge control was lowest and densities were highest at Northampton where the combination of fomesafen plus fluazifop-P plus fenoxaprop was applied continuously for 4 yr. Yellow nutsedge densities by 1994 at Northampton were also high where these herbicides were applied with imazaquin for 4 yr or where these herbicides were applied in rotation with imazaquin plus nicosulfuron or butylate plus atrazine.

Field experiments were conducted in 1991 and 1992 to evaluate differential soybean cultivar tolerance to SAN 582H and metolachlor applied PRE, as influenced by soil moisture. Eighteen d after planting, a 3× rate of SAN 582H (3.0 kg ai ha−1) reduced plant populations of ‘Wright,’ ‘Bedford,’ and ‘Stonewall’ and metolachlor did not. At leaf drop, neither herbicide reduced crop height with optimum moisture. With excessive moisture, 3× rates of SAN 582H reduced plant height of Wright, Bedford, ‘Walters,’ ‘Young,’ ‘Brim,’ and ‘Bryan,’ and metolachlor reduced height of ‘Sharkey.’ The greatest yield reductions were due to excessive moisture, regardless of herbicide. Neither herbicide reduced yields with optimum moisture nor did a 1× rate with excessive moisture. However, with excessive moisture, a 3× rate of metolachlor (5.0 kg ai ha−1) reduced yield of Bedford by 470 kg ha−1, and the 3× rate of SAN 582H reduced yield of ‘Rhodes,’ Walters, and ‘Centennial’ more than 500 kg ha−1. Overall, soybean tolerance to both herbicides was good, but if used above recommended rates and with excessive moisture, injury can occur.

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effect of mixing bromoxynil with clethodim, sethoxydim, fluazifop-P, fluazifop-P plus fenoxaprop-P, or quizalofop-P on annual grass control. Antagonism with mixtures of bromoxynil and graminicides was dependent upon species and the graminicide in the mixture. Goosegrass control was unaffected by mixing bromoxynil with any graminicide. Mixing bromoxynil with clethodim, sethoxydim, fluazifop-P, or fluazifop-P plus fenoxaprop-P had no effect on control of Texas panicum, but the rate of quizalofop-P required for 80% control was increased 240%. Mixing bromoxynil with clethodim or sethoxydim had no effect on control of large crabgrass or yellow foxtail, but the rate of fluazifop-P, fluazifop-P plus fenoxaprop-P, or quizalofop-P required for 80% control was increased 180 to 290%. Antagonism of large crabgrass and yellow foxtail control with mixtures of quizalofop-P and bromoxynil increased as the rate of bromoxynil increased. Antagonism toward large crabgrass and yellow foxtail was alleviated by applying bromoxynil 6 d before the graminicides or 3 or 6 d after the graminicides.

Absorption of triclopyr {[(3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinyl)oxy] acetic acid} by tanoak [Lithocarpus densiflorus (Hook. & Am.) Rehd.] leaves was investigated. Greater amounts of 14C-triclopyr were absorbed by immature leaves than mature leaves and by abaxial than adaxial surfaces. Both surfaces of immature and mature tanoak leaves were characterized. Stomata were present only on the abaxial surface and were more numerous on immature leaves than mature leaves. Immature leaves had less epicuticular wax and thinner, more permeable cuticular membranes than mature leaves. Stellate trichome densities were greater on abaxial surfaces than adaxial surfaces and on immature than mature leaves. Absorption of 14C-triclopyr was influenced by each of the leaf surface features studied.

There is little evidence that herbicides from agronomic or industrial usage are reaching or accumulating in our water supplies in amounts to cause a pollution problem. Fish tolerance to weed killers varies with their size and species as well as with differences in the aquatic site. There may be variation to different forms of the active ingredient. Other components in a formulation may be more toxic than the herbicide itself. Therefore, the LD50 of different formulations should be determined. In addition, the manner and other circumstances involving application of a herbicide may change its toxicity to water inhabitants. Our current knowledge of the effects of herbicides on fish, plankton, and other water inhabitants indicate that harmful effects with our present herbicides, when such exist, are only temporary. Available evidence suggests there is no biological magnification problem with herbicides.

Twenty-eight commercial soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars of maturity classes V through VIII were evaluated for differences in response to metribuzin [4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazin-5(4H)-one] 0.125 ppm w/w in hydroponic culture. Top dry weight (TDW) of treated ‘FFR 666’ soybeans equaled that of the cultivar check and five other cultivars were not significantly different (P = 5%). ‘Semmes' was most sensitive to the herbicide with TDW 40% of cultivar check. ‘Tracy’ and ‘Coker 156’ were not significantly different (P = 5%) from Semmes. The other cultivars tested were intermediate in response to metribuzin.

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine effects of watering frequency, drought stress, and a combination of watering frequency and glyphosate on growth of field bindweed. Watering daily, twice weekly, or weekly to field capacity affected field bindweed grown from seed differently than plants grown from root runner segments. Shoot and root dry matter of plants grown from seed increased when plants were watered frequently but dry matter allocated to root runners did not change when plants were watered less frequently. Plants grown from root runner segments increased their shoot and root runner dry matter when watered frequently, but root dry matter was not affected by watering frequency. Plants grown from seed had highest regrowth when watered weekly and plants grown from root runner segments had higher regrowth when watered daily. Drought reduced survival rate and dry matter of surviving plants. Frequency of watering and whether plants began from seeds or root runner segments influenced glyphosate action on field bindweed. No regrowth was observed 6 months after 1.5 kg ai/ha of glyphosate was applied to plants that had been grown for 8 weeks under three different watering frequencies.

The plant characteristics which makes ‘Hybelle’ cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) relatively tolerant while ‘Rio Verde’ is susceptible to the toxic action of 2,4-dichlorophenyl-p-nitrophenyl ether (nitrofen) were investigated. No differences between ‘Hybelle’ and ‘Rio Verde’ were found in growth rates, light or dark germination, or stomata density. Little xylem or phloem translocation of nitrofen-14C occurred. Disruption and removal of the cuticle of ‘Hybelle’ increased its susceptibility to nitrofen while ‘Rio Verde’ with more than normal wax deposition was tolerant. Plants with less cuticle were more susceptible, regardless of cultivar. ‘Hybelle’ had more wax per unit surface than ‘Rio Verde’ and wax deposition increased with leaf age. Both cultivars were equally tolerant to nitrofen when 6 weeks old. ‘Rio Verde’ leaves absorbed nitrofen-14C twice as fast as ‘Hybelle’ leaves. The results show that the mechanism of intraspecific selectivity of cabbage to nitrofen is dependent on the amount of cuticular wax on the leaves at the time of nitrofen application.

A study was conducted to examine the effects of residence time and temperature on atrazine extractability and degradation in a sediment generated from Emporia sandy loam soil submerged under a water column. Sediments amended with 2.8 μg of atrazine were incubated at two temperatures (5 and 24 C), sampled at 0, 14, 28, 112, 168, 252, and 336 d, and then sequentially extracted once with 80 ml 0.01 M CaCl2 aqueous solution, three times with 25 ml of methanol/water mixture (4:1, v/v), and three times with 25 ml of methanol/water/formic acid (20:5:1, v/v pH 3.2) for a total of seven times. Extracts were analyzed for atrazine and metabolites using reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The rate of bound residue formation was greater at 24 than at 5 C. About 30 and 60% of the 14C was bound (nonextractable) to sediments at 5 and 24 C, respectively. Water was less effective in extracting 14C residues from sediments incubated at 24 C than at 5 C. Acidification of the methanol/water mixture with formic acid during the last extraction step improved the removal of hydroxyatrazine from sediment. Atrazine degraded primarily to hydroxyatrazine (HA) and to a lesser extent to deethylatrazine (DEA). Although no DEA was found, HA at 43 μg kg−1 of sediment was detected 112 d after treatment at 5 C, indicating that chemical degradation could occur at a low temperature if sediments are incubated for extended periods of time. At 24 C, HA was found within 28 d and reached the maximum level at day 252. The results suggested that HA is the major metabolite of atrazine in the sediment; a significant fraction of the residue was unavailable for extraction, and this unextractable portion increased with residence time.

In response to concern by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about the health effects of farmworker exposure to 2,4-D and the phenoxy class of herbicides, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiated a benefits assessment in 1993 to determine the economic implications of a complete ban of these materials in agricultural and nonagricultural uses. About 55 million pounds of phenoxy herbicides are used annually in the United States, with 2,4-D comprising 86% of total use or about 47 million pounds of acid equivalent. The severest economic effects would be felt in major field crop applications and in alfalfa forage uses. The total loss of phenoxy herbicides in field crop applications could result in net societal losses, which combine producer and consumer effects of yield, cost, and price changes, approaching $1.2 billion. Greatest yield losses averaged over total planted acres under a total phenoxy herbicide loss scenario would be seen in peanut (13%), alfalfa (5.2%), barley (3.8%), sorghum (2.4%), and wheat (2.2%). Producers of orchard, vineyard, soft fruit, and nut crops could incur losses of $105 million. The estimated aggregate economic impact of losing phenoxy herbicides in the applications included in this paper is a loss of $1.3 billion. These estimates describe the yield and financial impacts of the initial production year after a cancellation. Subsequent years' losses and financial impacts would be less as farmers and markets adjust to the new production situation.

The uptake of 2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine (atrazine) was studied in sudangrass [Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf, var. Piper], grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], and corn (Zea mays L.) to find whether differences in atrazine uptake exist among these species. The uptake of atrazine followed closely the growth patterns of corn, sorghum, and sudangrass during the first 5 weeks of growth. Concentration of 14C from ring-labeled 14C-atrazine in the soil reached a peak in corn, sorghum, and sudangrass plants after 2 weeks of growth and then declined. The 14C concentrations were two to three times greater in sorghum and sudangrass than in corn throughout the 5-week period. Atrazine uptake per gram of plant growth by these crops was directly proportional to the concentration of atrazine in the soil and the proportionality factors were in the order: sudangrass < sorghum ≫ corn. Total uptake and the total growth were in order: corn ≫ sorghum = sudangrass. In a study where relative humidity was a variable, the amount of atrazine absorbed per ml of water was inversely related to total water usage.

Fluazifop-butyl {(±) butyl 2-[4-[[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl] oxy] phenoxy] propanoic acid}, haloxyfop-methyl {methyl-2-[4-[[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl-2-pyridinyl] oxy] phenoxy] propanoic acid}, and sethoxydim {2-[1-(ethoxyimino)-butyl]-5-[2-ethylthio)propyl-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one}exhibited soil herbicidal activity to annual grass species in greenhouse and field experiments. Control of forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. ‘Rox Orange’] with all three herbicides was greater when seeds were planted at or near the soil surface than when planted 2, 4, or 6 cm deep. Imbibition of the herbicides by forage sorghum and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seeds did not reduce germination at concentrations of 10-3 M or lower, but forage sorghum seedling survival and vigor were reduced by herbicide concentrations as low as 10-7 M. Fluazifop-butyl, haloxyfop-methyl, and sethoxydim were more phytotoxic when applied to the root zone than the shoot zone. Haloxyfop-methyl exhibited the longest soil residual control in the field followed by fluazifop-butyl and sethoxydim. Haloxyfop-methyl and fluazifop-butyl controlled simulated shattercane [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. ♯3 SORVU] in soybeans with preemergence and early postemergence applications, whereas control from similar applications of sethoxydim was limited and variable.

Root buds of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L. # EPHES) were found to be quiescent during most of the growing season due to correlative inhibition rather than innate dormancy. Excised root buds taken from plants that were fully flowering showed reduced elongation, indicating a period of innate dormancy. This innate dormancy could be eliminated by chilling plants for 8 days at 4 C. Root buds from plants showing late summer regrowth were no longer innately dormant. IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) and NAA (1-napthaleneacetic acid) completely inhibited the growth of excised leafy spurge root buds at concentrations of 10−3 and 10−5 M, respectively. A significant increase in root bud elongation was produced by 1 mM TIBA (2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid) applied to stem and root tissue. These data provide further evidence for the involvement of IAA in correlative control of root bud growth in leafy spurge.

Total petiolar fatty acid content of sicklepod (Cassia obtusifolia L.) treated with 0, 0.14, 0.28, 0.56, 1.12, 2.24, or 4.48 kg/ha S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate (EPTC) was measured by gas-liquid chromatography. Neither total petiole fatty acid content nor percentages of the various 53 identified constituents changed in relation to herbicide application. Isostearate (17.5%), stearate (5.7%), oleate (5.7%), linolate (9.8%), and arachidate (8.2%) accounted for 46.9% of the total petiole fatty acid content. Anteiso derivatives of C15 to C31 were identified and quantitated at concentrations of 0.25 to 2.00%. Petiole cuticle thickness decreased 35% as herbicide concentration increased to 4.48 kg/ha.

The intensification of farming practices has reduced weed infestations, but it has also led to a reduction in weed diversity and changes in species composition. These effects are well described for aboveground flora; however, it is less clear how these effects might be expressed in the soil weed seedbank. We evaluated the effects of different long-term farm management strategies on the weed seedbank abundance, diversity, and community composition in the DOK (bioDynamic, bioOrganic, and Konventionell) field trial established in 1978 at Therwil, Switzerland. The trial compares biodynamic, organic, and conventional farming systems, which mainly differ in fertilization, weed control strategies, and pest control. The species richness and seed abundance of the weed seedbank were higher in the organic and biodynamic systems compared with the conventional ones. The different farming systems favored shifts in species assemblages, because specific management practices, such as herbicide application and type of fertilization, acted as filters that selected against certain species but promoted others that were more adapted.

Acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase)-inhibiting herbicides affect fatty acid biosynthesis in plants and are widely used to control smooth and hare barley in dicot crops in Australia. Recently, growers have experienced difficulty in controlling smooth and hare barley with herbicides from this mode of action. Dose–response experiments conducted on five suspected resistant populations confirmed varying levels of resistance to quizalofop and haloxyfop. The level of resistance in these populations was greater than 27-fold to quizalofop and greater than 15-fold to haloxyfop. The quizalofop dose required to reduce shoot biomass by 50% (GR50) for the resistant populations varied from 52.6 to 111.9 g ha−1, and for haloxyfop from 26.5 to 71.3 g ha−1. Sequencing the CT domain of the ACCase gene from resistant plants of different populations confirmed the presence of previously known mutations Ile1781Leu and Gly2096Ala. Amino acid substitution at the 2096 position conferred a greater level of resistance to haloxyfop than the substitution at the 1781 position. This study documents the first known case of field-evolved target-site resistance to ACCase-inhibiting herbicides in Australian populations of smooth barley.

Yellow starthistle is an invasive plant species common in the semiarid climate of central Idaho and other western states. Early detection of yellow starthistle and estimation of its infestation potential in semiarid grasslands have important scientific and managerial implications. Weed detection and delineation of infestations are often carried out by using ground survey techniques. However, such methods can be inefficient and expensive in detecting sparse infestations. The distribution of yellow starthistle over a large region may be affected by various landscape variables such as elevation, slope, and aspect. These exogenous variables may be used to develop prediction models to estimate the potential for yellow starthistle invasion into new areas. A nonlinear prediction model has been developed using a polar coordinate transformation of landscape characteristics to predict the likelihood of yellow starthistle occurrence in north-central Idaho. The study region included the lower Snake River and parts of the Salmon and Clearwater basins encompassing various land-use (range, pasture, and forest) categories. The model provided accurate estimates of yellow starthistle incidence within each specified land-use category and performed well in subsequent statistical validations. This prediction model can assist land managers in focusing their efforts by identifying specific areas for survey.

Greenhouse studies were initiated to determine the duration of time after herbicide treatment required to render johnsongrass physiologically noncompetitive. Nicosulfuron, imazapic, clethodim, and glyphosate were applied to rhizomatous johnsongrass at 35, 70, 140, and 840 g ai ha−1, respectively. Net carbon assimilation, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll meter readings, and maximum (dark adapted) efficiency of photosystem II were measured. Net carbon assimilation (A N) was assumed to be the best indicator of johnsongrass competitiveness. Johnsongrass was considered to be physiologically noncompetitive when A N declined below 50% of that of nontreated check. From these data, it was concluded that glyphosate rendered johnsongrass noncompetitive most readily, 4.3 d after treatment, whereas no differences were detected between nicosulfuron, imazapic, or clethodim throughout the experiment. Stomatal conductance (g s) was highly correlated to A N and was determined to be an adequate substitute for A N when determining johnsongrass competitiveness. It was concluded that chlorophyll meter readings and photosystem II efficiency were poor indicators of johnsongrass competitiveness.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the relative salinity tolerance of foxtail barley and seven desirable pasture grasses. Grass species were reed canarygrass, timothy, altai wildrye, tall fescue, tall wheatgrass, orchardgrass, creeping meadow foxtail, and foxtail barley. Grasses were exposed to increasing electrical conductivity levels of NaCl and CaCl2 salt solution over time. Grass species were compared using a cumulative value of salt exposure (ECdays), which was calculated to account for the electrical conductivity (EC) and the time a plant was exposed at that level of conductivity. Salinity tolerance varied among grass species. Increasing EC significantly reduced plant biomass of all species. All grass species experienced a 50% biomass reduction (GR50) between 271 and 512 ECdays in 2008 and between 297 and 575 ECdays in 2009. Foxtail barley was among the most salt tolerant (GR50 = 512 and 525 ECdays), requiring the highest salt exposure in 2008 and the second-highest exposure in 2009 to reduce biomass 50%. Grass mortality increased with increasing EC levels. Reed canarygrass and timothy were most susceptible to increasing salinity, with 50% mortality (LD50) of both grass species occurring between 983 and 1,186 ECdays. Moderate salinity tolerance was exhibited by orchardgrass, which required 1,977 and 1,844 ECdays; creeping foxtail, which required 1,998 and 2,431 ECdays; and tall fescue, which required 2,501 and > 2,840 ECdays to LD50 in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Foxtail barley, altai wildrye, and tall wheatgrass were most tolerant of salinity and persisted with little mortality occurring at 3,033 and 2,840 ECdays in 2008 and 2009, respectively. All grass species with higher growth rates than foxtail barley and altai wildrye were more susceptible to salinity, with the exception of tall wheatgrass. Growth rates of foxtail barley and altai wildrye were less than they were for other grasses, suggesting that slower growth rates may aid in salinity tolerance.

Weedy rice (Oryza sativa L.) is among the most problematic weeds in rice (Oryza sativa L.) production. The commercialization of herbicide-resistant (HR) rice nearly two decades ago provided an effective tool to manage weedy rice; however, resistance evolution and volunteer HR hybrid rice kept weedy rice at the forefront of rice weed control needs. This research aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of weedy rice infestations, identify production practices that may have contributed to an increase in weedy rice, and determine control strategies that may still be effective on weedy rice across Arkansas and adjacent U.S. Midsouth locales. Two questionnaires, one for rice growers and consultants and one for County Extension agents (CEAs), were distributed through email and physical copies in 2020. Thirty-three respondents returned the rice grower (25) and consultant (8) survey, representing 26 and 7 counties in Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel area, respectively, as well as four parishes in northeast Louisiana. Eighteen respondents returned the CEA survey. Respondents ranked weedy rice the third most problematic weed in rice, behind Echinochloa spp. and Cyperus spp. The most common infestation levels reported in 78% of fields was less than 12 m−2. Crop rotation (64% growers/consultants, 50% CEAs) and HR rice technology (27% growers/consultants, 50% CEAs) were the top two most-effective methods for weedy rice management, respectively. Tillage and crop rotation practices significantly influenced weedy rice infestation. Rice–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation had the lowest weedy rice infestation compared with rice monoculture and other crop rotation practices. Crop rotation was not practiced on 26% of reported fields, primarily due to poor drainage. The imidazolinone (IMI)-resistant rice technology was still effective (>70% control) in 60% of fields, but quizalofop-resistant rice is needed to control IMI-resistant weedy rice. Overall, weedy rice remains a challenging weed in rice production.