The introduction of soybean and cotton traits with resistance to synthetic auxin herbicides has led to an increase in concern over the off-target movement of dicamba and 2,4-D. A direct-mail survey was sent to Missouri pesticide applicators in January of 2016 to understand current herbicide application practices and applicator knowledge and awareness of the new synthetic auxin technologies. Completed surveys were returned by 2,335 applicators, representing approximately 11% of the state’s registered pesticide applicators. Survey data reported herein provides information regarding current pesticide applicator knowledge and practices and highlights areas that need more emphasis during applicator training. Overall, survey respondents were familiar with physical drift and methods to minimize that risk. However respondents were less familiar with volatility and temperature inversions, which can each influence off-target herbicide movement. Of the 427 commercial applicators and 1,535 noncommercial applicators who answered questions regarding volatility, 81% and 74% respectively, recognized that high temperatures can contribute to a herbicide’s ability to volatilize. However, only 48% and 39% understood that a herbicide’s vapor pressure influences volatility. Answers from the survey indicate further education is needed on the synthetic auxin technologies, such as what herbicides can be used with each technology, proper methods for inspecting and cleaning spray equipment, and the importance of reading herbicide labels. When asked whether applicators were aware of the new 2,4-D-resistant and dicamba-resistant traits, 76% of 443 commercial applicators and only 40% of 1,713 noncommercial applicators selected “yes.” Additionally, survey results suggests that current methods aimed to facilitate communication among producers and applicators, such as FieldWatch and Flag the Technology, may not be successfully adopted, at least in Missouri. Findings from this survey can be utilized to enhance training of pesticide applicators in preparation for the synthetic auxin herbicide technologies.

Harvest weed seed control (HWSC) systems have been developed to exploit the high proportions of seed retained at maturity by the annual weeds rigid ryegrass, wild radish, bromegrass, and wild oats. To evaluate the efficacy of HWSC systems on rigid ryegrass populations, three systems, the Harrington Seed Destructor (HSD), chaff carts, and narrow-windrow burning were compared at 24 sites across the western and southern wheat production regions of Australia. HWSC treatments were established at harvest (Nov. – Dec.) in wheat crops with low to moderate rigid ryegrass densities (1 to 26 plants m−2). Rigid ryegrass counts at the commencement of the next growing season (Apr. – May) determined that HWSC treatments were similarly effective in reducing emergence. Chaff carts, narrow-windrow burning, or HSD systems act similarly on rigid ryegrass seed collected during harvest to deliver substantial reductions in subsequent rigid ryegrass populations by restricting seedbank inputs. On average, population densities were reduced by 60%, but there was considerable variation between sites (37 to 90%) as influenced by seed production and the residual seedbank. Given the observed high rigid ryegrass seed production levels at crop maturity it is clear that HWSC has a vital role in preventing seedbank inputs in Australian conservation cropping systems.

Due to the limited availability of selective herbicides to control Sumatran fleabane after soybean emergence, it is essential to develop new options that provide effective control prior to planting. A new herbicide formulation containing diclosulam+halauxifen-methyl was evaluated for effectiveness at two Sumatran fleabane plant heights (5 to 10 cm, and 10 to 50 cm) and for soybean selectivity when applied at 7 or 3 d before planting. Combined results from the two sites showed that diclosulam+halauxifen, applied either alone or in a tank mixture with glyphosate, and the tank mixture of diclosulam+2,4-D amine+glyphosate are effective at all rates tested to control Sumatran fleabane in preplant applications. Crop response was observed with applications 7 days before planting at only one of the sites. A rate-dependent crop response was observed for pre-plant applications performed 3 days before soybean planting. However, crop yield was not significantly affected for either timing across all rates. All rates tested of diclosulam+halauxifen in this study were considered safe to soybean.

Common pokeweed is a competitive, simple perennial broadleaf weed that produces abundant seed, making it a frequent problem in agronomic crops in Pennsylvania. Traditionally, tillage was used to manage pokeweed; however, the wide-spread adoption of no-till, as well as a decline in the use of diverse crop rotations and soil-residual herbicides, may have allowed pokeweed populations to increase in recent years. The objective of this research was to identify effective herbicides for control of common pokeweed in corn and soybean. Herbicide efficacy experiments were conducted in separate locations from 2011 to 2013 to determine the effectiveness of POST corn and soybean herbicides for control of pokeweed. Glyphosate-resistant corn and soybean varieties were used and several herbicides were evaluated alone and in combination. The results from this work show that glyphosate is an important herbicide for successful control of pokeweed in soybean. When glyphosate was included, 79 to 91% control was achieved, while for treatments not containing glyphosate, control was not greater than 62%. In corn, several non-glyphosate herbicides, including 2,4-D, dicamba, and mesotrione plus atrazine, are options in addition to glyphosate for controlling pokeweed. Most corn treatments provided at least 80% control throughout the season and significantly reduced common pokeweed biomass compared to the nontreated control. In the year after application, pokeweed control was found to be similar to the results from the previous fall in both corn and soybean.

Weed-free field experiments were conducted to evaluate soybean injury, growth, and yield following PRE or POST pyroxasulfone application. Soybean was injured 1 and 15% following pyroxasulfone PRE and POST application, respectively, 7 d after treatment (DAT). Injury following PRE and POST application was observed as delayed emergence and leaf necrosis and crinkling, respectively. Injury ranged from 0 to 6% following both application timings 14 and 28 DAT. Soybean was injured 5% or less following 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 g ha−1 of pyroxasulfone. Soybean plant population, height, and yield were not affected by pyroxasulfone application timing. Only 300 g ha−1 of pyroxasulfone reduced soybean plant population to 90% of the nontreated 30 d after PRE. Pyroxasulfone rate did not influence soybean heights and yield. Data indicates that pyroxasulfone can safely be applied to soybean without a detrimental effect on plant growth or yield.

Cultivar and/or application of early-season (starter) nitrogen (N) fertilizer may influence rice tolerance to clomazone. Field studies were conducted to compare the response of hybrid and inbred rice cultivars to applications of clomazone and starter N fertilizer treatments. The inbred cultivar ‘Cocodrie’ and the hybrid cultivar ‘XL723’ were treated with clomazone at 0, 420, or 672 g ai ha−1 immediately after seeding, and starter N fertilizer was applied at 0 or 24 kg N ha−1 when rice reached the two-leaf growth stage. Pooled across clomazone rates and starter N fertilizer treatments, height of Cocodrie 1 week after emergence (WAE) was greater than that of XL723 in 1 of 3 yr. The difference in height between Cocodrie and XL723 resulted from greater clomazone injury 1 WAE on XL723 compared with Cocodrie. No differences in rice height 3 WAE were detected between Cocodrie and XL723 in 2 of 3 yr. when data were pooled across clomazone rates and starter N fertilizer treatments. Injury 3 WAE was similar for Cocodrie across the 3 yr., but injury on XL723 was greater in 1 of 3 yr. Rough rice yield was lower in plots treated with either rate of clomazone where no starter N fertilizer treatment was applied; however, in plots receiving a starter N fertilizer treatment, no effect of clomazone rate on rough rice yield was observed. Clomazone rate did not influence rough rice yield of Cocodrie in any single yr., but rough rice yields of XL723 were lower in plots receiving clomazone compared with plots that received no clomazone in 1 of 3 yr. Therefore, differential susceptibility to clomazone between Cocodrie and XL723 exists based on early-season response and rough rice yield. Starter N fertilizer treatments were beneficial for overcoming yield reductions due to clomazone injury.

In 2011, 14 Midwest trial locations evaluated tolerance of an AAD-1 and glyphosate-resistant corn hybrid to a 2,4-D choline+glyphosate premix formulation applied single and sequential POST at V4 and/or V7 corn with and without a PRE application of 2,4-D dimethylamine (DMA). Herbicides were applied at 1X and 2X maximum use rates with 1X rates of 1120 g ae ha−1 for glyphosate and 2,4-D DMA and 1065+1120 g ae ha−1 for the 2,4-D choline+glyphosate premix, respectively. Crop response was greatest 2 d after 2X rate applications, resulting in 4 to 10% visible injury to corn across application timings. No brace root injury or effect on corn grain yield were observed.

Common ragweed is an important broadleaf weed in agronomic crops in the northcentral United States. A common ragweed biotype in glyphosate-resistant (GR) soybean production field in southeast Nebraska was not controlled after sequential applications of glyphosate at the labeled rate. The objectives of this study were to confirm GR common ragweed in Nebraska by quantifying the level of resistance in greenhouse and field whole-plant dose-response studies and to evaluate the response of the putative GR common ragweed to POST corn and soybean herbicides. Greenhouse whole-plant dose-response studies confirmed 7- and 19-fold resistance to glyphosate compared to the known glyphosate-susceptible (GS) biotype based on biomass reduction and control estimates, respectively. Field dose-response studies conducted in 2015 and 2016 at the putative GR common ragweed research site suggested that glyphosate doses equivalent to 15- and 40-times the labeled rate (1,260 gaeha–1) were required for 90% control and biomass reduction, respectively. Response of GR common ragweed to POST soybean herbicides in greenhouse studies indicated ≥89% control with acifluorfen, fomesafen, fomesafen plus glyphosate, glyphosate plus dicamba or 2,4-D choline, glufosinate, imazamox plus acifluorfen, and lactofen. POST corn herbicides, including 2,4-D, bromoxynil, diflufenzopyr plus dicamba, glufosinate, halosulfuron-methyl plus dicamba, mesotrione plus atrazine, and tembotrione provided ≥87% control, indicating that POST herbicides with distinct modes of action are available in corn and soybean for effective control of GR common ragweed. Results also suggested a reduced efficacy of the acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides tested in this study for control of GR and GS biotypes, indicating further research is needed to determine whether this biotype has evolved multiple herbicide resistance.

Two putative glyphosate-resistant (GR) Russian-thistle accessions were collected from fallow fields (wheat-fallow rotation): one from Choteau County, MT (MT-R), and a second from Columbia County, WA (WA-R) in summer/fall of 2015. Greenhouse and outdoor/field whole-plant dose-response studies were conducted to confirm and characterize the levels of glyphosate resistance in these GR accessions relative to known glyphosate-susceptible accessions (MT-S and WA-S from MT and WA, respectively). Based on GR50 values of the progeny plants, the MT-R accession exhibited 4.5-fold and 5.9-fold resistance to glyphosate relative to the MT-S accession under greenhouse and outdoor conditions, respectively. The WA-R accession showed 3.0- to 5.0-fold resistance relative to the WA-S accession in greenhouse experiments, and 1.9- to 7.5-fold resistance in multi-site field experiments. In a separate greenhouse study on alternative POST herbicides to control GR Russian-thistle, bicyclopyrone plus bromoxynil, bromoxynil plus fluroxypyr, bromoxynil plus pyrasulfotole, bromoxynil plus MCPA, paraquat alone, paraquat plus metribuzin, saflufenacil alone, saflufenacil plus 2,4-D, and 2,4-D plus bromoxynil plus fluroxypyr provided effective control (≥95%) and shoot dry weight reduction (up to 98%) of GR accessions. This research confirms the first global case of field-evolved GR Russian-thistle. Best management practices (BMPs); including alternative, effective herbicide programs (based on multiple mechanisms of action highlighted in this study) need immediate implementation to prevent further spread of GR or evolution of multiple HR Russian-thistle populations in this region.

Two populations of southern crabgrass identified in Georgia turfgrass were suspected to be resistant to sethoxydim. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the resistance levels of these biotypes to acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors and alternative herbicides for control. From dose response experiments, the sethoxydim rate required to reduce shoot biomass 50% from the nontreated measured >64-times greater for both resistant (R) biotypes compared to the susceptible (S) biotype. Both R biotypes were cross-resistant to fenoxaprop and fluazifop. Clethodim at 290 gaiha−1 reduced dry shoot biomass of the R biotypes and the S biotype to 47 and 21% of the nontreated, respectively. The R biotypes were equally susceptible to MSMA at 2240 g ai ha−1, quinclorac at 840 g ai ha−1, and topramezone at 37 g ai ha−1 as compared to the S biotype. Sethoxydim at 315 and 945 g ha−1 provided <20% control of the southern crabgrass populations in four field experiments. However, clethodim and topramezone provided 83% and 76% control at 4 wks after treatment, respectively. These southern crabgrass biotypes are resistant to sethoxydim and aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicides. Although the R biotypes were less susceptible to clethodim than the S biotype, treatments provided acceptable control in the field. This is the first report of ACCase-resistant southern crabgrass in the United States.

The citrus yield in Brazil is not ranked among the best in the world, potentially due to inadequate management by citrus growers. The low adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) techniques and the improper application of herbicides are also well-known problems. Thus, this study evaluated the use of CA techniques, and two Urochloa species (ruzi grass and signal grass) were used as cover crops. Two different types of mowers (ecological, EM; conventional, CM) launched the mowed biomass into different positions within a young Tahiti acid lime orchard (up to four years old). In addition, the integration of glyphosate into this management system was evaluated, with (GLY) and without (NO GLY) glyphosate application. This experiment was conducted across three growing seasons (2011-2014), in Mogi Mirim, São Paulo State, Brazil. The cover crop biomass yields and the effects of the mowing treatments, weed density, vegetative growth and fruit yields of the Tahiti acid lime trees were evaluated. In terms of major results, signal grass produced higher biomass yield values (up to 64%) than ruzi grass; EM promoted higher mowed biomass values in the intra-row (up to 5.1 ton ha−1, 9.0 times higher than CM), and a higher canopy volume (up to 33% than CM). These results were enhanced when ruzi grass was associated with the EM (56% lower weed density; 126% higher fruit yield than CM) and with GLY (52% higher fruit yield than NO GLY); and EM with GLY (43% lesser weed density and 107% higher fruit yield than NO GLY). Overall, ruzi grass was a good cover crop because it provided less competition for the citrus trees, EM provided a mulch layer in the intra-row of the citrus trees, and associated with GLY, these approaches could provide options for an integrated and more sustainable weed management, primarily for young Tahiti acid lime orchards.

2,4-dimethylamine salt (2,4-D) is a selective broadleaf herbicide commonly applied to turfgrass systems, including athletic fields, which can dislodge from treated vegetation. Building on previous research confirming 2,4-D dislodgeability is affected by management inputs, field research was initiated in 2014 and 2015 in North Carolina and Tennessee to quantify the effects of sprayer setup on dislodgeable 2,4-D foliar residue from hybrid bermudagrass, which is the most common athletic field playing surface in subtropical and tropical climates. More specifically, research evaluated dislodgeable 2,4-D foliar residue following spray applications (2.1 kg ae ha−1) at varying carrier volumes (187, 374, or 748 L ha−1) and nozzles delivering varying droplet sizes (fine=extended range [XR], coarse=drift guard, or extra coarse=air induction extended range [AIXR]). Overall, data suggest minimal 2,4-D dislodge occurs via soccer ball roll (3.6 m) outside the day of application; however, increasing carrier volume and droplet size can further decrease dislodgeable 2,4-D foliar residue. At 2 d after treatment (DAT), 3.87% of applied 2,4-D dislodged when applied at 187 L ha−1 compared to 2.05% at 748 L ha−1. Pooled over data from 1 to 6 DAT, 1.59% of applied 2,4-D dislodged following XR nozzle application compared to 1.13% with AIXR nozzle. While these are small numerical differences, dislodgeable residue was measured via one soccer ball roll, which is a repeated process within the sport and the additive effect of sprayer setup treatments can be employed by turfgrass managers to reduce potential human 2,4-D human exposure.

Field experiments were conducted in 2008 and 2010 to determine crop tolerance and weed control efficacy of the POST herbicides bentazon, flumioxazin, and oxyfluorfen applied to direct-seeded dry bulb onions on organic soil. Postemergence application of oxyfluorfen at 0.071 kg ai ha−1 resulted in less than 20% onion injury when applied at the 2 and 4 onion leaf stages and provided good control of ladysthumb and common lambsquarters. Oxyfluorfen EC caused slightly higher visual injury than oxyfluorfen SC, but there was no difference in onion yield among the treatments. Application of flumioxazin at 0.036 of 0.072 kg ai ha−1 alone or in combination with pendimethalin ACS resulted in minimal onion injury and no yield reduction. Combining flumioxazin in a tank mix with pendimethalin EC, dimethenamid-P EC, or S-metolachlor EC resulted in significant onion injury and yield reduction. Flumioxazin plus S-metolachlor, dimethenamid-P, or pendimethalin improved ladysthumb control in one of two years. Bentazon applied at 0.56 kg ai ha−1 produced moderate onion injury and did not control yellow nutsedge adequately. Bentazon applied at 1.12 kg ai ha−1 provided good control of yellow nutsedge but caused serious onion injury and yield loss.

The duration of the soil activity of an acetolactate synthase-(ALS) inhibiting herbicide which is currently under approval for sugar beet cultivation was determined in a field trial series in Germany in 2013 and 2014. The herbicide containing foramsulfuron (FSN; 50 g L−1) and thiencarbazone-methyl (TCM; 30 g L−1) was applied in different dosages (25+15, 37.5+22.5 and 50+30 g FSN+TCM ha−1) to the bare soil. Five weed species (rapeseed, common lambsquarters, wild chamomile, blackgrass, barnyardgrass) were sown at 5, 10, 15 and 20d after application. The duration of the soil activity was assessed by determining percent weed control in the treated plots. The longest duration was observed after applying 50+30 g FSN+TCM ha−1, but the influence of environment was much stronger than the dosage effect. The mean duration of soil activity was 10 to 15 d in 2013 and longer than 20 d in 2014. Differences among weed species in their response to the herbicide treatments were small.

In this study, we tested whether the addition of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) of edible oils would influence the herbicidal effect of the essential oils (EO) of fiber hemp and peppermint (Mentha×piperita L.) against common lambsquarters, barnyardgrass, and corn. The herbicidal properties of a 2.5% concentration of each EO in water mixtures with FAME were evaluated as sprays in a pot experiment. The oil-FAME mixtures showed phytotoxic effects against common lambsquarters and barnyardgrass expressed by a reduction in plant length and aboveground and root biomass, as measured three weeks after foliar spraying. Corn was the most tolerant species to the tested mixtures. Sunflower FAME alone was safe on corn but reduced the growth of weeds. Peppermint EO alone was the most phytotoxic on all tested species. In conclusion, the mixture of peppermint EO with oilseed rape FAME was the best treatment; however, improvement on Ch. album would be desirable for commercial-level control.

Common ragweed is a plant species causing allergic and asthmatic symptoms in humans. To control its propagation, an early identification system is needed. However, due to its similar appearance with mugwort, proper differentiation between these two weed species is important. Therefore, we propose a method to discriminate common ragweed and mugwort leaves based on digital images using bag of visual words (BoVW). BoVW is an object-based image classification that has gained acceptance in many areas of science. We compared speeded-up robust features (SURF) and grid sampling for keypoint selection. The image vocabulary was built using K-means clustering. The image classifier was trained using support vector machines. To check the robustness of the classifier, specific model runs were conducted with and without damaged leaves in the trainings dataset. The results showed that the BoVW model allows the discrimination between common ragweed and mugwort leaves with high accuracy. Based on SURF keypoints with 50% of 788 images in total as training data, we achieved a 100% correct recognition of the two plant species. The grid sampling resulted in slightly less recognition accuracy (98 to 99%). In addition, the classification based on SURF was up to 31 times faster.

A cereal rye cover crop mulch can suppress summer annual weeds early in the soybean growing season. However, a multi-tactic weed management approach is required when annual weed seedbanks are large or perennial weeds are present. In such situations, the weed suppression from a cereal rye mulch can be supplemented with the use of high-residue cultivators which can prolong the weed-free period during soybean growth. Research trials were conducted to determine the optimum timing of high-residue cultivation for weed control in rolled-crimped cereal rye mulches. Treatments included three cultivation timings with a high-residue cultivator: early (3-4 wk after soybean planting (WAP)), intermediate (5-6 WAP), and late (7-8 WAP), a weed-free and no-cultivation control. Crop and weed measurement included cereal rye biomass, weed biomass, soybean population and biomass, and yield. Cereal rye biomass was 50% lower and weed biomass was three times greater in 2011 than in 2010 and 2012 due to 2011 being a dry year. There was no significant effect of cultivation timing on soybean population when compared to no-cultivation or hand-weeded treatments. While cultivation reduced weed biomass by 67% compared to no-cultivation, soybean yield was only improved by 12% in early and late cultivation treatments and 22% in intermediate cultivation treatment when compared to no-cultivation. Effective strategies for improving weed management by integrating the use of a high-residue cultivator in no-till organic systems could help existing organic field crop producers to reduce tillage while also encourage adoption of organic crop production by conventional growers who prefer reduced-tillage systems. Unlike traditional organic cultivation equipment, therefore, optimal timing of cultivation should be delayed several weeks in organic cover crop-based no-till planted soybean production as compared to the typical tillage-based approach to ensure both weed control and optimal yield.

Information on the dissipation of clomazone, imazapyr, and imazapic in paddy water under different irrigation system is not available in the literature. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of two irrigation systems (intermittent (IF) and continuous (CF) flood) on the dissipation of clomazone, imazapyr, and imazapic in paddy water. Imazapic was the least persistent herbicide in paddy water, with DT50-values of approximately 3 and 5d under CF and IF, respectively. Imazapyr required a two-fold increase in time to reach its half-life in water in contrast to imazapic, with DT50-values of approximately 6 and 11d under CF and IF, respectively. Clomazone showed the highest DT50-values, varying between 7 to 21d under CF and IF, respectively. Imazapyr and imazapic dissipation was faster under CF, while clomazone was not affected. This investigation found that the dissipation behaviors of herbicides vary under different rice irrigation regimes. Thus changes in irrigation management, as will be required to produce more rice grain with less water to avoid future scarcity, should consider impacts of flood management on herbicide persistence and environmental behavior.