Experiments were conducted in 2008, 2009, and 2010 to determine the influence of water source as carrier and other agrochemicals on glyphosate efficacy and physicochemical compatibility. Glyphosate efficacy was not affected by most water sources, when compared with deionized water, although response was not consistent across all weed species, including cereal rye, common lambsquarters, common ragweed, goosegrass, Italian ryegrass, large crabgrass, Palmer amaranth, tall morningglory, and wheat. Control by glyphosate was not negatively affected when coapplied with cloransulam-methyl, dicamba, flumioxazin, pyrithiobac-sodium, thifensulfuron-methyl plus tribenuron-methyl, trifloxysulfuron-sodium, and 2,4-D but was affected by acifluorfen and glufosinate. Calcium, manganese, and zinc solutions consistently reduced weed control by glyphosate, whereas boron seldom affected efficacy. Compared with deionized water, Italian ryegrass control was affected by water sources when applied at seedling and jointing stages more so than at tillering and heading growth stages. Calcium, manganese, and zinc reduced control regardless of growth stage. Precipitates were not produced when glyphosate was applied with the water sources or fertilizer solutions. However, transient precipitates developed when glyphosate was coapplied with cloransulam-methyl, flumioxazin, thifensulfuron-methyl plus tribenuron-methyl, and trifloxysulfuron-sodium but not when coapplied with acifluorfen, dicamba, glufosinate, pyrithiobac-sodium, and 2,4-D. Solution pH ranged from 4.11 to 5.60 after glyphosate was added, regardless of solution pH before glyphosate addition.

Trials were established in 2007, 2008, and 2009 in Ontario, Canada, to determine the effect of soil residues of saflufenacil on growth, yield, and quality of eight rotational crops planted 1 yr after application. In the year of establishment, saflufenacil was applied PRE to field corn at rates of 75, 100, and 200 g ai ha−1. Cabbage, carrot, cucumber, onion, pea, pepper, potato, and sugar beet were planted 1 yr later, maintained weed-free, and plant dry weight, yield, and quality measures of interest to processors for each crop were determined. Reductions in dry weight and yield of all grades of cucumber were determined at both the 100 and 200 g ha−1 rates of saflufenacil. Plant dry weight, bulb number, and size and yield of onion were also reduced by saflufenacil at 100 and 200 g ha−1. Sugar beet plant dry weight and yield, but not sucrose content, were decreased by saflufenacil at 100 and 200 g ha−1. Cabbage plant dry weight, head size, and yield; carrot root weight and yield; and pepper dry weight, fruit number and size, and yield were only reduced in those treatments in which twice the field corn rate had been applied to simulate the effect of spray overlap in the previous year. Pea and potato were not negatively impacted by applications of saflufenacil in the year prior to planting. It is recommended that cabbage, carrot, cucumber, onion, pepper, and sugar beet not be planted the year after saflufenacil application at rates up to 200 g ha−1. Pea and potato can be safely planted the year following application of saflufenacil up to rates of 200 g ha−1.

Rice cultivar, growth stage at application, or both may influence rice tolerance to quinclorac. Field studies were conducted to compare the response of five rice cultivars ‘Bowman’, ‘Cheniere’, ‘CL161’, ‘Cocodrie’, and ‘XL723’ to postflood quinclorac applications. Quinclorac at 0.56 kg ai ha−1 was applied 2 and 4 wk after flood (WAF). Pooled across quinclorac application timings, no differences in maturity were detected among the cultivars in 2008, but maturity of Cheniere and XL723 were delayed compared with CL161 and Cocodrie in 2007. Maturity of Cheniere and XL723 was delayed in 2007 compared with 2008. Pooled over cultivar, maturity was similar for 2 and 4 WAF applications in 2007 but was delayed for 2 WAF treatments in 2008. Regardless of year, postflood quinclorac applications reduced rough rice yield of all cultivars except Bowman. Cheniere and XL723 had lower rough rice yields compared with other cultivars in 2007; however, in 2008, rough rice yields of Cheniere, CL161, Cocodrie, and XL723 were similar, but still lower, than that of Bowman. Pooled over cultivar, postflood quinclorac reduced rough rice yields more when applied 4 WAF than at 2 WAF during both years. Our results demonstrate that Cheniere and XL723 are less tolerant than Bowman is to postflood quinclorac applications and that all evaluated cultivars are more susceptible to quinclorac applied at later developmental stages. Consequently, if circumstances necessitate a postflood quinclorac application, the herbicide should be applied no later than panicle initiation and should not be applied to Cheniere or XL723.

There are significant concerns over the long- and short-term implications of continuous glyphosate use and potential problems associated with weed species shifts and the development of glyphosate-resistant weed species. Field research was conducted to determine the effect of herbicide treatment and application timing on weed control in glyphosate-resistant soybean. Ten herbicide treatments were evaluated that represented a range of PPI, PRE, and POST-only application timings. All herbicide treatments included a reduced rate of glyphosate applied POST. PRE herbicides with residual properties followed by (fb) glyphosate POST provides more effective control of broadleaf weed species than POST-only treatments. There was no difference in soybean yield between PRE fb POST and POST-only treatments in 2008. Conversely, PRE fb POST herbicide treatments resulted in greater yield than POST-only treatments in 2009. Using PRE fb POST herbicide tactics improves weed control and reduces the risk for crop yield loss when dealing with both early- and late-emerging annual broadleaf weed species across variable cropping environments.

Development and utilization of dicamba-, glufosinate-, and 2,4-D-resistant crop cultivars will potentially have a significant influence on weed management in the southern United States. However, off-site movement to adjacent nontolerant crops and other plants is a concern in many areas of eastern North Carolina and other portions of the southeastern United States, especially where sensitive crops are grown. Cotton, peanut, and soybean are not resistant to these herbicides, will most likely be grown in proximity, and applicators will need to consider potential adverse effects on nonresistant crops when these herbicides are used. Research was conducted with rates of glufosinate, dicamba, and 2,4-D designed to simulate drift on cotton, peanut, and soybean to determine effects on yield and quality and to test correlations of visual estimates of percent injury with crop yield and a range of growth and quality parameters. Experiments were conducted in North Carolina near Lewiston-Woodville and Rocky Mount during 2009 and 2010. Cotton and peanut (Lewiston-Woodville and Rocky Mount) and soybean (two separate fields [Rocky Mount] during each year were treated with dicamba and the amine formulation of 2,4-D at 1/2, 1/8, 1/32, 1/128, and 1/512 the manufacturer's suggested use rate of 280 g ai ha−1 and 540 g ai ha−1, respectively. Glufosinate was applied at rates equivalent to 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, and 1/32 the manufacturer's suggested use rate of 604 g ai ha−1. A wide range of visible injury was noted at both 1 and 2 wk after treatment (WAT) for all crops. Crop yield was reduced for most crops when herbicides were applied at the highest rate. Although correlations of injury 1 and 2 WAT with yield were significant (P ≤ 0.05), coefficients ranged from −0.25 to −0.50, −0.36 to −0.62, and −0.40 to −0.67 for injury 1 WAT vs. yield for cotton, peanut, and soybean, respectively. These respective crops had ranges of correlations of −0.17 to −0.43, −0.34 to −0.64, and −0.41 to −0.60 for injury 2 WAT. Results from these experiments will be used to emphasize the need for diligence in application of these herbicides in proximity to crops that are susceptible as well as the need to clean sprayers completely before spraying sensitive crops.

In the southeastern United States many farmers double-crop winter wheat with soybean or cotton. However, there is little information about residual injury of herbicides used in wheat to these rotational crops. Experiments were conducted from 2007 to 2008 and 2008 to 2009 in soft red winter wheat to evaluate response of rotational crops of soybean and cotton after application of various acetolactate synthase herbicides in wheat. Pyroxsulam, mesosulfuron, sulfosulfuron, propoxycarbazone, or chlorsulfuron plus metsulfuron at multiple rates were applied to wheat approximately 110 to 120 d before planting rotational crops. Soils were Tift loamy sand at Ty Ty, GA and Faceville sandy loam at Plains, GA. After wheat harvest, soybean (‘Pioneer 97M50’) and cotton (‘DP 0949 B2RF’) were strip-tillage planted and evaluated for injury, stand density, height over time, and yields. For both locations, wheat was tolerant to all herbicide treatments with little to no visible injury 7 to 90 d after application. Pyroxsulam injury was less than sulfosulfuron or mesosulfuron. At recommended use rates, wheat injury was transient with no effect on yield. Double-crop soybean for both locations had no differences in stand establishment for any herbicide treatments. There was significant carryover injury to soybean and cotton for sulfosulfuron applied to wheat for the Faceville sandy loam. There was no effect of herbicide treatment on cotton stand. There was little to no difference in residual activity on rotational crops between pyroxsulam and other wheat herbicides when labeled rates were applied. This is significant as pyroxsulam is used to control Italian ryegrass and wild radish in this region.

Yellow nutsedge is an important weed problem in furrow-irrigated fields in the Treasure Valley of eastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho. Field studies were conducted in 2008 and 2009 to evaluate the effect of PPI S-metolachlor or EPTC followed by POST halosulfuron and dicamba plus glyphosate or glyphosate alone on foliar yellow nutsedge control and tuber production in corn. Corn plant height at 8 and 24 d after treatment (DAT) was reduced 20 and 17%, respectively, in POST herbicides alone compared with PPI plus POST herbicide treatments. Yellow nutsedge control at 8 DAT averaged 78% for treatments that included PPI application of EPTC or S-metolachlor 1,600 g ai ha−1 followed by halosulfuron plus dicamba (35 plus 155 g ha−1 or 70 plus 310 g ha−1) plus glyphosate 785 g ha−1 compared with POST treatments alone (49%). The control at 24 DAT was 84% for treatments that contained halosulfuron plus dicamba compared with 73% for POST glyphosate alone. Yellow nutsedge tubers were reduced 56 to 68% among treatments at the end of 2008. Tuber reduction in 2009 was greater with treatments that included PPI herbicides followed by sequential halosulfuron plus dicamba (35 plus 155 g ha−1) plus glyphosate compared with glyphosate alone. Corn yield reflected the level of yellow nutsedge control and early-season weed interference. Treatments that included PPI herbicides had an average yield of 8.2 T ha−1 compared with 6.6 T ha−1 with sequential glyphosate alone. There was a correlation between percent foliar control and the number of yellow nutsedge tubers produced at the end of each year. Application of PPI herbicides followed by POST halosulfuron plus dicamba (35 plus 155 g ha−1 or 70 plus 155 g ha−1) plus glyphosate improved yellow nutsedge control, reduced early corn–weed competition, and produced the highest corn yield under furrow-irrigated conditions.

Field studies were conducted in central Missouri and central Kansas to evaluate the crop tolerance and efficacy of various combinations of atrazine, flufenacet + isoxaflutole, flumetsulam + clopyralid, isoxaflutole, and S-metolachlor applied PPI or PRE in conventional-till corn. Application technique did not influence crop injury in Kansas. In Missouri, greater crop injury was observed with treatments containing isoxaflutole when applied PPI vs. PRE. Application technique influenced giant foxtail, ivyleaf morningglory, large crabgrass, Palmer amaranth, and common waterhemp control. In dry years, control of these weeds was usually either same or greater with PPI than it was with PRE treatments. In years with average to above average precipitation, isoxaflutole provided greater control as a PRE application than as a PPI application. Palmer amaranth and common waterhemp control was usually greater with atrazine, isoxaflutole, and S-metolachlor applied PRE than it was applied PPI. Differences in control of all weeds between PPI and PRE applications were less obvious with two or three herbicides compared with treatments with a single herbicide. In general, the corn yield was greater with most of the treatments having two, three, or four herbicides than it was with treatments having a single herbicide, which was due to better weed control with the tank-mixtreatments.

Management of Italian ryegrass in cereal-based cropping systems continues to be a major production constraint in areas of the United States, including the soft white winter wheat producing regions of the Pacific Northwest. Pyroxasulfone is a soil-applied herbicide with the potential to control broadleaf and grass weed species, including grass weed biotypes resistant to group 1, 2, and 7 herbicides, in several crops for which registration has been completed or is pending, including wheat, corn, sunflower, dry bean, and soybean. Field experiments were conducted from 2006 through 2009 near Corvallis, OR, to evaluate the potential for Italian ryegrass control in winter wheat with applications of pyroxasulfone. Application rates of PRE treatments ranged from 0.05 to 0.15 kg ai ha−1. All treatments were compared to standard Italian ryegrass soil-applied herbicides used in winter wheat, including diuron, flufenacet, and flufenacet + metribuzin. Visual evaluations of Italian ryegrass and ivyleaf speedwell control and winter wheat injury were made at regular intervals following applications. Winter wheat yields were quantified at grain maturity. Ivyleaf speedwell control was variable, and Italian ryegrass control following pyroxasulfone applications ranged from 65 to 100% and was equal to control achieved with flufenacet and flufenacet + metribuzin treatments and greater than that achieved with diuron applications. Winter wheat injury from pyroxasulfone ranged from 0 to 8% and was most associated with the 0.15–kg ha−1 application rate. However, this early-season injury did not negatively impact winter wheat yield. Pyroxasulfone applied at the application rates and timings in these studies resulted in high levels of activity on Italian ryegrass and excellent winter wheat safety. Based on the results, pyroxasulfone has the potential to be used as a soil-applied herbicide in winter wheat for Italian ryegrass management and its utility for management of other important grass and broadleaf weeds of cereal-based cropping systems should be evaluated.

Field studies were conducted near Crowley, LA, in 2005 through 2007 to evaluate the effects of simulated herbicide drift on ‘Cocodrie’ rice. Each application was made with the spray volume varying proportionally to herbicide dosage based on a constant spray volume of 234 L ha−1 and an imazethapyr rate of 70 g ai ha−1. The 6.3%, 4.4 g ha−1, herbicide rate was applied at a spray volume of 15 L ha−1 and the 12.5%, 8.7 g ha−1, herbicide rate was applied at a spray volume of 29 L ha−1. An application of imazethapyr at one-tiller, panicle differentiation (PD), and boot resulted in increased crop injury compared with the nontreated rice. The most injury observed occurred on rice treated at the one-tiller timing. Imazethapyr at one-tiller, PD, and boot reduced plant height at harvest and primary and total (primary plus ratoon) crop yield, with the greatest reduction in primary crop yield resulting from imazethapyr applied at boot. Imazethapyr did not affect rice treated at primary crop maturity.

Greenhouse and field studies were conducted to determine the effect of halosulfuron, imazosulfuron, and trifloxysulfuron applied through drip irrigation on yellow nutsedge. In greenhouse studies, yellow nutsedge control by halosulfuron, imazosulfuron, and trifloxysulfuron was greater (69 to 91%) than the nontreated control (0%). Yellow nutsedge treated with halosulfuron POST had a lower photosynthetic rate (0.6 to 22.6 µmol m−2 s−1) at 4, 7, and 14 d after treatment than the nontreated control (3.3 to 26.2 µmol m−2 s−1). Yellow nutsedge treated with trifloxysulfuron had lower photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance than the nontreated plants. In field studies at Clinton, NC, yellow nutsedge density increased from treatment (day 0) to 56 d after treatment in all treatments. Increase in yellow nutsedge density was 72 and 95% in drip-applied halosulfuron and imazosulfuron treatments compared with yellow nutsedge density increases of 876% for the same period in the nontreated plots. Yellow nutsedge density increased 69 and 57% at Clinton and Kinston, NC, respectively, in the drip-applied 15 g ha−1 trifloxysulfuron treatment compared with 876% in the nontreated control. In field studies at Clinton and Kinston, NC, suppression of yellow nutsedge emergence in POST and drip-applied herbicide treatments was similar. Emergence of yellow nutsedge was similar in the imazosulfuron POST and the nontreated yellow nutsedge. Based on these studies, drip-applied herbicides may be beneficial as a part of a yellow nutsedge control program, but additional measures, such as a POST herbicide, would be needed for effective control. Drip-applied herbicides may give growers an option for herbicide application after drip irrigation tape and polyethylene mulch have been installed in the current vegetable crops. This application method would also allow herbicide treatment under plastic mulch used for multicropping systems.

We tested the effects of seeding date and weed control during switchgrass establishment in a field experiment that was conducted in central Pennsylvania in 2007 and repeated in 2008. Switchgrass was no-till seeded in early May, late May, and mid-June, and three postemergence weed management treatments were evaluated, including Mow (only a single mowing), Broadleaf (2,4-D + dicamba), and Broad Spectrum (2,4-D + dicamba + atrazine + quinclorac). Switchgrass density increased at later seeding dates, except in 2008, when the middle seeding date had the lowest density. In both years, weed biomass in late summer was lowest in the last seeding date of the Broad Spectrum treatment. In contrast, switchgrass biomass in late summer was greatest in the first seeding date of the Broad Spectrum treatment in both years. In the year after establishment (production year), plots were split to test the effects of supplemental weed control, composed of metsulfuron + 2,4-D applied in May, on total aboveground yield. Supplemental control in the production year increased total aboveground yield in the Mow treatment only, indicating that effective weed control during the establishment year might reduce the need for weed control in the following year. Although maximum aboveground yield was achieved when switchgrass was seeded in May and herbicides were used, results from our experiment suggest that seeding switchgrass at a relatively high seeding rate in June in our study region and mowing annual weeds to reduce competition and prevent seed production could be an effective strategy if minimizing herbicide use is a priority.

Field studies were conducted to determine the response of sublethal glyphosate and dicamba doses to processing tomato flowering loss and marketable yield. Dose–response studies for both herbicides were conducted on four commercial processing tomato lines (two different lines within each study) and plants were sprayed at either the vegetative stage or the early bloom stage. Both glyphosate and dicamba caused higher yield losses when sprayed at the early bloom stage. A 25% yield loss was observed with 8.5 and 7.5 g ae ha−1 for glyphosate and dicamba, respectively, at the early bloom stage and 43.9 and 11.9 g ae ha−1 for glyphosate and dicamba, respectively, at the early vegetative stage. Overall, these tomato cultivars were more sensitive to dicamba than to glyphosate. We conclude that glyphosate and dicamba drift could have serious implications on tomato yields especially if the drift occurs during flowering.

Saflufenacil is a new protoporphyrinogen oxidase–inhibiting herbicide registered for use before establishment of field corn and soybean. Generally, peanut plants are tolerant to other herbicides in this class, and no reports document the utility of saflufenacil for in-season weed control. Experiments were conducted to determine whether saflufenacil applied at 12, 25, and 50 g ha−1 could effectively control Benghal dayflower and Palmer amaranth. It was observed that saflufenacil, applied either PRE or POST, was ineffective for Benghal dayflower. The maximum control at 28 d after treatment (DAT) was 79% when 50 g ha−1 was applied to 5- to 10-cm plants. Control of Palmer amaranth from PRE applications was less effective than flumioxazin at 28 DAT. However, POST applications provided > 87% control at 28 DAT when applied to plants 5 to 10 cm in height. For plants 10 to 15 cm in height, > 90% Palmer amaranth control was only achieved by the 50 g ha−1 application rate. For plants 15 to 20 cm in height, no POST application provided > 70% control. Peanut response, in a weed-free environment, to saflufenacil rate and application timing were also evaluated. Peanut stunting ranged from 0 to 36%, relative to application timing. Applications made at 0 d after emergence (DAE) were least injurious, whereas those made at 15 DAE were most injurious. Application of 50 g ha−1 provided the greatest amount of stunting and foliar injury. However, stunting and saflufenacil application rate did not correspond to yield reduction. Saflufenacil application timing did influence peanut yield. Applications made between 0 and 30 DAE did not result in yield loss, whereas applications made at 45 and 60 DAE resulted in a 5 and 19% reduction, respectively. Though saflufenacil has many positive characteristics, higher application rates are required for optimum weed control. However, these higher use rates also resulted in unacceptable levels of injury.

Summer annual grasses such as goosegrass and smooth crabgrass can hinder seeded zoysiagrass establishment. The herbicide fluazifop controls various grassy weed species but can injure mature and seedling zoysiagrass. Research has indicated that fluazifop applications can be safened on mature zoysiagrass cultivars with the addition of triclopyr. Based on these observations, research was conducted to evaluate weed control and tolerance of seeded ‘Zenith’ zoysiagrass to fluazifop (0.11 or 0.21 kg ai ha−1), triclopyr (1.12 kg ae ha−1), or fluazifop plus triclopyr (0.11 or 0.21 kg ha−1 plus 1.12 kg ha−1) applied at seeding, 14, or 28 d after emergence (DAE). All herbicide treatments applied at seeding did not hinder zoysiagrass germination but did not reduce goosegrass populations. Fluazifop alone (0.11 and 0.21 kg ha−1) applied at 14 and 28 DAE injured zoysiagrass seedlings but was reduced with the addition of triclopyr. At the end of the growing season, the greatest zoysiagrass cover was achieved by applications of fluazifop alone (0.11 kg ha−1) applied at 14 DAE or fluazifop (0.11 or 0.21 kg ha−1) plus triclopyr applied at 14 or 28 DAE. Fluazifop (0.11 or 0.21 kg ha−1) applied alone or tank-mixed with triclopyr controlled goosegrass > 70% when applied 14 and 28 DAE. Based on these data, applications of fluazifop tank-mixed with triclopyr can successfully control goosegrass without injuring Zenith zoysiagrass seedlings.

Bodies of water that are treated with herbicides for aquatic weed control are often used as a source of irrigation water by landowners near the water body, but there is little information regarding the effects of experimental aquatic herbicides on common garden plants. Therefore, the goal of these experiments was to identify phytotoxicity of four herbicides on vegetables frequently cultivated by home gardeners. Sweet pepper, zucchini, tomato, and bush bean were irrigated with water containing bispyribac-sodium, quinclorac, topramezone, and trifloxysulfuron-sodium to identify the herbicide concentrations that damage these garden vegetables. Experiments were conducted during 2009 and repeated in 2010. Plants were irrigated four times during an 11-d period with the equivalent of 1.27 cm of treated water during each irrigation, then irrigated with well water until they were harvested 41 d after the first herbicide treatment. Values of the concentration of herbicide expected to reduce treated plants by 10% compared with control plants (EC10) were calculated from components of nonlinear regression. Analysis of visual quality and dry weight data revealed that bush bean was the most sensitive of the vegetable plants to bispyribac-sodium, trifloxysulfuron-sodium, and topramezone, whereas the species most sensitive to quinclorac was zucchini. Exposure of bush bean to 7.1, 0.9, and 1.2 parts per billion (ppb) of bispyribac-sodium, trifloxysulfuron-sodium, and topramezone, respectively, would be expected to cause 10% reductions compared with control plants, whereas exposure of zucchini to as little as 11.0 ppb of quinclorac would be expected to cause a 10% reduction in dry weight.

Dimethenamid-p was labeled for preemergence use in potatoes in 2005. The herbicide provides hairy nightshade control; however, a tank-mix partner targeting common lambsquarters must be used in order to provide satisfactory control of that weed. S-metolachlor and metolachlor, also labeled for use in potato, are in the same chemical family as dimethenamid-p and questions have arisen as to whether or not these herbicides provide the same or different levels of hairy nightshade control. The objectives of this study, therefore, were (1) to compare preemergence control of common lambsquarters and other weeds in potato with dimethenamid-p applied at 0.72, 0.94, or 1.12 kg ai ha−1 alone or in two-way tank mixtures to determine appropriate tank-mix partners, and (2) to compare hairy nightshade control by dimethenamid-p with control by S-metolachlor or metolachlor. Two-way tank mixtures of dimethenamid-p with ethalfluralin, EPTC, flumioxazin, metribuzin, pendimethalin, or sulfentrazone generally improved season-long common lambsquarters control compared with dimethenamid-p applied alone at 0.72, 0.94, or 1.12 kg ha−1. When compared with control by dimethenamid-p alone at 0.72 or 0.94 kg ha−1, control by dimethenamid-p at either rate tank-mixed with ethalfluralin or EPTC was not improved as much as control by combinations of dimethenamid-p at those rates with the other tank-mix partners. Hairy nightshade control by three-way tank mixtures of S-metolachlor or metolachlor with various combinations of metribuzin, ethalfluralin, EPTC, or pendimethalin ranged from 60 to 86% and was not as great as the 93 to 98% control by dimethenamid-p at 0.72 kg ha−1 combined with the same tank-mix partners. U.S. No. 1 and total tuber yields of comparative two- and three-way tank mixtures were generally increased when weed control was improved.

Two field experiments were undertaken at Roseworthy, South Australia from 2006 to 2007 to evaluate the performance of herbicide application strategies for the control of herbicide-resistant rigid ryegrass in faba bean grown in wide rows (WR). The standard farmer practice of applying postsowing PRE (PSPE) simazine followed by POST clethodim to faba bean grown in WR provided consistent and high levels of rigid ryegrass control (≥ 96%) and caused a large reduction (P < 0.05) in spike production (≤ 20 spikes m−2) as compared with nontreated control (560 to 722 spikes m−2). Furthermore, this herbicide combination resulted in greatest yield benefits for WR faba bean (723 to 1,046 kg ha−1). Although PSPE propyzamide used in combination with shielded interrow applications of glyphosate or paraquat provided high levels of rigid ryegrass control (≥ 93%), these treatments were unable to reduce ryegrass spike density within the crop row (20 to 54 spikes m−2) to levels acceptable for continued cropping. Furthermore, a yield reduction (13 to 29%) was observed for faba bean in treatments with shielded application of nonselective herbicides and could be related to spray drift onto lower leaves. These findings highlight that shielded interrow spraying in WR faba bean could play an important role in the management of rigid ryegrass in southern Australia. However, timing of shielded interrow applications on weed control, crop safety, and issues concerning integration with more effective early-season control strategies require attention.

Annual bluegrass is a troublesome weed in turf management and there are currently limited POST herbicides labeled for use in seashore paspalum. Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate seashore paspalum tolerance to pronamide and other herbicides for annual bluegrass control. In field experiments, turf injury never exceeded 7% from pronamide applied at dormancy, 50% green-up, or complete green-up of seashore paspalum in spring. Annual bluegrass control from pronamide was initially similar across timings and averaged 67, 90, and 98% control from 0.84, 1.68, and 3.36 kg ai ha−1, respectively, after 6 wk. In greenhouse experiments, the aforementioned pronamide rates caused less than 10% injury on seashore paspalum. Seashore paspalum injury in the greenhouse was excessive (> 20%) from atrazine, bispyribac-sodium, and trifloxysulfuron and moderate (7 to 20%) from foramsulfuron, rimsulfuron, and ethofumesate. Seashore paspalum seedhead count reductions by 4 wk after treatment (WAT) were good to excellent (87 to 98%) from atrazine, bispyribac-sodium, rimsulfuron, and trifloxysulfuron and poor (≤ 0%) from ethofumesate, foramsulfuron, and pronamide. By 4 WAT, seashore paspalum clippings were reduced 0 to 39% from pronamide, whereas atrazine, bispyribac-sodium, and trifloxysulfuron reduced clippings by 54 to 69% from the untreated and ethofumesate, foramsulfuron, and rimsulfuron reduced clippings by 27 to 39%.

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of selective herbicide placement on sedge shoot number, shoot weight, and root weight. Sulfentrazone, sulfosulfuron, and trifloxysulfuron were applied to soil only, foliage only, or soil plus foliage. Sulfentrazone provided greater yellow nutsedge and false green kyllinga growth reduction compared to purple nutsedge. Sulfosulfuron provided greater purple nutsedge and false green kyllinga growth reduction compared to yellow nutsedge; these species responded similarly to trifloxysulfuron. Soil and soil plus foliar applications provided the highest level of growth suppression, indicating herbicide–soil contact is required for optimum sedge control with these three herbicides. Future research should evaluate techniques that optimize herbicide–soil contact to improve herbicide efficacy.