A 2010 survey of 1,299 corn, cotton, and soybean growers was conducted to determine their attitudes and awareness regarding glyphosate-resistant (GR) weeds and resultant implications on weed management practices. An additional 350 growers included in the current study participated in a 2005 survey, and these answers were compared across time so that cross-sectional and longitudinal comparisons of responses could be made. Most growers surveyed in 2010 were aware of the potential for weeds to evolve resistance to glyphosate; however, many growers were not aware of glyphosate resistance in specific weeds in their county or state. Growers in the South were different from growers in other geographic regions and were significantly more aware of local cases of GR weeds. Awareness of GR weeds did not increase appreciably from 2005 to 2010, but the percentage who reported GR weeds as problematic was significantly higher. Grower reports of GR weeds on-farm in 2010 were up considerably from 2005, with growers in the South reporting significantly more instances than growers in other regions. Growers in the South were also more likely to consider glyphosate resistance a serious problem. Overall, 30% of growers did not consider GR weeds to be a problem. It appears that most growers received information about glyphosate resistance from farm publications, although in the South this percentage was less than for other geographic regions. Growers in the South received more information from universities and extension sources.

An experiment was conducted on a specially designed hard surface to study the impact of time interval between flaming treatments on the regrowth and flower production of two grass weeds. The goal of this experiment was to optimize the control of annual bluegrass and perennial ryegrass, both species that are very difficult to control without herbicides. Aboveground biomass from 72 plants per treatment was harvested and dry weights were recorded at regular intervals to investigate how the plants responded to flaming. Regrowth of the grasses was measured by harvesting aboveground biomass 2 wk after the second flaming treatments that were implemented at different time intervals. Flaming treatments decreased plant biomass of both species and also the ratio of flowering annual bluegrass plants. However, few plants were killed. The first flaming treatment affected aboveground biomass more than the second flaming treatment. A treatment interval of 7 d provided the greatest reduction in regrowth of perennial ryegrass, whereas the effect of treatment interval varied between the first and second repetitions of this experiment for annual bluegrass. In general, short treatment intervals (3 d) should be avoided, as they did not increase the reduction of aboveground biomass compared with the 7-d treatment interval. Knowledge on the regrowth of grass weeds after flaming treatments provided by this study can help improve recommendations given to road keepers and park managers for management on these weeds.

Thermal heat has been utilized for nonselective weed control methods. These methods are highly variable in application and efficacy. One effective weed–seed-control determining factor is achieving the thermal death point of targeted weed seeds. The thermal death point varies by weed species, temperature, and exposure time. Our objective was to determine the thermal death point of large crabgrass, cock's-comb kyllinga, and Virginia buttonweed at short thermal exposure periods. Studies conducted utilized 5 and 20 s exposure periods for incremental range, 60 to 250 C temperatures. Sigmoid regression curves were used to predict weed seed mortality by temperature and exposure time. A significant interaction between exposure period and temperature occurred for each weed species. Weed species increased in susceptibility to 20 s thermal heat as follows: Virginia buttonweed < cock's-comb kyllinga < large crabgrass. Increasing thermal exposure time from 5 to 20 s reduced thermal temperature by 21 C to achieve 50% mortality for large crabgrass and by 10 C for cock's-comb kyllinga. Virginia buttonweed achieved 50% mortality at 99 C for 5 and 20 s exposure periods. These data indicate that at least 50% weed seed mortality can be achieved at 99 and 103 C for 20 and 5 s exposure periods, respectively, for these weed species.

Field and greenhouse studies were conducted in Belle Glade, FL, in 2010 and 2011 to evaluate saflufenacil and glyphosate efficacy on POST burndown of ragweed parthenium. Log-logistic models were used to determine the herbicide dose required to produce 90% control (ED90). The ED90 for rosette ragweed parthenium control in the greenhouse was saflufenacil at 8.0 g ai ha−1 at 14 d after treatment. The rate required to cause 90% growth reduction of rosette ragweed parthenium at 14 d after treatment was 8.9 g ha−1 of saflufenacil. The probability of rosette ragweed parthenium survival decreased with increasing rates of saflufenacil. The ED90 value for bolted ragweed parthenium control in the field was 5.7 g ha−1 of saflufenacil at 21 d after treatment. Ragweed parthenium had no response to glyphosate either in the field or in the greenhouse studies. This demonstrates that saflufenacil can be used as a POST burndown of ragweed parthenium populations that have no response to glyphosate.

A comprehensive, Wisconsin state-wide assessment of waterhemp response to a diverse group of herbicide sites of action has not been conducted. Our objective was to characterize the response of a state-wide collection of waterhemp accessions to postemergence (POST) and preemergence (PRE) herbicides commonly used in corn and soybean in Wisconsin. Greenhouse experiments were conducted with more than 80 accessions from 27 counties. POST treatments included 2,4-D, atrazine, dicamba, fomesafen, glufosinate, glyphosate, imazethapyr, and mesotrione at 1× and 3× label rates. PRE treatments included atrazine, fomesafen, mesotrione, metribuzin, and S-metolachlor at 0.5×, 1×, and 3× label rates. Ninety-eight percent and 88% of the accessions exhibited ≥50% plant survival after exposure to imazethapyr and glyphosate POST 3× rate, respectively. Seventeen percent, 16%, and 3% of the accessions exhibited ≥50% plant survival after exposure to 2,4-D, atrazine, and dicamba, respectively, applied POST at the 1× rate. Survival of all accessions was ≤25% after exposure to 2,4-D or dicamba applied POST at the 3× rate, or glufosinate, fomesafen, and mesotrione applied POST at either rate evaluated. No plant of any accession survived exposure to glufosinate at either rate. Forty-five percent and 3% of the accessions exhibited <90% plant density reduction after exposure to atrazine applied PRE at the 3× rate and fomesafen PRE at the 1× rate, respectively. Plant density reduction of all accessions was ≥96% after exposure to fomesafen applied PRE at the 3× rate, or metribuzin, S-metolachlor, and mesotrione applied PRE at the 1× rate. Our results suggest that waterhemp resistance to imazethapyr and glyphosate applied POST is widespread in Wisconsin, whereas resistance to 2,4-D, atrazine, and dicamba applied POST is present to a lower extent. One accession (A75, Fond du Lac County) exhibited multiple resistance to imazethapyr, atrazine, glyphosate, and 2,4-D when applied POST. Overall, atrazine applied PRE was ineffective for waterhemp control in Wisconsin. Proactive resistance management and the use of effective PRE and POST herbicides are fundamental for waterhemp management in Wisconsin.

Field trials were conducted in Virginia to evaluate trumpetcreeper control with glyphosate and conventional herbicide systems in double-crop glyphosate-resistant soybean. When compared with the untreated control, none of the conventional herbicide systems evaluated in these trials provided any reductions in the trumpetcreeper stem density at 1 yr after treatment (YAT). Glyphosate systems generally provided much higher levels of trumpetcreeper stem reduction than conventional herbicide systems. By 1 YAT, densities of trumpetcreeper that received conventional herbicide treatments ranged from 97 to 141% of the initial population, whereas densities of trumpetcreeper that received preemergence (PRE) followed by postemergence (POST) or POST-only applications of the isopropylamine (IPA) or diammonium (DIA) salts of glyphosate ranged from 30 to 66% of the initial population. However, PRE applications of the IPA or DIA salts of glyphosate generally provided lower levels of trumpetcreeper stem reduction than PRE followed by POST or POST-only applications. These results indicate that glyphosate applications made later in the growing season will provide greater trumpetcreeper stem reductions than those made at or close to soybean planting in double-crop soybean production systems. Glyphosate systems did not provide higher soybean yields than the untreated control that contained trumpetcreeper only when densities averaged 6 trumpetcreeper stems/m2 in 2000, but 12 of the 16 glyphosate-containing treatments provided higher soybean yields than the untreated control that contained trumpetcreeper only when densities averaged 13 stems/m2 in 2001.

Annual grasses constitute a major weed problem in winter annual crops in Northern Europe and especially in cropping systems where ploughing is omitted. At the optimum growth stage for control with POST herbicides, grasses have a predominantly vertical leaf orientation. This represents a very difficult spray target using the standard technique where nozzles are mounted more or less vertically downward. In this study, efficacy of the foliar-acting herbicide, haloxyfop, on perennial ryegrass at the two- to three-leaf stage was investigated in field experiments using some alternative configurations of nozzle mounting on the sprayer. Angling the spray either forward or backward relative to the direction of travel increased herbicide efficacy using standard commercially available flat-fan and pre-orifice nozzles. Efficacy increased generally with increasing angling relative to vertically downward and the forward-angled spray improved efficacy most. The largest improvement in efficacy was obtained using a 60° forward-angled spray in combination with a reduced boom height. Using this configuration, herbicide dose could be reduced by approximately 30% without loss of efficacy in comparison with the standard vertical mounting of nozzles. There was no advantage of using combinations of forward- and backward-angled nozzles.

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to examine the effect of glyphosate on reproductive development in sicklepod. Glyphosate was applied postemergence over the top at 112 and 280 g ai/ha to sicklepod at 4-leaf stage (L), 8-L, 4-L followed by 8-L, and 12-L. A nontreated control was included. Immediately after the 12-L application, number of flowers was recorded for all treatments twice per week for 8 wk. Pollen viability was measured on 1 open flower/plant/sampling time using Alexander stain. The number of pods, pod length, seeds per plant, 50-seed weight, total seed weight, seed germination, seed viability, and dry weight of aboveground biomass were also recorded. No significant differences among the treatments were found for average pod length, 50-seed weight, seed germination, seed viability, and aboveground biomass. The nontreated had 18 flowers counted over 8 wk. Glyphosate applied at 12-L and sequentially at 4-L and 8-L, averaged over glyphosate rates, reduced cumulative flower production after 8 wk by 65 and 54%, respectively, compared with the nontreated. Similarly, glyphosate at 280 g/ha, averaged over treatment timings, reduced flower production by 58% compared with the nontreated. Because the number of flowers produced was limited by glyphosate treatment due to flower abscission, pollen viability measurements could not be analyzed because of large numbers of missing data points. The number of pods, seeds, and total seed weight were reduced by 79, 80, and 81%, respectively, with 280 g/ha of glyphosate compared with the nontreated.

Glufosinate applied postemergence alone and in mixture with pendimethalin, thiobencarb, quinclorac, propanil, bensulfuron, bentazon, acifluorfen, or triclopyr was evaluated on bialaphosresistant (BAR) rice and red rice in field studies. Glufosinate at 2.2 kg ai/ha alone was less phytotoxic (6%) to BAR-transformed rice than when it was applied in combination with 0.4 kg ai/ha triclopyr (59%) or 0.6 kg ai/ha acifluorfen (22%). Rice yield with glufosinate alone was similar to the weed-free check the first year, but 13% less than the weed-free check the second year. For the glufosinate plus triclopyr mixture, rice yield was reduced by 39 and 76% compared with glufosinate alone in 1994 and 1995, respectively. Red rice control was 92% with either 3.4 kg ai/ha propanil or 0.6 kg/ha acifluorfen mixed with 0.6 kg/ha glufosinate, which was greater than for glufosinate alone and the other combinations. Propanil or acifluorfen mixed with glufosinate reduced red rice plant height, panicle maturity, and 100-seed weight 16, 31, and 24%, respectively, compared to glufosinate alone and 30, 48, and 43%, respectively, compared to the nontreated weedy check.

Field and greenhouse experiments evaluated the differential response of 15 green pea varieties to metribuzin applied preemergence. ‘Charo,’ ‘CMG 298,’ ‘Leah,’ ‘Scout,’ and ‘Puget’ were the most tolerant, whereas ‘Bolero’ and ‘Sundance’ were the most susceptible varieties under greenhouse conditions. Variable chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv), efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fmax), and leaf area were reduced sharply by metribuzin in susceptible varieties, and metribuzin susceptibility correlated highly with the reduction in shoot dry weight. Green pea varieties grown under field conditions responded to metribuzin similarly to pea varieties grown under greenhouse conditions. Metribuzin reduced shoot dry weight more in peas grown at 30/25 C than in those grown at 25/20 and 20/15 C. Also, metribuzin injured peas more when grown in soil saturated to field capacity compared to soil at 70 and 40% of field capacity.

In field experiments in 1981, 36 g ai/ha of chlorsulfuron {2-chloro-N-[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino] carbonyl] benzenesulfonamide} applied to winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ‘Arthur’) in early spring reduced seed yield in conventional and no-till plantings of double-cropped soybeans [Glycine max (L.) ‘Essex’]. From 1982 to 1984, three rates of chlorsulfuron (9, 18, and 36 g/ha) were applied at three different times (preemergence, early winter, and early spring) to study their residual effects on double-cropped soybeans. Chlorsulfuron at 36 g/ha applied preemergence or early spring reduced soybean seed yields when averaged over the 3-yr period. Metsulfuron {2-[[[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl)amino] carbonyl] amino] sulfonyl] benzoic acid} was tested at three rates (4.5, 9, and 18 g/ha) applied at three times (same as chlorsulfuron) in field studies in 1983 and 1984. Metsulfuron did not injure subsequently planted no-till soybeans.

Dithiopyr and prodiamine are new preemergence herbicides for crabgrass control in tall fescue and bermudagrass turf. A field experiment was conducted over a 2-yr period to determine the lowest rates of dithiopyr and prodiamine needed to control large crabgrass effectively in tall fescue and common bermudagrass. Prodiamine applied at 0.17 kg ai/ha in each of two applications controlled 92 to 93% of large crabgrass by late August in common bermudagrass and 78 to 85% in tall fescue. Dithiopyr applied at 0.11 kg ai/ha in each of two applications controlled 85 to 89% of large crabgrass in common bermudagrass, but the control was not consistent across years at any rate in tall fescue. Dithiopyr applied at 0.56 kg/ha on tall fescue controlled 91% of large crabgrass in 1993, but only 38% in 1994. The higher control with dithiopyr in common bermudagrass was due to greater competition with germinating large crabgrass seeds and emerging seedlings during the summer, compared with little or no competition from tall fescue. The quality of tall fescue and common bermudagrass treated with dithiopyr and prodiamine was generally higher in plots where large crabgrass was effectively controlled than in plots with poor control. In general, dithiopyr did not control large crabgrass as effectively in tall fescue as in common bermudagrass, while the control with prodiamine was similar for the two turfgrass species.

Sixteen sweet corn cultivars, representing a range of endosperm genotypes, were evaluated to determine cultivar tolerance to nicosulfuron plus rimsulfuron in greenhouse and field studies conducted over a two-year period. Response to nicosulfuron plus rimsulfuron varied widely, depending on cultivar and application rate. In the field, four cultivars were tolerant to applications of nicosulfuron plus rimsulfuron at rates of 50 g/ha. In the greenhouse, eight cultivars were tolerant to nicosulfuron plus rimsulfuron at 25 g/ha. ‘Merit’ and ‘Silver Extra Sweet’ were most sensitive, with applications of nicosulfuron plus rimsulfuron resulting in death of all plants. ‘Miracle,’ ‘Extra Early Super Sweet,’ ‘Bunker Hill,’ and ‘Sweet Belle’ were tolerant.

Sweet potato clones were evaluated for metribuzin tolerance in field and greenhouse studies. ‘Tinian’ was the most tolerant and ‘SC-1149-19’ and ‘J-2’ were the most susceptible clones. ‘Jewel’, a clone widely grown commercially, was sensitive to metribuzin in the field and greenhouse. ‘Sumor’ and ‘White Triumph’ exhibited intermediate metribuzin tolerance. All metribuzin application-by-rate treatments reduced plant stands, caused season-long crop injury, and reduced yields. Metribuzin applied 3 wk posttransplant at 1.1 kg ha−1 did not reduce total yield of Tinian. Total yield of all the clones except Tinian were reduced by metribuzin regardless of timing or rate.

Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted under weed-free conditions in 2000 and 2001 to investigate the responses of 10 soft red winter wheat cultivars to postemergence applications of the experimental herbicide AE F130060 03 at 15 g ai/ha with the crop safener AE F107892 at 30 g ai/ha. In the greenhouse, AE F130060 03 injured wheat 7 to 12% and reduced height 11 to 14% at 3 wk after treatment (WAT) across all cultivars but did not reduce biomass of any cultivar. In the field, AE F130060 03 injured wheat 11 to 32%, reduced tiller number of all cultivars except ‘Roane’, ‘Coker 9663’, and ‘VA98W-593’, and reduced height of all cultivars except ‘USG 3209’ and VA98W-593 at 3 WAT. By 9 WAT, tiller number and height of treated wheat was similar to that of nontreated wheat. AE F130060 03 did not influence moisture content or kernel weight of any cultivar. However, AE F130060 03 reduced grain yield in ‘FFR 518’, Coker 9663, and VA98W-593 in both years as well as in ‘AgriPro Patton’ in 2001. These yield reductions suggest that further investigation into soft red winter wheat cultivar tolerance to AE F130060 03 is needed.

Three field studies were conducted at Lewiston Woodville, NC, in 2001 and 2002 to evaluate crop tolerance, weed control, grain yield, and net returns in glyphosate-resistant corn with various herbicide systems. Crop injury, weed control, and grain yield were not influenced by glyphosate formulation. Atrazine preemergence (PRE) and atrazine plus metolachlor PRE, averaged over postemergence (POST) systems, controlled Texas panicum at least 80 and 87%, respectively. Sequential glyphosate applications (early postemergence [EPOST] followed by [fb] POST) provided at least 99% control of Texas panicum compared with at least 86 and 88% control with glyphosate EPOST and glyphosate plus halosulfuron EPOST, respectively. Atrazine plus metolachlor PRE fb any glyphosate system controlled large crabgrass and goosegrass 89 to 100% and 94 to 100%, respectively. Sequential glyphosate treatments controlled large crabgrass and goosegrass at least 99 and 95%, respectively. Regardless of PRE system, glyphosate plus halosulfuron EPOST and sequential applications of glyphosate controlled common ragweed and common lambsquarters at least 99%, whereas glyphosate EPOST alone provided at least 88 and 96% control, respectively. Glyphosate plus halosulfuron EPOST and glyphosate sequentially controlled yellow nutsedge similarly and more consistently than glyphosate EPOST. Regardless of PRE treatment, sequential glyphosate applications provided at least 98% control of entireleaf and pitted morningglory, whereas glyphosate EPOST controlled at least 64 and 62%, respectively. Glyphosate EPOST and the sequential glyphosate EPOST fb POST systems yielded similarly at all three locations. Net returns were highest at all three locations with the glyphosate sequential system, with similar net returns obtained with glyphosate EPOST and glyphosate plus halosulfuron EPOST at two and one locations, respectively.

Producers in the Great Plains are exploring alternative crop rotations with the goal of reducing the use of fallow. In 1990, a study was established with no-till practices to compare eight rotations comprising various combinations of winter wheat (W), spring wheat (SW), corn (C), chickpea (CP), dry pea (Pea), soybean (SB), or fallow (F). After 12 yr, we characterized weed communities by recording seedling emergence in each rotation. Downy brome, cheat, redroot pigweed, and green foxtail were the most common weeds observed. Weed community density was highest for W–CP, being 13-fold greater than with Pea–W–C–SB. Downy brome and cheat were rarely observed in rotations where winter wheat was grown only once every 3 or 4 yr; in contrast, density of the brome species was 75-fold greater in W–CP. Warm-season weeds were also affected by rotation design; density of redroot pigweed and green foxtail was sixfold greater in W–C–CP compared with Pea–W–C–SB or W–F. One rotation design that was especially favorable for low weed density was arranging crops in a cycle of four, with two cool-season crops followed by two warm-season crops.

A field study was conducted in 1994 and 1995 to determine the efficacy of MON 12037 on purple nutsedge in a bermudagrass turf. The percentage of bermudagrass infested with purple nutsedge following a single application of MON 12037 decreased from 60 to 30% at 18 g ai/ha and to approximately 20% at 36, 54, and 72 g/ha. Regrowth of purple nutsedge occurred between 28 and 55 d after treatment (DAT) and was greatest at 18 g/ha. A second application of MON 12037 reduced purple nutsedge percent infestation similarly to one application. Tuber weight and number were not affected by either one or two applications of MON 12037; however, tuber viability decreased after two applications. These results suggest that when using MON 12037, a program of several years duration may be required to successfully manage purple nutsedge in a bermudagrass turf because viable tubers persist following two applications of MON 12037 in a season.

Field experiments were conducted in 2008, 2011, and 2012 to investigate the interaction between seeding system disturbance and PPI herbicides on rigid ryegrass control in wheat. Of the herbicides examined, prosulfocarb + S-metolachlor, and pyroxasulfone provided ≥ 70% control of rigid ryegrass, irrespective of seeding system. In contrast, trifluralin was the least-effective herbicide against rigid ryegrass and was particularly ineffective when used with single disc (10% control) relative to the triple-disc seeding system (80%) in 2012. Trifluralin consistently reduced wheat density when incorporated using single discs (46 to 59%) but not do so with the triple disc or double-shoot knife-point systems. Although there were large differences in crop establishment because of herbicide phytotoxicity, that did not always translate into large differences in yield because wheat was able to recover from reductions in plant density by increasing the spike number per plant. Pyroxasulfone caused no damage to wheat and appeared to be the most suitable PPI herbicide for use with single-disc seeding systems.

The use of photosystem II (PSII)-inhibitor and/or protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO)-inhibitor PRE herbicides in soybean may, under adverse environmental conditions, result in early season crop injury. A field study was conducted near Brule and North Platte, Nebraska, during the 2016 and 2017 growing seasons with the objective to evaluate the impact of PRE herbicides metribuzin (PSII-inhibitor) and sulfentrazone (PPO-inhibitor) on early season soybean development, final plant stand, and yield using 22 soybean varieties adapted to southwestern Nebraska. Herbicide treatments consisted of metribuzin (560 g ai ha−1) and sulfentrazone (280 g ai ha−1) applied within 3 d after planting and a nontreated control (NTC). Sulfentrazone reduced green canopy vegetation at the V2 growth stage by 22% and final plant stand at physiological maturity by 10% compared with the NTC. The number of pods per plant was 16% higher for sulfentrazone and the number of seeds per plant was 15% and 4% higher for sulfentrazone and metribuzin compared with the NTC, respectively. Sulfentrazone and metribuzin resulted in a slightly higher yield (3%) compared with the NTC, thus no yield reduction from PRE herbicides was observed in this study. These results support other findings that sulfentrazone and metribuzin have potential to cause early-season crop injury; however, when applied according to their label recommendations and following regional agronomic management practices, this impact may not translate into soybean yield reduction while such herbicides provide effective soil residual weed control.