Imazethapyr resistance in common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) was confirmed in 1996 in a field near Rossville, KS. In 1997, common sunflower achenes were collected within a 20-km radius of the field with known resistance to determine if resistance was present in nearby fields or if resistance had spread to the native population on the roadside. Collections were made from 14 soybean (Glycine max) fields, one corn (Zea mays) field, and 11 roadsides. Achenes from Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, a prairie that had received no herbicide applications in the past 25 yr, served as the susceptible control. Common sunflower seedlings were treated in a greenhouse with 71 g ai/ha imazethapyr and 11 g ai/ha chlorimuron. In all 15 fields sampled, at least 1% of the common sunflower exhibited an intermediate response to imazethapyr or chlorimuron. In 13 fields, at least 1% of the plants were resistant to imazethapyr, and in all 15 fields, at least 1% of the plants were resistant to chlorimuron. Ten roadsides had common sunflower that showed intermediate response to imazethapyr or chlorimuron. At least 1% of the plants from seven roadsides were resistant to imazethapyr or chlorimuron. Common sunflower collected from fields with repeated applications of imazethapyr showed more resistance to imazethapyr than to chlorimuron.

The growth, development, and reproductive potential of several populations of organic arsenical-susceptible (S) and -resistant (R) common cocklebur biotypes were compared under noncompetitive field conditions. Plant height, leaf area, aboveground dry weights, and relative growth rate (RGR) were measured periodically during the growing season. Days to flowering, bur dry weight, and number of burs per plant were also recorded. Arsenical S- and R-biotypes were similar in all measured parameters of growth, development, and reproductive potential. Populations within each biotype varied occasionally in plant height, leaf area, aboveground dry weights, and reproductive potential.

Proso millet is an important short-season summer cereal in western Nebraska, southeast Wyoming, and eastern Colorado. The objective of this study was to evaluate proso millet tolerance to saflufenacil applied early preplant (EPP) or PRE. Field studies were conducted in Lingle, WY and Sidney, NE in 2008 and 2009. A dose–response study was conducted in the greenhouse at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, WY to determine proso millet cultivar response to saflufenacil applied at six rates from 0 to 400 g ai ha−1. In the field, saflufenacil was applied EPP and PRE at 50 and 100 g ha−1. Proso millet stands were reduced by an average of 33 and 23% by PRE and EPP treatments compared with the nontreated check; however, proso seed yields were not affected by saflufenacil timing or rate. In the greenhouse, ‘Panhandle’ and ‘Dawn’ exhibited less tolerance to saflufenacil than ‘Sunrise’, the cultivar used in the field studies.

In the Southern Great Plains, producers of hard red winter wheat seek sustainable methods for controlling cheat and improving economic returns. Experiments were conducted at two sites in north-central Oklahoma to determine the effect of cheat management programs, with various weed control strategies, on cheat densities and total net returns. The cheat management programs, initiated following harvest of winter wheat, included conventionally tilled, double-crop grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) followed by soybean (Glycine max L.); and continuous winter wheat. Rotating out of winter wheat for one growing season increased yield of succedent wheat up to 32% and 42% at Billings and Ponca City, respectively. Dockage due to cheat in the succedent wheat was reduced up to 78% and 87% by rotating out of winter wheat for one growing season at Billings and Ponca City, respectively. Cheat management programs including a crop rotation with herbicides applied to the grain sorghum, except for an application of atrazine + metolachlor at Ponca City, improved total net returns over the nontreated continuous wheat option. Cheat panicles in the succedent wheat were reduced up to 87% by rotation out of winter wheat for one growing season.

Cotton tolerance of DPX-PE350 applied POST alone, mixed with acephate, carbaryl, or dimethoate applied at 220, 1100, or 280 g ai ha−1, respectively, or following aldicarb, disulfoton, or phorate applied in the seed furrow at 1.0, kg ai ha−1 was evaluated. DPX-PE350 at 170 g ae ha−1 did not adversely affect seed cotton yield, fiber length, fiber length uniformity, or micronaire but did decrease fiber strength. The insecticides did not alter cotton response to DPX-PE350. Entireleaf morningglory was controlled 92, 95, and 96% with DPX-PE350 applied POST at 56, 110, and 170 g ha−1, respectively. Mixing acephate, carbaryl, or dimethoate with DPX-PE350 did not affect control.

Field experiments were conducted to study the competition effect of winter wheat planted in a square arrangement and Italian ryegrass planted randomly on biomass yields of both species, ryegrass seed yield, N use efficiency, and progeny seed germination. Increases in wheat density up to 800 plants/m2 reduced ryegrass seed yield by 87% but increased its harvest index up to 42% compared to its monoculture yield. Species densities and their interactions accounted for 66 to 73% of the total variation in per-unit area biomass of species, and their association was more favorable to ryegrass biomass than wheat. Seeds of each species had three times greater nitrogen percentage than did shoots. Intra- and interspecific competition increased nitrogen percentage in wheat seeds. In Italian ryegrass, only interspecific competition increased N percentage in seeds. Although total nitrogen uptake by winter wheat was three times greater than in Italian ryegrass, Italian ryegrass was two times more efficient than wheat at producing biomass per unit of N taken up and specific leaf area at heading stage in mixture. Germination percentages of progeny seeds of both species in mixtures were greater in presence of high densities of the companion species than in their monocultures. Nitrogen was not the main limiting factor for competition between winter wheat and Italian ryegrass in this study.

Research was conducted to compare the results of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for detecting fluometuron in the environment. A linear relationship for HPLC (R2 > 0.90) and ELISA (R2 > 0.66) analysis was observed between the natural logarithm of the detected fluometuron concentrations regressed against time in soil collected from a cropped area, a grass filter strip, and a riparian forest. Both methods detected the same initial fluometuron concentration (y-intercept) for two of the three soils evaluated. The ELISA and HPLC measurements of fluometuron concentrations compared favorably with r values from 0.83 to 0.98. Predicted fluometuron half-lives determined from HPLC and ELISA measurements were: 110 and 112 d in the cropped watershed, 28 and 29 d in the riparian area, and 11 and 11 d in the grass filter strip, respectively. Results from both techniques indicated shorter half-lives in soil from the grass filter strip and riparian area than in cropped area soil. There was an inverse correlation between predicted half-lives and soil organic matter, pH, clay, and cation exchange capacity.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the nature of the cotton postemergence (POST) herbicides followed by (fb) MSMA postemergence-directed (LAYBY) for foliar and tuber reduction of yellow and purple nutsedge when applied to nutsedge at two different application timings. Trifloxysulfuron at 4 and 6 g ai/ha fb MSMA LAYBY reduced 10- to 15- and 20- to 30-cm purple and yellow nutsedge root and shoot dry weights by at least 56%. However, the effect of weed size at the time of application was significant for trifloxysulfuron at 6 g/ha for percent root and shoot reductions in yellow nutsedge and percent root reduction in purple nutsedge. Significance of herbicide rate was only observed for percent shoot and root reduction of 10- to 15-cm yellow nutsedge. Trifloxysulfuron treatments reduced purple and yellow nutsedge shoot and root dry weights equivalent to treatments involving glyphosate POST fb MSMA LAYBY. MSMA at 1,120 and 2,240 g/ha and glufosinate POST fb MSMA LAYBY were effective for reducing purple and yellow nutsedge shoot dry weights, although percent reduction was influenced by nutsedge height at herbicide application. Treatments involving pyrithiobac POST fb MSMA LAYBY slightly increased 10- to 15-cm yellow nutsedge root dry weights. MSMA at either rate produced additive responses when included in tank mixtures with trifloxysulfuron at either rate or pyrithiobac POST fb MSMA LAYBY in yellow nutsedge. Other tank mixes or sequential combinations did not cause additive or synergistic responses.

Field studies were conducted to determine the feasibility of using imazethapyr applied preemergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) for weed control in sericea lespedeza. In the POST experiment, imazethapyr was applied at 0, 71, 142, and 213 g ai/ha to mature, recently mowed stands of sericea lespedeza. Regardless of rate, yellow nutsedge and cutleaf groundcherry control at 2 mo after treatment, as determined by weed foliage biomass relative to the nontreated plants, was 90 and 80%, respectively. Sericea lespedeza forage yield (weeds removed) was not reduced by POST-applied imazethapyr even at 213 g/ha. The same imazethapyr rates were used with newly seeded sericea lespedeza in the PRE-applied experiment. Imazethapyr at 71 g/ha provided at least 78% control of large crabgrass, stinkgrass, yellow nutsedge, sicklepod, and cutleaf groundcherry as well as maximum sericea lespedeza performance, as indicated by seedling height, weight, and stand count. Results indicated that imazethapyr can be used for either PRE- or POST-applied weed control in sericea lespedeza. However, margin of safety is greater with imazethapyr applied POST to mature stands than with PRE applications to germinating seeds.

Research was conducted to evaluate residual activity of herbicides applied postemergence (POST) and preemergence (PRE) for red morningglory control. Atrazine at 2.24 kg ai/ha controlled 30- to 60-cm red morningglory 78% 10 d after treatment (DAT) but control was greater for carfentrazone at 0.035 kg ai/ha, diuron plus hexazinone at 1.57 + 0.44 kg ai/ha, flumioxazin at 0.14 kg ai/ha, and sulfentrazone at 0.32 kg ai/ha (88 to 93%). At 28 DAT control with diuron plus hexazinone, flumioxazin, and sulfentrazone, reflective of both the initial POST control and soil residual activity, was equivalent to that of atrazine at 3.36 kg/ha (92%), but control was 34 to 66% with carfentrazone at 0.009, 0.018, and 0.026 kg/ha, hexazinone at 0.56 kg/ha, pyraflufen at 0.007 and 0.015 kg ai/ha, and trifloxysulfuron at 0.016 kg ai/ha. In another study to evaluate residual control with soil-applied herbicides, red morningglory was controlled at least 87% 35 DAT with atrazine at 2.24 kg/ha, diuron plus hexazinone at 1.57 + 0.44 kg/ha, flumioxazin at 0.14 kg/ha, sulfentrazone at 0.16 kg/ha, and metribuzin at 1.68 kg ai/ha. Control 35 DAT was 78% for atrazine at 1.12 kg/ha, 84% for diuron plus hexazinone at 1.05 + 0.30 kg/ha, and 63% for flumioxazin at 0.07 kg/ha. By 49 DAT only sulfentrazone controlled red morningglory 80% or more and by 63 DAT, control with sulfentrazone at rates of 0.21 kg/ha and higher was 83 to 88%. At 77 DAT sulfentrazone at 0.21 kg/ha controlled red morningglory 78% and no other herbicide treatment provided more than 46% control. In another study red morningglory control did not change from 49 to 63 DAT when sulfentrazone at 0.28 to 0.42 kg/ha was applied PRE following trifluralin preplant incorporated (PPI), but control decreased from 49 to 63 DAT when sulfentrazone was incorporated with trifluralin.

A 4-yr field study was conducted to evaluate yellow nutsedge suppression in ‘Tifway’ bermudagrass. Herbicide programs included preemergence (PRE) applications of metolachlor (3.4 kg ai/ha) and postemergence (POST) applications of imazaquin (0.28 kg ai/ha) plus MSMA (2.2 kg ai/ha) or halosulfuron (0.07 kg ai/ha) plus MSMA (2.2 kg/ha). Herbicides were applied to the same plots each year. Yellow nutsedge shoot suppression and tuber numbers were determined each year. Suppression of yellow nutsedge shoots increased over the 4-yr period from <74% in 1993 to >83% by 1996 with two annual applications of imazaquin plus MSMA or halosulfuron plus MSMA. PRE metolachlor applications did not suppress shoot production in any year; nor did they enhance suppression from POST treatments. Sequential applications of halosulfuron plus MSMA and imazaquin plus MSMA increased shoot suppression by 17 to 24% at 3 mo after initial treatment (MAIT) compared to single applications. All treatments reduced tuber numbers (>60%) after 4 years compared to untreated plots.

Field experiments were conducted in 1997 and 1998 near Rossville in northeast Kansas to evaluate control of imazethapyr-resistant common sunflower with selected herbicides in corn and soybean. In soybean, common sunflower control was unacceptable with imazethapyr, chlorimuron, CGA-277476, and cloransulam applied alone. Lactofen or acifluorfen applied with these herbicides slightly improved control, whereas glyphosate applied with them controlled more than 97% of common sunflower. All herbicides reduced common sunflower populations in the corn. The greatest reductions occurred when atrazine was applied with dicamba, 2,4-D, RPA 201772, or CGA-152005 plus primisulfuron. These herbicide combinations also stunted common sunflower that survived treatment. Several herbicide alternatives are available to control imazethapyr-resistant common sunflower in corn. However, glyphosate was the only herbicide that gave adequate control in soybean.

Field studies were conducted to determine the effect of season-long interference of smooth pigweed or livid amaranth on the shoot dry weight and fruit yield of cucumber. Smooth pigweed or livid amaranth densities as low as 1 to 2 weeds per m2 caused a 10% yield reduction in cucumber. The biological threshold of smooth pigweed or livid amaranth with cucumber is between 6 to 8 weeds per m2. Consequently, weed interference resulted in a reduction in cucumber fruit yield. Smooth pigweed, livid amaranth, and cucumber plant dry weight decreased as weed density increased. Evaluation of smooth pigweed, livid amaranth, and cucumber mean dry weights in interspecific competition studies indicated that cucumber reduced the dry weight of both species of amaranths.

Woolly cupgrass control with acetochlor, alachlor, and metolachlor in corn was evaluated at Stratford, IA from 1985 through 1990. Averaged over application techniques, acetochlor at 3.4 kg/ha controlled more than 85% of woolly cupgrass five out of six years, whereas alachlor at 4.5 kg/ha and metolachlor at 3.4 kg/ha controlled more than 85% of this weed one and two years out of six, respectively. Herbicide incorporation did not consistently improve woolly cupgrass control. PRE applications were more effective than incorporated treatments in years with greater than 7 mm rainfall occurring within 3 d after application.

Wild oat populations resistant to triallate have been identified in Alberta. Dose response experiments were conducted in the greenhouse to determine if triallate-resistant wild oat was controlled by other selective wild oat herbicides. Triallate-resistant wild oat populations were effectively controlled by atrazine, ethalfluralin, fenoxaprop-P, flamprop, imazamethabenz, and tralkoxydim. EPTC and cycloate, which are chemically related to triallate, differed in their efficacy on triallate-resistant wild oats. EPTC at the 0.25x field use rate was more efficacious on triallate-resistant than triallate-susceptible wild oat. In contrast, cycloate at the 0.25 to 0.5x field use rate was less efficacious on triallate-resistant than susceptible wild oats. At higher rates, both EPTC and cycloate killed triallate-resistant wild oat populations. Growers have several herbicide choices to selectively control triallate-resistant wild oat in prairie field crops but should plan to rotate herbicides among different chemical families and adopt integrated weed management practices to reduce the risk of these wild oat populations developing resistance to other wild oat herbicides.

Field experiments were conducted from 1999 to 2001 to evaluate preemergence (PRE) activity of cloransulam on broadleaf weed species and to determine the effectiveness of cloransulam as a PRE herbicide in glyphosate-resistant soybean weed management systems. Cloransulam PRE controlled prickly sida, velvetleaf, and morningglory species even at reduced rates (recommended rate 36 g ai/ha) but only suppressed growth of Palmer amaranth, hemp sesbania, and sicklepod. Cloransulam applied PRE provided initial control or suppression of most weeds, but late-season control declined appreciably. Adding metribuzin to cloransulam PRE generally improved control of hemp sesbania, Palmer amaranth, annual grasses, and morningglory species, leading to soybean yield increases. Control of weeds was greater on a silt loam soil compared with a silty clay soil. Delayed herbicide activation by rainfall or irrigation reduced control of hemp sesbania and prickly sida and affected efficacy more than soil texture. Single postemergence (POST) applications of glyphosate or fomesafen plus fluazifop-P provided 90% or less control of most weed species. When glyphosate POST or fomesafen plus fluazifop-P POST followed PRE applications of cloransulam or cloransulam plus metribuzin PRE, control of all weeds was generally greater than 85%. The highest soybean yields were recorded from treatments that contained sequential PRE followed by (fb) POST herbicide applications. Composition of weed flora determined the effect of herbicide program on soybean seed yield. No yield benefit was gained from the sequential program when the dominant species was Palmer amaranth, which was controlled by glyphosate. When hemp sesbania was the dominant species, PRE herbicides fb glyphosate POST increased yield compared with total POST glyphosate.

Field experiments were conducted at two locations in North Carolina during the summer of 1992 to ascertain the reasons for stunted growth of corn noticed occasionally in fields treated POST with nicosulfuron to control dense infestations of johnsongrass. Treatments consisted of nicosulfuron at 35 g ai/ha sprayed POST, either over-top or post-directed only to johnsongrass in a single early application or in sequential applications of 17.5 g/ha. Checks included a hand-weeded, paraquat post-directed to johnsongrass, and non-weeded. Nicosulfuron provided satisfactory control of johnsongrass irrespective of whether applied once or sequentially. Corn yield in nicosulfuron-treated plots was as much as three times greater than in non-treated plots depending on hybrid and location. In the absence of johnsongrass interference, nicosulfuron caused a corn yield reduction of 6 to 9%. However, in the presence of johnsongrass interference, an additional 16 to 26% reduction in yield occurred with a POST application of nicosulfuron. Reductions in corn plant height and dry matter accumulation also were noticed for nicosulfuron treatments compared to post-directed application of paraquat and hand removal of johnsongrass.

WeedSOFT is a state-of-the-art decision support system for weed management in the north central region of the United States, but its accuracy to predict corn yield loss associated with later-emerging weed communities has not been adequately assessed. We conducted experiments in 2004 and 2005 to compare observed and predicted corn yield related to four establishment times of mixed-species weed communities for validation of competitive index modifier (CIM) values in WeedSOFT. Weed communities were established at VE, V2, V4, and V6 corn (emergence, second-leaf, fourth-leaf, and sixth-leaf stages, respectively), and consisted largely of annual grass and moderately competitive annual broadleaf species. Compared to weed-free corn, yield loss occurred in each of seven site-years for weed communities established at VE corn, but in only one site-year for communities established at V2 corn. No corn yield loss was associated with weed communities established at V4 or V6 corn. For communities established at VE corn, predicted corn yield differed from observed yield in all but one site year, with predicted yield less than observed yield in three site-years, and greater than observed yield in two site-years; however, nonlinear regression analyses of yield data pooled over site-years showed that fitted values were similar between predicted and observed yield. For communities established at V2 and V4 corn, predicted yield was less than observed yield in six and five site-years, respectively. For communities established at V6 corn, predicted yield was less than observed yield in three of six site-years, but was similar to observed yield in three of six site-years. These results indicated that the CIM values in WeedSOFT tended to overestimate the competitiveness of late-emerging weed communities. Corn yield data from a pooled analysis of all site-years were used to generate a revised set of growth stage CIM values, which improved the accuracy of predicted corn yield. These results should improve weed management decisions and reduce the need for herbicide applications to late-emerging weeds.

Eleven field experiments were conducted during 1994 and 1995 to compare rhizomatous johnsongrass control and soybean yield with single POST applications of quizalofop-P, fluazifop-P, clethodim, and sethoxydim at costs of $9.88, 19.76, 29.64, and 39.52/ha for each graminicide. Cost of the manufacturer's suggested use rate for these graminicides was approximately $29.64/ha, which corresponded to 0.09, 0.22, 0.14, and 0.27 kg ai/ha for these respective graminicides. When applied at a cost of $9.88/ha, quizalofop-P controlled rhizomatous johnsongrass more effectively than the other graminicides in five of 11 experiments. Quizalofop-P and fluazifop-P controlled johnsongrass similarly when applied at higher costs per hectare in 10 of 11 experiments. Sethoxydim was less effective than quizalofop-P or fluazifop-P in most instances, especially when graminicides were applied at costs of $9.88 or $19.76/ha. Clethodim was generally more effective than sethoxydim. Fluazifop-P and clethodim controlled rhizomatous johnsongrass similarly in six of 11 experiments regardless of cost. Differences in rhizomatous johnsongrass control among graminicides did not always translate into differences in soybean yield, although graminicides increased yield over the nontreated control in most experiments regardless of the graminicide cost. In several experiments, soybean treated with clethodim or sethoxydim applied at a cost of $9.88/ha yielded lower than when applied at higher costs.

Calendula is an alternative oilseed crop whose seed oil is valued as a substitute for tung oil and a replacement for petroleum-based volatile organic compounds in paints and other coatings. Calendula tolerances to most POST-applied herbicides are unknown. Two POST-applied herbicides were tested for tolerance by calendula. Imazamethabenz at 0.44 kg ai ha−1 plus surfactant and desmedipham plus phenmedipham at 0.36 + 0.36 kg ai ha−1 were tolerated by calendula, but the latter herbicide must be applied after the four–leaf-pair stage of growth to avoid severe injury. Neither herbicide adversely affected calendula seed yield if applied at the four–leaf-pair stage. Because these herbicides can control several weed species, calendula tolerance to them may encourage more growers and crop advisors to test this new oilseed crop on commercial farms.