Carrier water quality is an important consideration for herbicide efficacy. Effect of carrier water pH (4, 6.5, or 9) and coapplied Zn or Mn foliar fertilizer was evaluated on glufosinate efficacy for horseweed and Palmer amaranth control in the field. Greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of: (1) carrier water pH, foliar fertilizer (Zn, Mn, or without fertilizer), and ammonium sulfate (AMS) (at 0 or 2.5% v/v); and (2) carrier water hardness (0 to 1,000 mg L−1) and AMS (at 0 or 2.5% v/v) on glufosinate efficacy for giant ragweed, horseweed, and Palmer amaranth control. In a 2014 field study, control, plant density reduction, and biomass reduction were at least 8% greater for horseweed and at least 14% greater for Palmer amaranth when glufosinate was applied at carrier water pH 4 compared with pH 9. Glufosinate efficacy was at least 10 and 17% greater for giant ragweed and Palmer amaranth control, respectively, with carrier water pH 4 compared with pH 9 in the greenhouse. In the greenhouse studies, coapplied Zn or Mn fertilizer had no effect on glufosinate efficacy. Increased carrier water hardness from 0 to 1,000 mg L−1 negatively influenced glufosinate efficacy and resulted in 20 and 17% lesser control and biomass reduction, respectively, on giant ragweed or Palmer amaranth. Use of AMS enhanced glufosinate efficacy on giant ragweed control in both greenhouse studies, whereas only the Palmer amaranth control was enhanced in the water hardness study. Horseweed control with glufosinate as affected by carrier water pH, hardness, or AMS remained unaffected in both greenhouse studies. Carrier water at alkaline pH or hardness > 200 mg L−1 has potential to reduce glufosinate efficacy. Therefore, carrier water free of hardness cations and at acidic condition (pH = 4 to 6.5) should be considered for optimum glufosinate efficacy.

Field experiments were conducted at three locations in 2003 and 2004 to examine clethodim and quizalofop-P efficacy on spring wheat seedlings when applied alone or in tank mixtures with herbicides used to control broadleaf weeds. Clethodim at the recommended rate of 30 g/ha reduced spring wheat biomass by 63 to 98% and was only >90% in three of six site years. In contrast, quizalofop-P at the recommended rate of 36 g/ha reduced wheat biomass >90% in all cases. Clethodim or quizalofop-P could be tank mixed with 2,4-D ester, bromoxynil, or bromoxynil plus MCPA ester with little risk of reduced efficacy on wheat. However, 2,4-D amine was highly antagonistic to both herbicides. The commercial mixture of thifensulfuron plus tribenuron reduced clethodim, but not quizalofop-P, efficacy on wheat. Herbicide options exist for simultaneous control of volunteer glyphosate-resistant canola and glyphosate-resistant wheat if the latter technology were to be commercialized in the future.

Creeping bentgrass infestations in cool-season turfgrass are unsightly and difficult to control. Field tests were conducted at Stoney Creek Golf Course in Wintergreen, VA, in 2002 and 2003 on a Kentucky bluegrass rough and at the Turfgrass Research Center in Blacksburg, VA, in 2003 on a perennial ryegrass lawn to determine the efficacy of imazaquin, isoxaflutole, and mesotrione for creeping bentgrass control and turfgrass tolerance. Isoxaflutole and mesotrione each applied in two sequential applications at 280 g ai/ha or three sequential applications at 170 or 60 g/ha and imazaquin in two sequential applications at 390 g/ha controlled bentgrass at least 92% 14 wk after initial treatment (WAIT) at all locations. Sequential applications were applied at 2-wk intervals. Isoxaflutole and mesotrione, regardless of rate or sequential treatment, injured turfgrass less than 20% at all rating dates and locations. Imazaquin in two sequential applications at 390 g/ha injured Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass greater than 50% at all locations 14 WAIT. Results indicate isoxaflutole or mesotrione could be used for selective bentgrass control in Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass.

This study examined the response of corn to clomazone, chlorimuron, imazaquin, and imazethapyr the year following their application to soybeans. Herbicides were surface-applied from one-half to three times the labeled application rates. Soybeans were planted the year of application and crop tolerance was evaluated. Corn was planted in rotation the following season. Soybeans were tolerant of all four herbicides. The highest rates of clomazone, chlorimuron, and imazaquin injured the corn early in the season. Imazethapyr did not influence corn growth. Visual estimates of clomazone injury were as high as 39% chlorosis. Seedling dry weight reductions at the highest chlorimuron and imazaquin rates were 32% and 24%, respectively. Although corn was injured by higher rates of clomazone, imazaquin, and chlorimuron at the 3-leaf stage, none of the herbicides significantly reduced grain yield. This study suggests that these herbicides can carry over and injure corn, especially if labeled application rates are exceeded. However, low to moderate early season injury to corn may not affect grain yield.

Field studies were conducted to evaluate foramsulfuron for postemergence control of goosegrass in bermudagrass turf as a possible replacement for MSMA. In field trials on a golf course and sports fields planted to bermudagrass, mature goosegrass was controlled effectively (>85% goosegrass dead on the basis of canopy area) with two applications of foramsulfuron plus metribuzin. The herbicide rates that were effective varied among studies, e.g., foramsulfuron at 0.029 or 0.044 kg ai/ha mixed with metribuzin at 0.105 to 0.210 kg ai/ha. Goosegrass was often controlled with MSMA at 2.24 kg ai/ha plus metribuzin at 0.105 to 0.210 kg/ha, but foramsulfuron was always as effective, or more effective, than MSMA, in controlling mature goosegrass, at the same rate of metribuzin. Bermudagrass phytotoxicity of foramsulfuron plus metribuzin was temporary and not different from MSMA plus metribuzin. In one location there was noticeable phytotoxicity 4 wk after initial treatment.

Glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed is one of the most competitive weeds of agronomic crops in the United States. Early emergence and rapid growth rate makes giant ragweed a competitive weed early in the season and reduces crop yields. Therefore, early spring control of giant ragweed using a preplant herbicide is critical. Glufosinate is an alternative POST herbicide for weed control in glufosinate-resistant soybean. Field experiments were conducted at David City, NE, in 2012 and 2013 to evaluate the efficacy of preplant herbicides followed by glufosinate applied alone or in tank mixes for control of glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed in glufosinate-resistant soybean. Preplant treatments containing 2,4-D, flumioxazin, glufosinate, paraquat, saflufenacil, and sulfentrazone provided 79 to 99% control of giant ragweed 21 d after treatment (DAT), and subsequent application of glufosinate alone or in tank mixes resulted in 90 to 99% control at 21 DAT. Preplant application of S-metolachlor plus metribuzin or chlorimuron, flumioxazin plus thifensulfuron followed by glufosinate resulted in < 40% control of giant ragweed, and soybean yields were < 870 kg ha−1. Although statistically comparable to several other treatments, preplant application of 2,4-D or saflufenacil tank mixes followed by glufosinate resulted in the highest level of control (> 97%) and soybean yield (2,624 to 3,378 kg ha−1). This study confirms that preplant herbicide options are available for control of glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed, and a follow-up application of glufosinate will provide season-long control in glufosinate-resistant soybean.

Studies were conducted to develop a weed management strategy for common purslane in lettuce based on available cultural and chemical control methods and an understanding of common purslane biology. A wide-band application of bensulide or pronamide reduced common purslane emergence compared with the standard narrow band. Both narrow and wide bands of pronamide as well as a wide band of bensulide reduced the time required to thin and hoe lettuce. The wide-band pronamide treatment reduced thinning time more than did the narrow band. Overall, none of the herbicide weed management expenses were lower for pronamide treatments than for bensulide and the control. Wide-band bensulide reduced weed management expenses compared with the control, whereas narrow bands did not. Common purslane plants uprooted 1 or 2 wk after emergence (WAE) did not produce any viable seed. Plants uprooted 3 WAE produced from 1 to 60 viable seeds, and seed production increased rapidly from 4 to 6 WAE. Flame and 2% (v/v) glyphosate treatments reduced seed production by uprooted common purslane.

Imazethapyr-based weed control treatments were evaluated in water-seeded imidazolinone-resistant (IR) rice in Louisiana in 2000 and 2001. Treatments included imazethapyr applied to soil before seedling flood (surface [SURF] applied) or no soil application (no SURF), followed by imazethapyr applied postemergence (POST). Averaged over SURF application treatments (SURF, no SURF), all imazethapyr mixtures increased control of barnyardgrass at 14 and 42 d after POST treatment (DAT) compared with imazethapyr alone. Treatments containing imazethapyr-applied SURF followed by POST treatments controlled red rice 90 to 96% at 21 DAT. Alligatorweed and hemp sesbania control increased with POST mixtures compared with imazethapyr-only treatments at 35 DAT. Rice yield increased with imazethapyr applied SURF compared with no SURF application, averaged over POST applications. Other herbicides will be required to control troublesome weeds such as hemp sesbania and alligatorweed in an IR rice production system.

Organic matter is the soil constituent most often associated with herbicide adsorption. Structural diversity makes humified organic material an ideal substrate for the adsorption of many pesticides, but variability in composition and distribution in situ complicates interpretation of its quantitative effect on adsorption. Variability in the adsorption distribution coefficient (KD) of a herbicide among soils often is due to differences in organic matter content and can be reduced by adjusting KD for soil organic carbon content and computing the organic carbon partition coefficient (Koc). Koc can be estimated from the octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow) of organic compounds, but the correlation weakens as compound polarity increases. Koc also can be correlated with aqueous solubility if a correction is made for the melting point of compounds that are solids at 25 C. Relative adsorption can be estimated from parachor and molecular connectivity indices; but corrections are needed for polar compounds, and correlations with KD or Koc have been variable. Such predictive methods may be useful for broad classification purposes, but accurate extrapolation generally requires site-specific adsorption measurements. Empirical models which accommodate the multiple regression of organic matter content and other soil properties such as clay content, pH, and cation exchange capacity on herbicide adsorption can increase accuracy, but interpretation may be restricted to a small number of sites.

Barnyardgrass, large crabgrass, and Texas panicum were evaluated in field experiments over 3 yr to measure their duration of interference and density on grain sorghum yield. When grain yield data were converted to a percentage of the weed-free control, linear regression predicted a 3.6% yield loss for each week of weed interference regardless of year or grass species. Grain sorghum grown in a narrow (61-cm) row spacing was affected little by full-season interference; however, in wide (91-cm) rows, interference increased as grass density increased. Data from the wide-row spacing were described by linear regression following conversion of grain yield to percentages and weed density to log10. A separate nonlinear model also was derived which could predict the effect of weed density on grain sorghum yield.

The upper 30 cm of soil in a field infested with purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L. #3 CYPRO) contained 4900 to 5100 corms and tubers/m2 6 weeks after soil rotovation and irrigation. The upper 4, 8, 12 and 16 cm of soil had 45, 79, 95 and 99%, respectively, of the corms and tubers. Lower depths of soil contained larger tubers with higher percent dry matter than the shallow depths. Of the total number of corms and tubers, 51% were from the parent population. At 6 weeks, only 15% of the total tuber and corm population were not connected to aerial parts. Tubers from the parent population had a higher fresh weight than those from the new population. Parent tubers occurred singly or in chains of up to eight tubers.

Amicarbazone has potential for selective annual bluegrass control in cool-season turfgrasses, but seasonal application timings may influence efficacy. To test this hypothesis, field experiments in New Jersey and Indiana investigated amicarbazone efficacy from fall or spring applications and growth chamber experiments investigated the influence of temperature on efficacy. Fall treatments were more injurious to creeping bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass than spring applications, but fall applications were also more efficacious for annual bluegrass control. In growth chamber experiments, injury and clipping weight reductions were exacerbated by increased temperatures from 10 to 30 C on annual bluegrass, creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass. Results suggest that amicarbazone use for annual bluegrass control in cool-season turf may be limited to spring applications, but increased temperature enhances activity on all grasses.

Adjuvants enhanced DPX-V9360 control of green foxtail in the greenhouse and field as follows: methylated sunflower oil > petroleum oil > nonionic surfactant WK > nonionic surfactant X-77. DPX-V9360 applied at rates that controlled weeds did not injure corn. Green foxtail control with DPX-V9360 decreased as the amount of simulated rainfall after application increased from 0 to 4 mm and control increased as a 2 mm simulated rainfall was delayed up to 24 h. The influence of simulated rainfall differed with adjuvants, but adjuvants did not overcome the lower green foxtail control with simulated rainfall. DPX-V9360 was more phytotoxic to green foxtail and redroot pigweed at 95 to 100% than 45 to 50% relative humidity and at 20 or 30 C than 10 C after treatment.

Field studies were conducted during the 2000 to 2001 growing seasons to evaluate winter annual weed control and crop tolerance with fall-applied herbicides in corn at Belleville, IL. Atrazine, simazine, and rimsulfuron plus thifensulfuron applied in the fall controlled mouseear chickweed, henbit, and Carolina foxtail 93% or greater at planting the following spring. Flumetsulam controlled mouseear chickweed and henbit 98 and 93%, respectively, at planting. Metribuzin controlled mouseear chickweed and henbit 100 and 97%, respectively. CGA-152005 controlled mouseear chickweed, henbit, and wild garlic 93 to 100%. CGA-152005 provided the greatest control of wild garlic, with control ranging from 94 to 100% at planting. CGA-152005 plus simazine controlled 99 to 100% of all winter annual weeds evaluated. Reducing winter annual weed vegetation did not increase soil temperatures at 5-cm depth in May. CGA-152005 caused discoloration and height reduction of corn. CGA-152005 at the highest rate (60 g ai/ha) reduced corn plant height by 7% and grain yield by 8%.

Three levels of weed control (0, 70, and 100%) were maintained in 1989 during corn production at two sites. Weed control in 1990 with a premix formulation of metolachlor and atrazine was directly related to 1989 control levels. Herbicides generally were more effective in conventional tillage than in no-tillage. In no-tillage, giant foxtail control in 1990 averaged 59% following 100% control in 1989 compared to 15% following 0% weed control. At one location, tillage minimized the impact of the prior year's weed control with herbicides providing greater than 85% control in conventional tillage regardless of prior history. In no-tillage, weed control of 85% or better was obtained only following 100% control the previous year.

Johnsongrass control in the field was greater with fenoxaprop or haloxyfop than with sethoxydim in 1985 and 1986. Johnsongrass control was reduced under field and greenhouse conditions by adding a dimethylamine salt of 2,4-D. Generally, the antagonism was overcome by increasing the rate of fenoxaprop, haloxyfop, or sethoxydim. Sethoxydim showed less antagonism from 2,4-D than did fenoxaprop or haloxyfop in the greenhouse.

A field experiment was conducted in 1998 and 1999 at Keiser, AR, to evaluate glyphosate timing and soybean population in reducing hemp sesbania and pitted morningglory interference with dryland and irrigated glyphosate-resistant soybean under a narrow row, no-till production system. Soybean densities following emergence were 247,000, 475,000, and 729,000 plants/ha. Glyphosate was applied at 0.56 kg ai/ha at the V2; V4; V2 and V4; and V2, V4, and R2 stages of soybean. In dry portions of the growing season, glyphosate increased moisture availability for dryland soybean because of control of hemp sesbania and pitted morningglory. As soybean population increased from 247,000 to 729,000 plants/ha, pitted morningglory and hemp sesbania control increased from 60 to 91%, respectively, for the V2 glyphosate application. Control of both species at 14 wk after emergence was at least 90% following the V4 alone treatment and sequential applications, with no differences in control among soybean populations. Untreated, irrigated hemp sesbania produced up to 32 million seeds/ha in 1999. Irrigation did not influence pitted morningglory seed production either year, and untreated pitted morningglory produced a maximum of 1 million seeds/ha in 1998 at 247,000 soybean plants/ha. Three sequential applications of glyphosate reduced pitted morningglory seed production to 9,000 seeds/ha and eliminated hemp sesbania seed production. Soybean yielded 1,297 kg/ha greater under irrigated than dryland conditions, whereas increasing soybean density from 247,000 to 729,000 plants/ha resulted in 416 kg/ha improvement in seed yield. At the densities of pitted morningglory and hemp sesbania present in this study, seed yield of drill-seeded soybean can be maximized following a V4 alone treatment or sequential glyphosate applications.

Field trials were conducted at two sites in both 1997 and 1998 to evaluate soybean response and weed control with glufosinate alone or combined with quizalofop, lactofen, imazethapyr, flumiclorac, or bentazon plus acifluorfen in narrow-row, glufosinate-resistant soybean. Soybean injury ranged from 0 to 21% at 2 wk after treatment (WAT) and from 0 to 5% by 4 WAT. Glufosinate alone at 0.29 and 0.4 kg ai/ha controlled velvetleaf, common waterhemp, common ragweed, morningglory species, and giant foxtail greater than 85% in all studies. Mixtures containing glufosinate and other herbicides controlled these species greater than 81% but did not improve control over glufosinate alone. Estimates of weed biomass closely reflected visual control evaluations. However, giant foxtail biomass was higher for mixtures of glufosinate plus lactofen, flumiclorac, or bentazon and acifluorfen, indicating possible antagonism of glufosinate activity. At both locations, soybean yields were similar among most treatments, but that of the glufosinate plus lactofen treatment was lower when compared with other treatments. Additional trials evaluated soybean response and weed control with a preemergence herbicide followed by glufosinate postemergence (POST), glufosinate applied once or twice POST, and mixtures of glufosinate plus imazethapyr or flumiclorac POST in wide-row soybean. Glufosinate applied twice controlled common waterhemp, morningglory species, prickly sida, common cocklebur, and giant foxtail up to 39% greater than did glufosinate applied once. The addition of imazethapyr, but not flumiclorac, to glufosinate improved weed control when compared with glufosinate alone.

Seeds of giant foxtail (Setaria faberi, 4,000 seeds/m2) or velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti, 3,000 seeds/m2) were added to the seed bank to determine the effect of increases in weed density on herbicide efficacy in corn (Zea mays). A herbicide program consisting of SAN 582 applied preemergence followed by a postemergence application of dicamba plus atrazine was evaluated at four levels (0.0, 0.3, 0.7 and 1.0 times the label rates). At a site with low initial weed densities, the addition of velvetleaf or giant foxtail seed to the seed bank did not influence herbicide efficacy at the 1.0× rate at 9 wk after planting (WAP). Giant foxtail densities were greater 9 WAP in augmented areas than in the native seed bank plots at both the 0.3× and 0.7× rates, whereas with velvetleaf, higher densities in augmented plots were seen only at the 0.3× rate. In areas with high native weed densities, addition of seed of either species resulted in an increase in final weed densities at all herbicide rates.

Calcium ion in the spray water can reduce glyphosate efficacy. Ammonium sulfate (AMS) is commonly added to the spray tank to overcome the reduced efficacy. However, it is sometimes claimed that ethoxylated tallow amine surfactant (EA) is also efficacious, provided that calcium concentration is moderate (= 5 mM, 200 ppm). On response curves of ‘Plaisant’ barley treated with glyphosate, the presence of calcium ion increased the glyphosate dose needed to obtain 50% (ED 50 ) barley growth reduction. The addition of AMS to the spray tank overcame the antagonistic effect of the calcium ion and restored glyphosate efficacy. EA was less effective than AMS at 5 or 10 mM calcium ion concentration as measured by ED 50 . However, at 90% growth reduction (ED 90 ), EA was more effective than AMS at the 5 mM calcium ion concentration but less effective at the 10 mM concentration. Hence, at a moderate (= 5 mM) calcium concentration, EA would be an effective adjuvant. Calcium ion decreased the foliar uptake of glyphosate but did not affect the rate of uptake. AMS but not EA restored foliar uptake to values observed without calcium ion. EA increased spray retention, and this probably accounted for the increased glyphosate efficacy at low calcium concentration.