Field studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of glyphosate and conventional herbicides on purple and yellow nutsedges. Tubers collected from the field were counted and tested for viability via growth chamber or triphenyl tetrazolium chloride test to determine the effect of herbicides on tuber density and viability. With purple nutsedge, herbicide treatments containing glyphosate at 0.84 kg/ha followed by (fb) glyphosate at 0.56 kg/ha reduced viable and total tuber density. Among conventional herbicides, treatments containing metolachlor at 2.2 kg/ha plus sulfentrazone at 0.26 kg/ha plus chlorimuron at 0.05 kg/ha applied preemergence (PRE) and metolachlor at 2.2 kg/ha plus imazaquin at 0.14 kg/ha applied PRE fb bentazon at 0.84 kg/ha applied postemergence (POST) reduced total and viable tuber density compared to the nontreated. Metolachlor at 2.2 kg/ha plus sulfentrazone at 0.26 kg/ha plus chlorimuron at 0.05 kg/ha applied PRE fb bentazon applied POST also reduced viable tuber density of purple nutsedge. With yellow nutsedge, all herbicide treatments reduced total and viable tuber density over the nontreated check.

Both regulatory and consumer forces have increased the demand for biopesticides, particularly in amenity areas such as turfgrass. Unfortunately, few natural products are available for selective weed control in turfgrass. Two bioherbicides reported to control broadleaf weeds without injuring turfgrass are Phoma macrostoma and thaxtomin A. Field and container experiments were conducted to evaluate PRE and POST efficacy of P. macrostoma and thaxtomin A on regionally important broadleaf weeds. In container experiments, PRE applications of P. macrostoma provided 65 to 100% control of dandelion, marsh yellowcress, and flexuous bittercress, equivalent to that of pendimethalin. Control of yellow woodsorrel, henbit, hairy galinsoga, common chickweed, or annual bluegrass was less than with pendimethalin. In contrast, POST applications did not control any species as well as an industry-standard synthetic auxin herbicide. PRE or POST applications of thaxtomin A controlled six of the eight species tested as well as the industry-standard PRE or POST herbicides. In field tests, overall PRE broadleaf weed control with P. macrostoma and thaxtomin A peaked 4 wk after treatment at 64 and 72%, respectively, and declined afterward, suggesting that these bioherbicides possess short residuals and therefore must be reapplied for season-long control. Overall POST broadleaf weed control using P. macrostoma and thaxtomin A was only 41 and 25%, respectively. PRE followed by early-POST applications of thaxtomin A provided ≥ 86% henbit control. These results suggest that both P. macrostoma and thaxtomin A are capable of controlling certain broadleaf weeds in turfgrass. However, both lack efficacy on some important weed species, particularly chickweed. Thaxtomin A efficacy on henbit was improved by increased dose and by PRE followed by early-POST applications.

Increasing weed control costs and limited herbicide options threaten vegetable crop profitability. Traditional interrow mechanical cultivation is very effective at removing weeds between crop rows. However, weed control within the crop rows is necessary to establish the crop and prevent yield loss. Currently, many vegetable crops require hand weeding to remove weeds within the row that remain after traditional cultivation and herbicide use. Intelligent cultivators have come into commercial use to remove intrarow weeds and reduce cost of hand weeding. Intelligent cultivators currently on the market such as the Robovator, use pattern recognition to detect the crop row. These cultivators do not differentiate crops and weeds and do not work well among high weed populations. One approach to differentiate weeds is to place a machine-detectable mark or signal on the crop (i.e., the crop has the mark and the weed does not), thereby facilitating weed/crop differentiation. Lettuce and tomato plants were marked with labels and topical markers, then cultivated with an intelligent cultivator programmed to identify the markers. Results from field trials in marked tomato and lettuce found that the intelligent cultivator removed 90% more weeds from tomato and 66% more weeds from lettuce than standard cultivators without reducing yields. Accurate crop and weed differentiation described here resulted in a 45% to 48% reduction in hand-weeding time per hectare.

Laboratory experiments with 14C-herbicides were conducted with grain sorghum as an indicator species to determine the effects of imposed moisture stress on absorption, precent recovery, and acropetal and basipetal translocation of the butyl ester of fluazifop, the methyl ester of haloxyfop, the ethyl ester of quizalofop, and sethoxydim. Haloxyfop was the only herbicide where recovery decreased between the 3-and 48-h interval. All plants absorbed more of the herbicide at the 48-h interval than at the 3- or 6-h interval under both stressed and non-stressed conditions. Increased drought stress caused more acropetal movement with fluazifop and sethoxydim and less acropetal movement with quizalofop at the 3-h interval. Basipetal transloation, although different among herbicides, responded similarly to imposed moisture stress, which decreased basipetal translocation approximately 19%.

Field studies were conducted from 1992 through 1994 to evaluate application timing of seven postemergence (POST) broadleaf herbicides alone and in mixtures for control of eclipta and pitted morningglory. Imazethapyr and 2,4-DB did not control eclipta while AC 263,222 applied early postemergence (EPOST) at 0.07 kg/ha provided greater than 90% control in 2 of 3 yr. EPOST applications of bentazon, acifluorfen + bentazon, and pyridate controlled eclipta at least 92% all 3 yr. Lactofen applied EPOST at 0.28 kg/ha provided similar levels of eclipta control in 2 of 3 yr. Imazethapyr controlled pitted morningglory > 70% when applied EPOST. AC 263,222 controlled pitted morningglory a minimum of 83% when applied EPOST at 0.04 or 0.07 kg/ha. Pitted morningglory control was at least 85% with 2,4-DB applied alone or in a mixture with AC 263,222, acifluorfen, imazethapyr, lactofen, or pyridate. Effective weed control increased peanut yields up to 98% over the untreated check.

The ability of grassed waterways to remediate herbicide loads in runoff water was evaluated using simulated and on-site nursery research. Isoxaben plus oryzalin and isoxaben plus trifluralin were applied to model grassed (zoysiagrass or ‘Tifway 10’ hybrid bermudagrass) and nongrassed, metal and clay loam waterways, and runoff samples were collected. Grassed waterways reduced runoff volume an average of 47% and herbicide residues an average of 56% compared to nongrassed waterways. The smallest herbicide residues were from the clay/grass waterways. In a nursery study, isoxaben and trifluralin were applied to containerized landscape plant production beds. Overhead irrigation was applied and runoff water was channeled into either a clay/gravel waterway or a hybrid bermudagrass waterway. Samples were collected for 22 d following application. Isoxaben persisted through 15 d after application. Trifluralin was detected through 2 d after application. Total isoxaben recovered from the clay/gravel waterway was 32% of applied, and total trifluralin recovered was 0.9% of applied. The grass waterway reduced residues of isoxaben and trifluralin by 22 and 66%, respectively, compared to the clay/gravel waterway.

A 4-yr field study was conducted during 1998 through 2001 at Stoneville, MS, to determine the effects of narrow-row transgenic cotton and soybean rotation on purple nutsedge populations and crop yield. Crop rotations over 4 yr included cotton and soybean sown in the following patterns: CCSS, CSCS, SCSC, SSCC, and continuous cotton (CCCC) and soybean (SSSS), where cotton is denoted as (C) and soybean as (S), all with herbicide programs that were glyphosate based, non–glyphosate based, or no purple-nutsedge control (NPNC). Purple nutsedge populations and shoot dry biomass were reduced in cotton and soybean rotation and continuous soybean by 72 and 92%, respectively, whereas in continuous cotton, purple nutsedge populations increased by 67% and shoot dry biomass was reduced by 32% after 4 yr. Reductions in purple nutsedge populations also occurred in soybean when cotton was rotated with soybean (CSCS and SCSC), compared with continuous cotton. Among herbicide programs, the glyphosate-based program was more effective in reducing purple nutsedge populations, compared with the non–glyphosate-based program. Seed cotton yield was greater with cotton following soybean (SCSC) than with cotton following cotton (CCCC, CCSS) in 1999. However, seed cotton yields were similar regardless of crop rotation systems in 2000 and 2001. Seed cotton yields were equivalent in the glyphosate-based and non–glyphosate-based programs in 1999 and 2001. During 1999 to 2001, seed cotton yields were reduced by 62 to 85% in NPNC compared with yields in glyphosate- and non–glyphosate-based programs. Soybean yields were unaffected by crop rotation systems in all the 4 yr. Among herbicide programs, non–glyphosate-based program in all 4 yr and glyphosate-based program in 1999 and 2000 gave higher soybean yield compared with NPNC. After 4 yr of rotation, purple nutsedge tubers and plant density were highest in continuous cotton and lowest in continuous soybean. Both herbicide programs reduced tubers per core and plant density compared with NPNC, and the glyphosate-based program was more effective than the non–glyphosate-based program. These results show that in cotton production, severe infestations of purple nutsedge can be managed by rotating cotton with soybean or by using glyphosate-based herbicide program in glyphosate-resistant cotton.

Studies were conducted to determine effects of preharvest applications of glyphosate on the seed and seedling quality of ‘Alpowa’ and ‘Penawawa’ soft white spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties. Glyphosate was applied at 0.62 or 0.84 kg ae/ha at the milk (Zadoks' scale 70 to 79), soft dough (Zadoks' scale 85), or hard dough stage (Zadoks' scale 87) of wheat development; 7 d following the hard dough treatment; and 1 d prior to wheat harvest. In harvest aid applications, wheat yields were reduced only with glyphosate applied at the milk stage of development. Yield reduction ranged from 20 to 77% depending on the year, variety, and glyphosate rate. Likewise, kernel weight and germination were affected only by glyphosate applications at the milk stage with reductions from 19 to 73% and from 2 to 46% for kernal weight and percent germination, respectively, compared to untreated wheat. Using wheat from harvest-aided glyphosate treatments at the milk stage as seeds the following year resulted in reductions ranging from 28 to 99%, 19 to 39%, and 12 to 97% for seedling density, plant height, and seed yield, respectively, compared to seeds from untreated wheat. In this study, wheat seed and seedling quality following preharvest glyphosate applications were most greatly influenced by crop maturity stage at time of application than by herbicide rate or variety.

Field studies were conducted at three sites in 1993 and 1994 to evaluate weed control, crop response, and economic returns to 0.5× and 1× postemergence rates of chlorimuron, chlorimuron plus quizalofop, bentazon plus acifluorfen, fluazifop plus fenoxaprop, imazethapyr, and imazethapyr plus clethodim in no-till narrow-row soybean production. Common lambsquarters, ivyleaf morningglory, and common ragweed were controlled equally with 0.5× rates applied early postemergence and 1× rates applied mid-postemergence. Control of giant foxtail, large crabgrass, and common cocklebur was generally greater with 1× rates mid-postemergence than with 0.5× rates early postemergence. Soybean yields were equivalent with 0.5× and 1× rates. Soybean yields and net income were highest with 1× and 0.5× rates of chlorimuron plus quizalofop and imazethapyr plus clethodim, and metolachlor preemergence (PRE) followed by 0.5× bentazon plus acifluorfen.

Imazethapyr and bentazon were applied with petroleum oil adjuvant in a factorial arrangement to weed species in greenhouse and field research to determine if postemergence weed control by imazethapyr was antagonized when bentazon was tank-mixed. Tank-mixing 840 g/ha of bentazon with 13 or 27 g/ha of imazethapyr increased redroot pigweed and eastern black nightshade dry weight as compared to Colby's expected values in the greenhouse. However, weed control was not reduced in field studies. Subsequent greenhouse studies indicated that soil interception and resulting root uptake of imazethapyr increased redroot pigweed control. Bentazon decreased foliar absorption of 14C-imazethapyr by 15% and translocation of 14C from the treated leaf by more than 50% compared to l4C-imazethapyr applied alone.

Multiple means of overcoming interspecific competition between transplanted cabbage and interseeded cover crops were studied in field trials conducted from 1995 to 2001. Cover crop species and time of seeding (1995 and 1996), use of supplemental nitrogen (1997 and 1998), and herbicide regulation (1999 and 2001) were evaluated with the objective of integrating soil-improving cover crops into cabbage production while facilitating weed suppression with minimal use of herbicides. Cabbage was cultivated at 10, 10 + 20, or 10 + 20 + 30 d after transplanting (DAT) with or without cover crops (hairy vetch, lana vetch, or oats) sown at the time of the last cultivation. Early interseeding (10 DAT) of all species significantly reduced cabbage yields. Both vetches could be sown 20 or 30 DAT without a yield penalty. However, weed suppression was not consistently greater than cultivation without cover crops. Spring oats were unacceptably competitive, even when sown 30 DAT in some years. With additional nitrogen, cabbage yields were consistently increased, but the increases were not directly related to decreased competition from either weeds or cover crops. The potential for herbicide regulation of cover crops to prevent cabbage yield losses could not be evaluated because cabbage yields were not reduced by cover crops in 1999 and 2001. Although interseeded crops did not generally provide significant in-season weed suppression compared with cultivation alone, the lack of yield penalty and the potential soil-improving qualities of legumes may justify interseeding hairy vetch at 20 DAT in an integrated system.

The response of new, high-yielding rice cultivars to varying barnyardgrass control levels and rice plant densities is not well understood. Studies were conducted in 2002 through 2004 at the Rice Research and Extension Center near Stuttgart, AR, to evaluate three new rice cultivars at plant densities ranging from 79 to 392 plants/m2 grown in competition with barnyardgrass. Representatives from each of the three classes of long-grain rice produced in the United States were selected. ‘Wells’ represented conventional, long-grain rice, ‘CL161’ represented semidwarf, imidazolinone-tolerant, long-grain rice, and ‘XL8’ represented hybrid, long-grain rice. Rice density and barnyardgrass control affected rice total aboveground biomass production, panicle weight, and harvest index. As rice density decreased or barnyardgrass control increased, total aboveground biomass production and harvest index increased. Rice density had no effect on panicle density or yield. Panicle density increased 14 panicles/m2 for every 10% increase in barnyardgrass control. Cultivar yields were affected similarly by barnyardgrass control, and increased 750 kg/ha for each 10% increase in barnyardgrass control. XL8 and Wells produced the highest average yields, with CL161 producing the lowest over the three-year experiment. XL8 yield components fluctuated more than CL161 or Wells over the range of rice densities and barnyardgrass control levels, indicating that XL8 is highly sensitive to intra- and interspecific competition at high plant populations.

A 4-yr field experiment was conducted to determine the merits of combining cultural and chemical controls to manage foxtail barley in reduced-tillage systems. Factors studied were crop row spacing, seeding rate, and application rate and timing of glyphosate within a spring wheat-flax cropping sequence. Glyphosate applied preseeding at 400 or 800 g/ha killed foxtail barley seedlings but only suppressed established perennial plants. Glyphosate applied postharvest at 800 g/ha killed 60 to 70% of established plants. Combinations of preseeding and postharvest glyphosate gave the greatest reductions in foxtail barley biomass and seed production and resulted in the greatest increases in crop yield. Including flax in the rotation allowed use of grass herbicides such as quizalofop or sethoxydim that effectively controlled foxtail barley seedlings and provided some suppression of perennial plants. An increase in wheat seeding rate from 75 to 115 kg/ha reduced foxtail barley growth and increased wheat yield in 3 of 4 yr. Increasing the flax seeding rate from 40 to 80 kg/ha or reducing wheat and flax row spacing from 30 to 20 cm provided little benefit in managing foxtail barley or increasing crop yield. A multiyear approach combining agronomic practices and timely use of herbicides should allow growers to effectively manage foxtail barley in annual cropping systems using conservation tillage.

Potential yield losses in grain sorghum due to weed interference based on quantitative data from the major grain sorghum-growing areas of the United States are reported by the WSSA Weed Loss Committee. Weed scientists and extension specialists who researched weed control in grain sorghum provided data on grain sorghum yield loss due to weed interference in their region. Data were requested from up to 10 individual experiments per calendar year over 10 yr between 2007 and 2016. Based on the summarized information, farmers in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Texas would potentially lose an average of 37%, 38%, 30%, 56%, 61%, and 60% of their grain sorghum yield with no weed control, and have a corresponding annual monetary loss of US $19 million, 302 million, 7 million, 32 million, 25 million, and 314 million, respectively. The overall average yield loss due to weed interference was estimated to be 47% for this grain sorghum-growing region. Thus, US farmers would lose approximately 5,700 million kg of grain sorghum valued at approximately US $953 million annually if weeds are not controlled. With each dollar invested in weed management (based on estimated weed control cost of US $100 ha−1), there would be a return of US $3.80, highlighting the return on investment in weed management and the importance of continued weed science research for sustaining high grain sorghum yield and profitability in the United States.

Chemical weed control remains a widely used component of integrated weed management strategies because of its cost-effectiveness and rapid removal of crop pests. Additionally, dicamba-plus-glyphosate mixtures are a commonly recommended herbicide combination to combat herbicide resistance, specifically in recently commercially released dicamba-tolerant soybean and cotton. However, increased spray drift concerns and antagonistic interactions require that the application process be optimized to maximize biological efficacy while minimizing environmental contamination potential. Field research was conducted in 2016, 2017, and 2018 across three locations (Mississippi, Nebraska, and North Dakota) for a total of six site-years. The objectives were to characterize the efficacy of a range of droplet sizes [150 µm (Fine) to 900 µm (Ultra Coarse)] using a dicamba-plus-glyphosate mixture and to create novel weed management recommendations utilizing pulse-width modulation (PWM) sprayer technology. Results across pooled site-years indicated that a droplet size of 395 µm (Coarse) maximized weed mortality from a dicamba-plus-glyphosate mixture at 94 L ha–1. However, droplet size could be increased to 620 µm (Extremely Coarse) to maintain 90% of the maximum weed mortality while further mitigating particle drift potential. Although generalized droplet size recommendations could be created across site-years, optimum droplet sizes within each site-year varied considerably and may be dependent on weed species, geographic location, weather conditions, and herbicide resistance(s) present in the field. The precise, site-specific application of a dicamba-plus-glyphosate mixture using the results of this research will allow applicators to more effectively utilize PWM sprayers, reduce particle drift potential, maintain biological efficacy, and reduce the selection pressure for the evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds.

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) weeds, especially GR Palmer amaranth, are very problematic for cotton growers in the Southeast and Midsouth regions of the United States. Glufosinate can control GR Palmer amaranth, and growers are transitioning to glufosinate-based systems. Palmer amaranth must be small for consistently effective control by glufosinate. Because this weed grows rapidly, growers are not always timely with applications. With widespread resistance to acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides, growers have few herbicide options to mix with glufosinate to improve control of larger weeds. In a field study using a WideStrike® cotton cultivar, we evaluated fluometuron at 140 to 1,120 g ai ha−1 mixed with the ammonium salt of glufosinate at 485 g ae ha−1 for control of GR Palmer amaranth 13 and 26 cm tall. Standard PRE- and POST-directed herbicides were included in the systems. Glufosinate alone injured the WideStrike® cotton less than 10%. Fluometuron increased injury up to 25% but did not adversely affect yield. Glufosinate controlled 13-cm Palmer amaranth at least 90%, and there was no improvement in weed control nor a cotton yield response to fluometuron mixed with glufosinate. Palmer amaranth 26 cm tall was controlled only 59% by glufosinate. Fluometuron mixed with glufosinate increased control of the larger weeds up to 28% and there was a trend for greater yields. However, delaying applications until weeds were 26 cm reduced yield 22% relative to timely application. Our results suggest fluometuron mixed with glufosinate may be of some benefit when attempting to control large Palmer amaranth. However, mixing fluometuron with glufosinate is not a substitute for a timely glufosinate application.

Synthetic auxin herbicides such as 2,4-D and dicamba are often utilized to control broadleaf weeds in preplant burndown applications to soybean. Halauxifen-methyl is a new synthetic auxin herbicide for broadleaf weed control in preplant burndown applications to corn, cotton, and soybean at low use rates (5 g ae ha–1). Field experiments were conducted to evaluate efficacy and weed control spectrum of halauxifen-methyl applied alone and in mixtures with 2,4-D (560 g ae ha–1), dicamba (280 g ae ha–1), and glyphosate (560 g ae ha–1). Glyphosate-resistant (GR) horseweed was controlled with halauxifen-methyl applied alone (90% control) and in mixtures (87% to 97% control) 35 d after treatment (DAT). Common ragweed was controlled 93% with halauxifen-methyl applied alone and 91% to 97% in mixtures 35 DAT. Halauxifen-methyl applied alone resulted in poor giant ragweed control 21 DAT (73% control); however, mixtures of halauxifen-methyl with 2,4-D, dicamba, or glyphosate controlled giant ragweed (86% to 98% control). Halauxifen-methyl alone resulted in poor redroot pigweed control (62% control) 21 DAT; however, mixtures of halauxifen-methyl with dicamba, 2,4-D, or glyphosate controlled redroot pigweed (89% to 98% control). Halauxifen-methyl controls GR horseweed and common ragweed applied alone and in mixtures with other synthetic auxin herbicides and glyphosate. Furthermore, mixing 2,4-D or dicamba with halauxifen-methyl can increase the weed control spectrum in preplant burndown applications.

Methiozolin and cumyluron are experimental herbicides that are reported to control annual bluegrass PRE or POST; however, no studies have compared these new herbicides to currently-registered herbicides for annual bluegrass control on putting greens over multiple years. Studies were conducted on three Virginia putting greens for 2 yr to compare methiozolin and cumyluron each at two rates to bensulide and bensulide plus oxadiazon at labeled rates for effects on annual bluegrass and creeping bentgrass cover, turf injury, normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI), turf quality, and annual bluegrass seedhead suppression. Methiozolin, cumyluron, bensulide, and bensulide plus oxadiazon did not significantly injure creeping bentgrass putting green turf, reduce quality, or reduce NDVI. Only methiozolin at 500 or 750 g ai ha−1 and cumyluron at 8,600 g ai ha−1 reduced area under the progress curve (AUPC) for annual bluegrass cover following four treatments over 2 yr applied in spring and fall each year. A concomitant increase in creeping bentgrass cover AUPC was also observed from the three treatments that reduced annual bluegrass cover. Methiozolin also reduced annual bluegrass seedhead cover at least 85% 1 mo after spring treatments and more than all other treatments except cumyluron at 8,600 g ha−1 (66%). These studies suggest that single treatments of methiozolin in spring and fall will not rapidly control existing annual bluegrass but can slowly reduce populations over time, presumably by preventing new seedling emergence. Methiozolin and cumyluron appear to be more effective than currently available herbicides bensulide and bensulide plus oxadiazon for PRE annual bluegrass control and seedhead suppression on golf putting greens.

Development of herbicide-tolerant plants is the focus of considerable research. Some projects aim to increase herbicide use or promote use of particularly environmentally damaging chemicals, and thus may lead to environmental degradation. Other projects aim to develop herbicide-tolerant plants that allow substitution of newer less environmentally damaging chemicals for older more damaging ones. To the extent they divert research dollars from development of other weed control strategies, these projects may also jeopardize environmentally sound weed control. The paper concludes with policy recommendations concerning a) public sector research priorities, b) planting of herbicide-tolerant trees in forests, and c) regulation of herbicide-tolerant crops.

The effects of rainfall on the efficacy of 11 foliar-applied herbicides were evaluated for their control of seedling johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. # SORHA] in greenhouse experiments during 1984 and 1985 at Stoneville, MS. Time intervals between herbicide application and rainfall (at 1.27 cm in 10 ± 0.5 min) ranged from 5 to 60 and 30 to 240 min depending on herbicide classification. In general, the phosphonic acid herbicides glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] and SC-0224 (trimethylsulfonium carboxymethylaminomethylphosphonate) at 0.99 kg ai/ha required rain-free periods ≥240 min to control seedling johnsongrass effectively. The selective postemergence grass herbicides generally required ≥60 min to control seedling johnsongrass effectively when control without rainfall was ≥85%. Among the selective herbicides tested, haloxyfop {2-[4-[[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy] phenoxy] propanoic acid} and DPX-Y6202 {ethyl[2-[4-(6-chloro-2-quinoxalinyl)oxy] phenoxy] propionic acid} at 0.06 kg ae/ha required the shortest time between herbicide application and rainfall to be effective. As herbicide rates were reduced, the effects of rainfall increased.