Field studies were conducted to evaluate red morningglory control with 2,4-D alone and in combination with dicamba, along with other postemergence herbicides applied both over the top and as directed treatments. For red morningglory 30 and 60 cm in height, complete control 14 or 21 d after treatment (DAT) was obtained during 2 yr with 2,4-D at 0.53 kg ai/ha, 2,4-D at 0.4 kg/ ha or more plus dicamba, atrazine at 2.23 kg ai/ha, flumioxazin at 0.10 kg ai/ha, and sulfentrazone at 0.35 kg ai/ha. When red morningglory were 1.8 m, weed control with most herbicides was less consistent than when applied to smaller plants. Red morningglory (1.8 m) was controlled 100% 28 DAT the first year with 2,4-D at 1.06 kg/ha and 78% the second year. In the first year, the 2,4-D plus dicamba prepackaged mixture at 0.8 + 0.28 kg ai/ha or 2,4-D plus the 2,4-D/dicamba prepackaged mixture (0.53 + 0.2/0.07, 0.53 + 0.4/0.14, or 0.79 + 0.1/0.04 kg/ha) provided control equal to that by 2,4-D alone at 1.06 kg/ha. In the second year, when herbicides were applied 3 wk earlier than the previous year and when weed growth was more vigorous, the 2,4-D plus the 2,4-D/dicamba prepackaged mixture at 0.79 + 0.1/0.04 kg/ha provided control equal to that by 2,4-D alone at 1.06 kg/ha but was the only 2,4-D plus dicamba treatment to control red morningglory equal to that by 2,4-D at 1.59 kg/ha (87%). Directed applications to the lower 45 cm of 1.8-m red morningglory plants with atrazine at 4.47 kg/ha and sulfentrazone at 0.35 kg/ha controlled weeds at least 96% 28 DAT in 2001, but control was 23 and 30 percentage points less, respectively, the second year.

Asynchronous flowering was noted in a recently discovered infestation of siam weed in north Queensland. This may indicate some genetic diversity in the infestation, increasing concerns about the origin of the infestation. Internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) sequence data were obtained for siam weed individuals from north Queensland, Indonesia, Thailand, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Brazil, Colombia, and the U.S. The ITS1 region is 258 base pairs long, and the populations that flower at different times in north Queensland differ by four base substitutions. The genotype common in north Queensland is also reported throughout the native and introduced ranges. The other genotype is reported only in north Queensland and southern Brazil. These data, in conjunction with prior investigations into possible origins, indicate that Brazil is the most likely source of the infestation in Australia.

Greenhouse studies were initiated in 2001 to evaluate the effect of V-10029 applications on shoot and root growth of rice cultivars. V-10029 applications did not affect the shoot and root weight or shoot–root ratio of Cocodrie. Tolerance of Bengal was less than that of Cocodrie and was growth stage dependent. V-10029 treatments at the one- to two-leaf rice growth stage reduced shoot growth but had no effect on root, resulting in a lower shoot–root ratio compared with that of the nontreated 1 wk after treatment (WAT). At 2 and 3 WAT, both shoot and root growth were reduced by V-10029, with shoot–root ratio being greater than that of the nontreated, indicating a greater inhibition of roots than of shoots. V-10029 treatments at the two- to three-leaf rice growth stage reduced both shoot and root growth of Bengal across all three sampling dates. V-10029 treatments at the three- to four-leaf rice growth stage did not affect shoot growth but reduced root growth 2 and 3 WAT with no difference in shoot–root ratio. There was no difference in shoot and root weight or shoot–root ratio between the propanil comparison treatment and the nontreated. These results indicate that rice cultivars may differ in their tolerance to V-10029 and tolerance may be growth stage dependent.

Partial seed retention line #23(‘PSR23’) cuphea is a hybrid of Cuphea viscosissima × C. lanceolata. It is a new, spring-planted, annual, potential oilseed crop that is highly susceptible to interference by weeds because of its slow growth during spring and early summer. Grass weeds are controlled easily in this broadleaf crop, but broadleaf weeds are an appreciable problem. Consequently, several broadleaf herbicides were screened for tolerance by ‘PSR23’ cuphea. Broadleaf herbicides to which cuphea showed tolerance in a spray cabinet and a greenhouse were tested in a field setting for 2 yr. Field tolerance was considered as absence of negative impact (P > 0.05) both years to any of four measured traits: overall vigor, dry weight, stand density, and time to anthesis. Cuphea showed tolerance in the field to three soil-applied herbicides (ethalfluralin, isoxaflutole, and trifluralin) and one postemergence herbicide (mesotrione). A few combinations of soil-applied and postemergence herbicides did not damage cuphea. These combinations were ethalfluralin followed by (fb) mesotrione, isoxaflutole fb imazethapyr, and isoxaflutole fb mesotrione. Availability of these herbicides for use in cuphea production may facilitate the domestication and acceptance of this new crop.

Excessive persistence of imazethapyr has been responsible for injury to corn grown after soybean. Factors implicated in corn injury reported from certain parts of the main corn-producing region in South Africa were: leaching of herbicide to deep soil layers during the season of application, followed in the next season by capillary movement to the root zone of corn, and increased bioactivity of herbicide residues following liming of fields. Bioassays were employed to determine to what extent imazethapyr leached in a soil that typically contains less than 10% total clay and 0.1% organic C in the 0- to 300-mm zone and to assess the role of pH and liming in the bioactivity of the herbicide. Undisturbed soil columns were collected in polyvinyl chloride pipe for the leaching experiment. In the greenhouse, the equivalent of 40 g ai/ha imazethapyr was applied on the column surface, followed by leaching with simulated rain of 25 or 50 mm. Leaf area measurements of the test species rapeseed showed that the herbicide was readily leached to at least 30 cm at both water regimes and that it subsequently moved upward in the soil, with evaporation as the driving force. In the other bioassay, the soil was ameliorated with different amounts of Ca(OH)2 or CaCO3 to adjust pH levels to between 5.7 and 7.1 These soil samples were each treated with imazethapyr at rates equivalent to 1.8, 3.75, 7.5, 15, and 30 g ai/ha. The growth response of the test species indicated that where Ca(OH)2 was applied, the bioactivity of imazethapyr in most instances was significantly greater than where CaCO3 was used. At all the imazethapyr rates, the activity of the herbicide increased significantly with an increase in pH from 5.6 to 6.5 where Ca(OH)2 was used, but with CaCO3, activity was significant only at 15 and 30 g ai/ha. Changes in imazethapyr adsorption and in the organic matter in the soil were not monitored, but it is suggested that the increase in herbicide activity caused by Ca(OH)2 may be due to the degradation of organic matter in the soil or to desorption of the herbicide, which would render the herbicide more available for uptake. These effects, if they do occur, are likely to be of significance for herbicide adsorption only in soil with very low organic matter content. Results indicate that imazethapyr could leach easily in coarse-textured soils low in clay and organic matter content and that the type of lime used on those soils may influence the bioactivity of the herbicide.

Preemergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) herbicides were sequentially applied to common bermudagrass over a two-year period to determine the lowest herbicide rates required to maintain acceptable large crabgrass and goosegrass control. Large crabgrass control was consistently higher in late August when MSMA at 2.2 kg ha−1 was applied to plots previously treated with dithiopyr at 0.3 kg ha−1 (99%) in 1991, and either pendimethalin at 1.1 kg ha−1 (95%) or oxadiazon at 1.1 kg ha−1 (94%) in 1992 than when either herbicide was applied alone (≤ 79%). Goosegrass control was also higher in late August when MSMA plus metribuzin at 2.0 + 0.14 kg ha−1 was applied to plots treated with pendimethalin at 1.7 kg ha−1 (71%) in 1991, with oxadiazon at ≤ 2.2 kg ha−1 (≤ 89%) in 1992, and with dithiopyr at 0.4 kg ha−1 (≤ 96%) both years than when the herbicides were applied alone. Diclofop at 1.1 kg ha−1 applied alone as POST controlled ≥ 96% goosegrass throughout the two-year period.

Field experiments were conducted at Jay and Marianna, FL in 1988 and 1989 to determine the effects of sicklepod, Florida beggarweed, and common cocklebur density on chlorothalonil deposition to peanut foliage, peanut foliar disease incidence, and peanut yield. At a density of four weed plants per 8 m of row, Florida beggarweed and sicklepod reduced chlorothalonil deposition on peanut foliage by 20%, while common cocklebur reduced fungicide deposition by 34%. At the same density, incidence of the foliar diseases early leaf spot and late leaf spot increased 10% with Florida beggarweed, 14% with sicklepod, and 20% with common cocklebur compared with weed-free peanut. The predicted peanut yield loss from a weed density of four plants per 8 m was 16 to 19% for Florida beggarweed, 23 to 25% for sicklepod, and 31 to 39% for common cocklebur. Weed biomass increased with increasing weed density.

Studies were conducted to determine whether cross-seeding of winter wheat, while maintaining an equal seeding rate per hectare, would increase wheat grain yields and help the wheat compete more effectively against Italian ryegrass than conventional seeding. Wheat was seeded at rates of 50, 100, and 150 kg ha-1 in conventional parallel rows or cross seeded in a grid pattern. Ryegrass was seeded at densities of 0, 20, 100, and 200 plants per m-2. Cross-seeded wheat yielded less grain than single-seeded wheat in 1990 in the absence of ryegrass; there were no differences in 1991. Cross seeding did not reduce competition from Italian ryegrass. Ryegrass was highly competitive against wheat, especially in 1990. Even 20 plants per m-2 reduced grain yield by an average of 38%. Wheat seeding rate had essentially no effect on grain yield in 1990, but the higher seeding rates reduced yields in 1991 because of extensive lodging. In 1991, wheat grain yields were higher in the cross-seeded plots than the single-seeded plots at the two high wheat seeding rates and highest ryegrass densities. Cross seeding does not appear promising as an aid to controlling ryegrass in Pacific Northwest wheat.

Seeds were collected from an imidazolinone-resistant (R) population of smooth pigweed near Marion, MD, and from an imidazolinone-susceptible (S) population near Painter, VA, and grown in the greenhouse. Acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme was extracted from both biotypes and assayed in the presence of CGA 152005, chlorimuron, halosulfuron, imazaquin, imazethapyr, nicosulfuron, primisulfuron, pyrithiobac, rimsulfuron, and thifensulfuron to determine if an altered ALS was the mechanism of resistance in the R biotype and to determine if this biotype was cross-resistant to other ALS inhibitor herbicides. The inhibitor concentration required to cause a 50% reduction in ALS activity (I50) was calculated for each herbicide. ALS from the R biotype was approximately 71-, 109,000-, and 9-fold more resistant to imazaquin, imazethapyr, and rimsulfuron, respectively, than that from the S biotype. ALS from the R biotype was approximately threefold more sensitive to pyrithiobac and thifensulfuron than that from the S biotype. R ALS was also slightly more tolerant to CGA 152005 and nicosulfuron and slightly more sensitive to primisulfuron and chlorimuron. ALS from both biotypes generally responded similarly to halosulfuron. Resistance in the R biotype was due to an altered form of ALS that is insensitive to the imidazolinone herbicides and rimsulfuron.

The effect of duration of wild oat competition on spring wheat yield and growth was determined in time-of-removal experiments conducted over a three year study period in Saskatchewan, Canada. Failure to remove wild oat reduced wheat yield 28 and 39% at wild oat populations of 64 and 188 plants per m2, respectively. Wheat yield was not reduced by wild oat densities of 64 or 118 plants per m2 until the six- and seven-leaf stage of wild oat, respectively. Removing wild oat at 64 plants per m2 before the seven-leaf stage and 118 plants per m2 before the five-leaf stage did not increase wheat culm or fresh weight production.

Field studies were conducted in 1996, 1997, and 1998 at Clinton, NC, to determine the influence of Palmer amaranth establishment and removal periods on the yield and quality of plasticulture-grown ‘Mountain Spring' fresh market tomato. Treatments consisted of 14 Palmer amaranth establishment and removal periods. Half of the treatments were weed removal treatments (REM), in which Palmer amaranth was sowed at the time tomato transplanting and allowed to remain in the field for 0 (weed-free all season), 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, or 10 wk after transplanting (WAT). The second set of the treatments, weed establishment treatments (EST), consisted of sowing Palmer amaranth 0 (weedy all season), 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, or 10 WAT and allowing it to grow in competition with tomato the remainder of the season. Tomato shoot dry weight was reduced 23, 7, and 11 g plant−1 for each week Palmer amaranth removal was delayed from 0 to 10 WAT in 1996, 1997, and 1998, respectively. Marketable tomato yield ranged from 87,000 to 41,000 kg ha−1 for REM of 0 to 10 WAT and 28,000 to 88,000 kg ha−1 for EST of 0 to 6 WAT. Percentage of jumbo, large, medium, and cull tomato yields ranged from 49 to 33%, 22 to 31%, 2 to 6%, and 9 to 11%, respectively, for REM of 0 to 10 WAT and 30 to 49%, 38 to 22%, 3 to 2%, and 12 to 9%, respectively, for EST of 0 to 6 WAT. To avoid losses of marketable tomato yield and percentage of jumbo tomato fruit yield, tomato plots must remain free of Palmer amaranth between 3 and 6 WAT. Observed reduction in marketable tomato yield was likely due to competition for light as Palmer amaranth plants exceeded the tomato plant canopy 6 WAT and remained taller than tomato plants for the remainder of the growing season.

Broadleaf weeds are common and troublesome pests in cool-season turfgrass species such as tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and creeping bentgrass. Broadleaf weeds are primarily managed in these grasses through POST applications of growth regulator herbicides in the phenoxy, benzoic acid, and pyridine chemical classes. There are disadvantages to use of these chemicals, including nontarget plant damage and limited residual control. Certain annual broadleaf weeds can be controlled through application of isoxaben or a PRE crabgrass herbicide, but these herbicides do not control emerged broadleaf weeds. There are advantages to use of sulfonylurea herbicides, including PRE and POST control of annual and perennial weeds, a different mode of action, and these herbicides have low vapor pressure, reducing the potential for offsite movement. There are disadvantages to the use of sulfonylurea herbicides, including limited spectrum of broadleaf weed species controlled and limited tolerance in cool-season turfgrass species. The primary sulfonylurea herbicides used in cool-season turfgrass are chlorsulfuron, halosulfuron, metsulfuron, and sulfosulfuron. There have been specialized uses for primisulfuron and tribenuron-methyl.

Field experiments were conducted in 2012 and 2013 across four locations for a total of 6 site-years in the midsouthern United States to determine the effect of growth stage at exposure on soybean sensitivity to sublethal rates of dicamba (8.8 g ae ha−1) and 2,4-D (140 g ae ha−1). Regression analysis revealed that soybean was most susceptible to injury from 2,4-D when exposed between 413 and 1,391 accumulated growing degree days (GDD) from planting, approximately between V1 and R2 growth stages. In terms of terminal plant height, soybean was most susceptible to 2,4-D between 448 and 1,719 GDD, or from V1 to R4. However, maximum susceptibility to 2,4-D was only between 624 and 1,001 GDD or from V3 to V5 for yield loss. As expected, soybean was sensitive to dicamba for longer spans of time, ranging from 0 to 1,162 GDD for visible injury or from emergence to R2. Likewise, soybean height was most affected when dicamba exposure occurred between 847 and 1,276 GDD or from V4 to R2. Regarding grain yield, soybean was most susceptible to dicamba between 820 and 1,339 GDD or from V4 to R2. Consequently, these data indicate that soybean response to 2,4-D and dicamba can be variable within vegetative or reproductive growth stages; therefore, specific growth stage at the time of exposure should be considered when evaluating injury from off-target movement. In addition, application of dicamba near susceptible soybean within the V4 to R2 growth stages should be avoided because this is the time of maximum susceptibility. Research regarding soybean sensitivity to 2,4-D and dicamba should focus on multiple exposure times and also avoid generalizing growth stages to vegetative or reproductive.

Herbicides were applied as single, sequential, or tank mixture treatments at different growth stages and rates and were compared with standard treatments for control of barnyardgrass, bearded sprangletop, elipta, spreading dayflower, and aquatic weeds in water- or dry-seeded rice. In water-seeded rice, thiobencarb granules applied alone or sequentially selectively controlled bearded sprangletop and aquatic weeds in the 1- to 4-leaf stages better than standards of propanil alone or mixed with bentazon. Fenoxaprop plus bentazon selectively controlled 1- to 4-leaf bearded sprangletop but failed to control 1- to 4-leaf aquatic weeds. In dry-seeded rice, treatments of fenoxaprop applied to tillering rice after earlier applications of preemergence thiobencarb or postemergence applications of propanil selectively controlled barnyardgrass, bearded sprangletop, eclipta, or spreading dayflower better than standards of propanil alone or mixed with thiobencarb. Fenoxaprop alone or in tank mixtures with other herbicides applied early postemergence either injured rice or failed to control weeds. Esprocarb applied preemergence controlled weeds but injured rice while early postemergence treatments of propanil plus esprocarb performed better than standard herbicide treatments.

Methyl bromide has been a key fumigant for broad-spectrum weed control in polyethylene-mulched bell pepper. However, the ozone-depleting nature of methyl bromide has led to its scheduled phaseout from U.S. agriculture. Thus, an effective alternative to methyl bromide is needed. Field trials were conducted in 2007 and 2009 to evaluate the crop response and weed control efficacy of allyl isothiocyanate (ITC) in polyethylene-mulched bell pepper. The experiment included various combinations of two mulch types (low density polyethylene [LDPE] and virtually impermeable film [VIF] mulch) and six rates of allyl isothiocyanate (0, 15, 75, 150, 750, 1,500 kg ha−1). Additionally, a standard treatment of methyl bromide/chloropicrin (67 : 33%) at 390 kg ha−1 under LDPE mulch was included for comparison. Bell pepper injury was < 3% in all treatments, except 11% injury at 1,500 kg ha−1 allyl isothiocyanate under VIF mulch at 2 wk after transplanting (WATP). VIF mulch did not provide additional weed control and marketable pepper yield over LDPE mulch. Allyl isothiocyanate at 932 (± 127) kg ha−1 controlled yellow nutsedge (90%), Palmer amaranth (97%), and large crabgrass (92%) through 6 WATP and maintained the marketable yield equivalent to methyl bromide treatment. This research demonstrates that allyl ITC under an LDPE mulch can serve as a potential alternative to methyl bromide for weed control in polyethylene-mulched bell pepper.

Integrated weed management practices, such as crop rotation and increased seeding rates, potentially improve weed management. Yet, few studies compare competitive interactions of weeds with different crops. This research quantified the impact of Persian darnel on spring wheat, canola, and sunflower yield across different seeding rates. Increasing crop density increased yield when Persian darnel affected crop yield early in physiological development. Crop yield loss was estimated to reach 83, 70, and 57% for spring wheat, canola, and sunflower, respectively, at high Persian darnel densities. Persian darnel reduced spring wheat yield by limiting the number of tillers per plant and seed per tiller; reduced canola yield by limiting the number of branches per plant, pods per branch, and seed per pod; and reduced sunflower yield by limiting the number of seed per plant. Persian darnel affected crop growth early in physiological development, indicating that interspecific interference occurred early in the growing season. Cultural and resource management aimed at reducing Persian darnel impact on resource availability and crop yield components will reduce Persian darnel impact on crop yield.

Cotton response to triclopyr was evaluated when it was applied over-the-top at simulated drift rates to pin-head square and early bloom cotton growth stages in 1987 and 1988. The herbicidal effects of triclopyr were most evident after a lag period of 10 to 15 d. Triclopyr at 60 g ai ha-1 applied at pin-head square reduced cotton height in 1987, but not in 1988. Triclopyr applied at pin-head square and early bloom reduced cotton flowering initially, as measured by white bloom counts, in both years. Total blooms were reduced in 1987, but not in 1988. Cotton maturity was delayed by triclopyr application during early bloom, as shown by a decrease in percent open bolls, and a decrease in first pick cotton yields. Cotton yield was lower in plots receiving triclopyr, with the greatest yield reduction caused by a 60 g ha-1 triclopyr application at early bloom.

Producers in the semiarid Great Plains are exploring alternative crop rotations, with the goal of replacing winter wheat–fallow. In 1993, a study was established to compare performance of eight rotations comprised of various combinations with winter wheat (W), spring wheat (SW), dry pea (Pea), safflower (Saf), corn (C), sunflower (Sun), proso millet (M), or fallow (F). After 8 years, we characterized weed communities by recording seedling emergence in each rotation. Seventeen species were observed, with downy brome, kochia, horseweed, and stinkgrass comprising 87% of the community. Rotations with the least number of weed seedlings were W–F and SW–W–C–Sun; in comparison, weed density was six-fold higher in W–M. Density of downy brome and kochia was highest in W–M compared with other rotations, whereas stinkgrass and green foxtail were prominent in proso millet of the W–M and W–C–M rotations. Horseweed established readily in safflower and dry pea. In the semiarid Great Plains, designing rotations in a cycle of four that includes cool- and warm-season crops can be a key component of integrated weed management.

Field studies were conducted to determine response of ‘Atlantic’ and ‘Fontenot’ potato varieties and eight weed species to rimsulfuron and metribuzin. Rimsulfuron was applied at 9, 18, 27, 35 and 70 g ai/ha and metribuzin at 69, 140, 210, 280 and 560 g ai/ha. Each herbicide was applied PRE or POST alone or in 1:8 combinations of rimsulfuron to metribuzin. Yield of either variety was not reduced by any treatment. Rimsulfuron applied PRE or POST at the suggested field use rate of 35 g/ha controlled smooth pigweed, redroot pigweed, ivyleaf morningglory, and common cocklebur 100%, common lambsquarters 90%, and jimsonweed 60%. Large crabgrass and fall panicum were controlled 92% by rimsulfuron at 35 g/ha. Reduced rates of 9 g/ha rimsulfuron plus 69 g/ha metribuzin, applied PRE or POST, controlled all weeds 100% except jimsonweed, fall panicum, and large crabgrass. For complete control of these weeds, rimsulfuron at 35 g/ha plus metribuzin at 280 g/ha was required.

Kansas and North Dakota kochia populations identified as chlorsulfuron resistant (R) contained 20 and 30% susceptible (S) plants, respectively. Biotypes that were chlorsulfuron R or S were selected from each field R or S collection and selfed through three generations in the greenhouse. Chlorsulfuron at 7.6 and 17.8 g ai/ha suppressed shoot biomass of the Kansas and North Dakota R biotypes by 50%, respectively, which was a 30- and 105-fold greater dose than that required to reduce the respective S biotypes growth 50%. The R and S kochia biotypes are diploid with 2N = 18 chromosomes. Chlorsulfuron resistance is inherited in kochia as a dominant trait controlled by a single nuclear gene. Thus, the resistance trait can be spread by seed and pollen.