Field experiments were conducted at Adelphia, NJ, in 2001 and 2002 to evaluate the response of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and Chewings fine fescue to sulfosulfuron. Single applications of sulfosulfuron at 6 to 67 g ai/ha were applied to mature swards of each species. Visual chlorosis ratings were taken and clippings were collected 4 wk after treatment (WAT), and turf injury was rated 8 WAT. Chlorosis on all species increased with increasing sulfosulfuron rate. In 2001, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and fine fescue chlorosis reached 33, 43, 65, and 61% at 4 WAT, respectively, whereas in 2002, chlorosis only reached 13, 26, 46, and 26%, respectively. Clipping weights of all species decreased as application rate increased. Reductions in Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass clipping weights were less severe than those in tall and fine fescue. By 8 WAT, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescue had nearly complete recovery from any initial visual injury symptoms. However, tall fescue injury was still evident 8 WAT in both years. Initial injury of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and Chewings fine fescue was in the form of discoloration and stunting. Significant stand thinning was only evident in the tall fescue studies. These studies suggest that Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass may be more tolerant than tall fescue to applications of sulfosulfuron and fine fescue is intermediately tolerant to sulfosulfuron.

The repeated use of sulfonylurea (SU) herbicides to control broadleaf weeds in wheat fields and right-of-ways has selected for herbicide-resistant Russian thistle populations. A survey was conducted in 1991 and 1992 to ascertain the relative occurrence of SU-resistant Russian thistle in eastern Washington state. The 55 574 km2 survey area was divided into 149 equal sample areas. All sample areas were surveyed for Russian thistle and seed was collected from plants in 86 sample areas. No Russian thistle was found in the center of the remaining 63 sample areas. Seeds were collected, by plant, from 30 plants at each site. Site samples were tested in the greenhouse for resistance or susceptibility to chlorsulfuron. Populations that were either homogeneous or heterogeneous for chlorsulfuron-resistance were found in 70% of the sample areas and all of the plants were susceptible in 30% of the sample areas.

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of three nitrogen fertilizer application timings on corn and giant ragweed dry weight, corn and giant ragweed nitrogen accumulation, and corn grain yield. By the V8 growth stage, corn plants in treatments which included nitrogen at planting accumulated up to 27% more dry weight and 26% more leaf area than corn in sidedress-only treatments that had not yet received any fertilizer nitrogen. Nitrogen fertilizer application timing did not influence early-season giant ragweed dry weight, but did influence N accumulation. Giant ragweed at 0.5 plants/m2 accumulated up to 16 kg N/ha in 40-cm-tall plants by the V8 corn growth stage and up to 104 kg N/ha when allowed to remain in corn until the end of the growing season. At this density of giant ragweed, corn yields were not reduced if removed by the V8 corn growth stage. However, season-long interference reduced corn yields by up to 19% regardless of nitrogen application timing. Early-season giant ragweed growth was less responsive to nitrogen application timing than corn, suggesting that nitrogen management programs should not be altered significantly to influence giant ragweed competitiveness in corn. However, giant ragweed should be removed in a timely manner to minimize nitrogen accumulation in nitrogen-limiting corn production situations.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the leaching of isoxaflutole and the safeners R-29148 and furilazole to test the hypothesis that safeners and isoxaflutole were moving at different rates through the soil profile. The isoxaflutole movement down soil columns was measured by evaluating the visible injury on crop and weed bioassay species seeded into columns split longitudinally. The movement of the safeners was measured by evaluating the isoxaflutole injury to the crop assay species compared to the injury observed without a safener present. The results indicated that a heavy rainfall event could move isoxaflutole through the soil profile in a pulse pattern. If the herbicide pulse moved into the rooting zone of corn, injury resulted. The herbicide safeners leached more slowly than isoxaflutole. For the safeners to be effective, their movement needed to be similar to that of isoxaflutole. Applying a polymeric carrier with the WDG formulation of isoxaflutole reduced leaching compared to two commercial isoxaflutole formulations.

Two studies were conducted near Bronson, MI, to determine gladiolus tolerance and weed control with flumioxazin and other herbicide treatments. The first study was conducted in 2002, 2003, and 2004 to evaluate weed control and gladiolus injury with flumioxazin and 14 other preemergence treatments. Crop injury over the 3-yr period was less than 6% and was considered commercially acceptable with flumioxazin, linuron, oryzalin, pendimethalin, prometryn, S-metolachlor, and sulfentrazone. Gladiolus stand count, height, and flower count were similar to those of the nontreated control with these treatments. Clomazone, halosulfuron, imazamox, imazapic, mesotrione, oxyfluorfen, rimsulfuron, and trifloxysulfuron resulted in unacceptable crop injury. Of the acceptable treatments, only flumioxazin controlled common ragweed, yellow nutsedge, and foxtail species at least 68%. The second study was conducted in 2003 and 2004. Flumioxazin was evaluated at four rates, in mixtures with S-metolachlor and oryzalin, and in comparison with isoxaben plus oryzalin. Gladiolus injury did not exceed 6%. Common ragweed, annual grass, and yellow nutsedge control were at least 63% with all flumioxazin treatments.

In a 3-y field study, the isopropylamine salt of glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] at 1.7 kg ai/ha and sulphosate [trimethyl sulfonium salt of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] at three rates, a split application of 0.6 + 0.6 or single applications of 1.1 or 1.7 kg ai/ha satisfactorily controlled swamp dodder (Cuscuta gronovii Willd. ex R. & S. # CVCGR) in cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.). While none of these treatments decreased cranberry yield, sulphosate at 1.1 or 1.7 kg/ha did increase yield. Glyphosate at 0.4 kg/ha applied late in the life cycle of carrot (Daucus carota L.) when swamp dodder was in full flower satisfactorily controlled swamp dodder while increasing yield of carrot roots. Glyphosate applied early in the life cycle of carrot and dodder controlled swamp dodder but lowered yield of carrot roots.

The pH and hardness of water used as agrochemical carrier can influence herbicide efficacy. The objective of this research was to determine the role of carrier water pH and hardness on saflufenacil efficacy and solubility. Saflufenacil was mixed in eight different carrier waters with one of five pH levels (4.0, 5.2, 6.5, 7.7, 9.0) or one of three hardness levels (0, 310, 620 mg L−1) and applied POST to common lambsquarters and giant ragweed in a field experiment and to field corn in a greenhouse experiment. Solubility testing was also completed on saflufenacil mixed in the five pH levels used in the field and greenhouse experiments. Water hardness did not influence the efficacy of saflufenacil on common lambsquarters, giant ragweed, or field corn. Control of giant ragweed or common lambsquarters in field experiments was reduced by up to 56% when saflufenacil was applied in water with a pH of 4.0 compared with water with a pH of 7.7. When nonsoluble saflufenacil was removed from the spray solution, saflufenacil efficacy on field corn in the greenhouse was reduced by 61% or more when applied in water with a pH of 4.0 than when applied with water with a pH of 5.2 or higher. When nonsoluble saflufenacil was applied with the soluble saflufenacil in the spray solution, at least a 7% reduction in control of field corn was observed when applied in water with pH of 4.0 as compared with saflufenacil applied in water with pH of 5.2 or higher. Solubility of saflufenacil was (1) 10.1 mg L−1 in water with a pH of 4.0, (2) 3,461.4 mg L−1 in water with a pH of 7.7, and (3) > 5,000 mg L−1 at a pH of 9. Some degradation of parent saflufenacil was detected in the pH at 9.0 treatment, with only 90% of added product being recovered after 3 d of storage. This research provides information on how saflufenacil efficacy and solubility is influenced by carrier water pH and potentially explains some differences noticed between field applications of saflufenacil.

Use of synthetic auxin herbicides has increased across the midwestern United States after adoption of synthetic auxin-resistant soybean traits, in addition to extensive use of these herbicides in corn. Off-target movement of synthetic auxin herbicides such as dicamba can lead to severe injury to sensitive plants nearby. Previous research has documented effects of glyphosate on spray-solution pH and volatility of several dicamba formulations, but our understanding of the relationships between glyphosate and dicamba formulations commonly used in corn and for 2,4-D remains limited. The objectives of this research were to (1) investigate the roles of synthetic auxin herbicide formulation, glyphosate, and spray additives on spray solution pH; (2) assess the impact of synthetic auxin herbicide rate on solution pH; and (3) assess the influence of glyphosate and application time of year on dicamba and 2,4-D volatility using soybean as bioindicators in low-tunnel field volatility experiments. Addition of glyphosate to a synthetic auxin herbicide decreased solution pH below 5.0 for four of the seven herbicides tested (range of initial pH of water source, 7.45–7.70). Solution pH of most treatments was lower at a higher application rate (4× the labeled POST rate) than the 1× rate. Among all treatment factors, inclusion of glyphosate was the most important affecting spray solution pH; however, the addition of glyphosate did not influence area under the injury over distance stairs (P = 0.366) in low-tunnel field volatility experiments. Greater soybean injury in field experiments was associated with high air temperatures (maximum, >29 C) and low wind speeds (mean, 0.3–1.5 m s−1) during the 48 h after treatment application. The two dicamba formulations (diglycolamine with VaporGrip® and sodium salts) resulted in similar levels of soybean injury for applications that occurred later in the growing season. Greater soybean injury was observed after dicamba than after 2,4-D treatments.

Field research was conducted at Arlington, WI in 1984 and 1985 to determine the influence of application timing on weed control with atrazine and metolachlor in conservation tillage corn production systems. Early preplant treatments controlled fewer weeds than preemergence or early preplant/preemergence sequential treatments in a chisel plow system. Velvetleaf control was only 50% late in the growing season with early preplant atrazine compared with 88% with an early preplant/preemergence sequential treatment of the same amount of atrazine. In the no-till system, early preplant applications of atrazine and/or metolachlor had reduced weed control late in the growing season compared with preemergence and early preplant/preemergence sequential treatments of the same amount of herbicide. Giant foxtail control 110 d after corn planting was only 73% with an early preplant treatment compared with 99% when the same amount of herbicide was evenly divided between early preplant and preemergence applications.

Germination experiments were conducted in petri dishes to test the effect of vetiver oil and one of its minor components, nootkatone, on six common weed species. Vetiver oil inhibited germination of redroot pigweed, common lambsquarters, giant ragweed, pitted morningglory, and velvetleaf. Nootkatone, at much higher concentrations than it occurs in the oil, exhibited germination inhibition for all weed species except velvetleaf. Redroot pigweed was the most sensitive species with germination inhibition at 0.1 to 1.0 mg/ml of vetiver oil and nootkatone. At 1.0 to 8.0 mg/ml, nootkatone reduced germination of giant ragweed by 24 to 92%, whereas vetiver oil reduced the germination only by 6 to 11%. Vetiver oil and nootkatone also inhibited seedling expansion of redroot pigweed and common lambsquarters. No significant inhibition of germination and seedling expansion was found for sicklepod. These laboratory studies provide preliminary evidence that nootkatone and vetiver oil may have use as herbicides.

In herbicide-selectivity experiments, response can be measured by visual inspection, stand counts, plant mortality, and biomass. Some response types are relative to nontreated control. We developed a nondestructive method by analyzing digital color images to quantify color changes in leaves caused by herbicides. The range of color components of green and nongreen parts of the plants and soil in Hue, Saturation, and Brightness (HSB) color space were used for segmentation. The canopy color changes of barley, winter wheat, red fescue, and brome fescue caused by doses of a glyphosate and diflufenican mixture, cycloxydim, diquat dibromide, and fluazifop-p-butyl were described with a log-logistic dose–response model, and the relationship between visual inspection and image analysis was calculated at the effective doses that cause 50% and 90% response (ED50 and ED90, respectively). The ranges of HSB components for the green and nongreen parts of the plants and soil were different. The relative potencies were not significantly different from one, indicating that visual and image analysis estimations were about the same. The comparison results suggest that image analysis can be used to assess color changes of plants in response to some herbicides and may have the potential to provide an objective measurement of symptoms.

Aminocyclopyrachlor will control a variety of invasive weeds but may injure sensitive plant species if seeded into treated soil too soon after application. Aminocyclopyrachlor 50% dissipation time (DT50) ranged from 3 to > 112 d in four soils from the Northern Great Plains. The DT50 was dependent on several factors including soil type, moisture content, and temperature. Across four different soil textures, aminocyclopyrachlor dissipation generally increased as soil moisture content increased, but moisture had less of an impact in sandy soils. Aminocyclopyrachlor dissipation also increased as temperature increased in the four soils. The most rapid dissipation occurred in soils with higher clay content, which also had the highest organic matter content of the soils evaluated, and an average DT50 of less than 20 d. Seeding sensitive pasture, range, or crop species after aminocyclopyrachlor applications should be done with caution since the herbicide has potential for long persistence in the soil.

Field experiments were conducted using a stale seedbed production system to determine the effect of herbicide application time on preplant, preplant incorporated (PPI), and at-planting treatments on weed control and soybean yield. Herbicides were applied on the surface preplant (PPL) or PPI at 6 to 7, 4 to 5, and 2 to 3 wk before planting and just prior to planting. The differences in weed control and soybean yield among years were due to rainfall patterns 2 wk after herbicide application and during the growing season. Preplant treatments applied 2 to 5 wk before planting generally controlled common cocklebur and pitted morningglory better than preplant treatments applied 6 to 7 wk before planting due to persistence of herbicide activity or treatments at planting due to a greater chance of obtaining adequate rainfall for herbicide activation, more uniform seedbed at planting, and larger weeds at application. Metribuzin plus chlorimuron was less suited than imazaquin as a preplant treatment when applied more than 2 weeks before planting.

Greenhouse and laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the response of common lambsquarters to POST applications of halosulfuron–methyl plus 2,4-D admixtures and to investigate the effects of 2,4-D on the absorption, translocation, and metabolism of halosulfuron. In the greenhouse, halosulfuron at 0, 4.5, 9, 18, and 36 g ai/ha was applied alone and mixed with 2,4-D at 0, 17, 35, and 70 g ai/ha POST to 7.5- to 9-cm seedlings, and plant fresh weights were determined 4 wk after treatment (WAT). Halosulfuron alone did not control this weed, while fresh weights of common lambsquarters treated with 2,4-D declined hyperbolically as rates increased. A synergistic response for mixtures of these herbicides occurred, as observed fresh weights for all combinations were less than expected based on independent action and the calibrated marginal responses. In the laboratory, 7.5- to 9-cm seedlings were treated POST with commercially formulated halosulfuron at 9 and 18 g/ha and 2,4-D at 0, 70, and 140 g/ha, respectively, followed by foliar-applied 14C-halosulfuron. Absorption of 14C-halosulfuron increased with time, and absorption and translocation were not influenced by the addition of 2,4-D. Results from these studies inferred that halosulfuron and 2,4-D were generally synergistic on common lambsquarters and that mechanisms other than absorption, translocation, and metabolism may explain this response.

The effect of nonionic surfactant, crop oil concentrate, organosilicone surfactant, methylated seed oil, and a blend of organosilicone surfactant and methylated seed oil on absorption of 14C-clethodim was evaluated in barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli). Absorption of 14C-label was greatest during the first 40 min after application when 14C-clethodim was applied with methylated seed oil or a blend of methylated seed oil and organosilicone surfactant. These adjuvants increased the rate of absorption more than crop oil concentrate, organosilicone surfactant, or nonionic surfactant. Crop oil concentrate was more effective than organosilicone or nonionic surfactant in increasing absorption, with nonionic surfactant being more effective than organosilicone surfactant. These results generally agreed with the order of increasing efficacy of clethodim on barnyardgrass as affected by adjuvants in field experiments. Another study was conducted to determine the effect of bromoxynil on absorption and translocation of 14C-clethodim in yellow foxtail (Setaria glauca). Bromoxynil reduced absorption of 14C–clethodim 4, 8, and 24 h after application and also reduced the amount of 14C-label translocated from the treated leaf. These data suggest that antagonism of clethodim control of yellow foxtail by bromoxynil observed in previous research can be attributed partially to decreased absorption and translocation of clethodim.

The effect of bromoxynil on large crabgrass control by clethodim, sethoxydim, fluazifop-P, fluazifop-P plus fenoxaprop-P, and quizalofop-P was evaluated in 1996 and 1997 in bromoxynil-tolerant cotton and in fallow areas. Bromoxynil at 560 g ai/ha reduced large crabgrass control 4 weeks after treatment (WAT) when mixed with labeled rates of fluazifop-P, fluazifop-P plus fenoxaprop-P, or quizalofop-P. Control 9 WAT was reduced when bromoxynil was mixed with any of the graminicides. Antagonism with the mixtures was greatest with quizalofop-P, intermediate with fluazifop-P plus fenoxaprop-P and fluazifop-P, and least with clethodim and sethoxydim. Increasing the graminicide rate 50% in mixtures with bromoxynil alleviated antagonism only for clethodim. No antagonism was noted 9 WAT when bromoxynil was applied 3 d before or 3 d after application of clethodim or sethoxydim or when bromoxynil was applied 3 d after fluazifop-P plus fenoxaprop-P. Antagonism was observed when bromoxynil was applied 3 d before fluazifop-P plus fenoxaprop-P or when applied 3 d before or 3 d after fluazifop-P and quizalofop-P. Regardless of bromoxynil application, greatest yields were obtained from cotton treated with clethodim or sethoxydim. Bromoxynil applied 3 d before or 3 d after clethodim, sethoxydim, or fluazifop-P plus fenoxaprop-P did not reduce yield. Yield was reduced when bromoxynil was applied 3 d before or 3 d after application of fluazifop-P or quizalofop-P and when bromoxynil was mixed with any graminicide.

Producers rely on cultural practices to manage downy brome, jointed goatgrass, and feral rye in winter wheat because there are no effective herbicides for in-crop control. This study characterized seedling emergence, growth, and development of these winter annual grasses, with the goal of suggesting or improving cultural control strategies. Feral rye seedlings emerged within 4 wk, whereas downy brome and jointed goatgrass seedlings emerged over a 10-wk period. Emergence patterns of these grasses suggest that delay of winter wheat planting may be effective in reducing feral rye densities, but this strategy most likely will be ineffective with downy brome or jointed goatgrass. Downy brome began anthesis 1 to 2 wk earlier than the other two grasses and winter wheat. Both downy brome and jointed goatgrass were shorter than winter wheat during the growing season, whereas feral rye was at least as tall as wheat. Producers mow infested wheat to prevent weed seed production, but this practice may not be effective with jointed goatgrass and downy brome because of their short stature and downy brome's earlier development. Conversely, mowing has potential in preventing feral rye seed production. The grasses produced between 340 and 770 seeds/ plant.

Field experiments were conducted in 1989 and 1990 to evaluate differential soybean cultivar tolerance to chlorimuron and imazaquin applied PPI, as influenced by soil moisture. Natural rainfall was supplemented with irrigation to achieve three moisture regimes: low (nonirrigated), optimum (5 cm wk–1), and excessive (15 cm wk–1). Imazaquin at 140 g ai ha–1 did not adversely affect height or yield of cultivars under any of the moisture regimes. Excessive moisture, regardless of herbicide treatment, reduced height and yield with many of the cultivars. Chlorimuron at 80 g ai ha–1 caused additional plant height reductions of 8 cm or more with ‘Asgrow 5403% ‘Asgrow 5979’, ‘Coker 686’, ‘Asgrow 6785’, ‘Hartz 6686’, and 'Sharkey’ in the excessive moisture regime, and yield was reduced 450 kg ha–1 or more with ‘Hutcheson’, ‘Terra-Vig 515’, Coker 686, Asgrow 6785, and Hartz 6686. Chlorimuron in the optimum moisture regime reduced the height of Coker 686 and ‘Deltapine 566’ 10 and 11 cm, respectively; however, no yield reductions were noted.

Maintaining crop residues on the soil surface has changed cropping practices in the Central Great Plains. Where previously winter wheat–fallow was the prevalent rotation, producers now grow warm-season crops in sequence with winter wheat and fallow. Controlling weeds during fallow with herbicides eliminates the need for tillage, thus conserving more crop residues. However, producers are considering subsurface tillage as an option to manage herbicide-resistant weeds. We reviewed the impact of subsurface tillage with the sweep plow on weed dynamics and crop growth compared with no-till systems. Cropping systems studies show that rotations can be designed to reduce weed community density severalfold; tillage lessens this rotational effect by burying weed seeds and prolonging their survival in soil. Crop residues on the soil surface reduce weed seedling establishment in no-till systems, but tillage eliminates this effect. Crops also yield less after tillage compared with no-till in this semiarid climate. Tillage may help in managing herbicide resistance, but it also may increase weed density as well as reduce crop yield.

Concerns in the public and agricultural sectors about the impacts of agricultural practices have led many weed scientists to refocus research efforts toward development of alternative strategies of weed management. To develop methods of weed management that will supplement or replace herbicides, the impacts of agricultural practices on weeds must be better understood. With a foundation of knowledge in basic weed biology, alternatives to herbicides can be made available in the future.