Field experiments conducted from 1990 through 1993 evaluated single and sequential applications of various postemergence graminicides for common bermudagrass control in peanut. UBI-1956 at 70 and 100 g/ha applied early POST (EP) or sequentially, controlled common bermudagrass equivalent to fluazifop-P applied EP or sequentially. Clethodim provided variable common bermudagrass control. Clethodim applied EP provided better control than sethoxydim while control from sequential clethodim applications were equivalent to fluazifop-P. Fenoxaprop-ethyl alone failed to control common bermudagrass while the addition of fluazifop-P to fenoxaprop-ethyl improved control at least 22% in two of three years. Quizalofop applied EP and fenoxaprop applied sequentially provided common bermudagrass control equivalent to fluazifop-P. Fenoxaprop-ethyl or sethoxydim applied once or twice controlled common bermudagrass similarly. Peanut yield increases from common bermudagrass control were erratic.

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth is a widespread problem in southeastern cotton production areas. Herbicide programs to control this weed in no-till cotton commonly include flumioxazin applied with preplant burndown herbicides approximately 3 wk before planting followed by fomesafen applied PRE and then glufosinate or glyphosate applied POST. Flumioxazin and fomesafen are both protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibitors. Multiple yearly applications of PPO inhibitors in cotton, along with widespread use of PPO inhibitors in rotational crops, raise concerns over possible selection for PPO resistance in Palmer amaranth. An experiment was conducted to determine the potential to substitute diuron for one of the PPO inhibitors in no-till cotton. Palmer amaranth control by diuron and fomesafen applied PRE varied by location, but fomesafen was generally more effective. Control by both herbicides was inadequate when timely rainfall was not received for activation. Palmer amaranth control was more consistent when programs included a preplant residual herbicide. Applied preplant, flumioxazin was more effective than diuron. Programs with diuron preplant followed by fomesafen PRE were as effective as flumioxazin preplant followed by fomesafen only if fomesafen was activated in a timely manner. Programs with flumioxazin preplant followed by diuron PRE were as effective as flumioxazin preplant followed by fomesafen PRE at all locations, regardless of timely activation of the PRE herbicide. As opposed to flumioxazin preplant followed by fomesafen PRE, which exposes Palmer amaranth to two PPO-inhibiting herbicides, one could reduce selection pressure by using flumioxazin preplant followed by diuron PRE without sacrificing Palmer amaranth control or cotton yield.

Flax yield can be severely reduced by weeds. The combination of limited herbicide options and the spread of herbicide-resistant weeds across the prairies has resulted in a need for more weed control options for flax producers. The objective of this research was to evaluate the tolerance of flax to topramezone, pyroxasulfone, flumioxazin, and fluthiacet-methyl applied alone as well as in a mix with currently registered herbicides. These herbicides were applied alone and in mixtures at the 1X and 2X rates and compared with three industry standards and one nontreated control. This experiment was conducted at Carman, MB, and Saskatoon, SK, as a randomized complete block with four replications. Data were collected for crop population, crop height, yield, and thousand-seed weight. Ratings for crop damage (phytotoxicity) were also taken at three separate time intervals: 7 to 14, 21 to 28, and 56+ d after treatment. Crop tolerance to these herbicides varied between site-years. This was largely attributed to differences in spring moisture conditions and the differences in soil characteristics between sites. Herbicide injury was transient. Hence, no herbicide or combination of herbicides significantly impacted crop yield consistently. Flumioxazin was the least promising herbicide evaluated, as it caused severe crop damage (>90%) when conditions were conducive. Overall, flax had excellent tolerance to fluthiacet-methyl, pyroxasulfone, and topramezone. Flax had excellent crop safety to the combination of pyroxasulfone + sulfentrazone. However, mixing fluthiacet-methyl and topramezone with MCPA and bromoxynil, respectively, increased crop damage and would not be recommended.

Carrier water pH, hardness, coapplied foliar fertilizer, water conditioning agents, and plant height are critical considerations for optimum herbicide performance. Field studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of carrier water pH (4, 6.5, and 9) and zinc (Zn) or manganese (Mn) foliar fertilizer on mesotrione for horseweed and Palmer amaranth control. Additionally, effect of carrier water pH and foliar fertilizer was evaluated on 7.5-, 12.5-, and 17.5-cm tall horseweed. Greenhouse treatments consisted of carrier water pH and foliar fertilizer (Zn, Mn, or without fertilizer); or water hardness (0 to 1,000 mg L−1) in the presence or absence of ammonium sulfate (AMS) for mesotrione control of giant ragweed, horseweed, and Palmer amaranth. Mesotrione activity was greater on horseweed with carrier water pH 6.5 compared to pH 4 or 9. Coapplied Zn fertilizer reduced mesotrione activity on Palmer amaranth in the field study in 2014 and horseweed in the greenhouse study. Mesotrione efficacy was greatly influenced by horseweed height. Percent control ranged from 96 to 99%, 75 to 89%, or 61 to 64% with mesotrione applied on 7.5-, 12.5-, or 17.5-cm tall horseweed, respectively, and results were similar for plant height and dry weight reduction. Increasing carrier water hardness from 0 to 1,000 mg L−1 reduced mesotrione efficacy 28, 18, and 18% (or greater) on giant ragweed, horseweed, and Palmer amaranth, respectively. The addition of AMS enhanced mesotrione efficacy 9, 6, or 9% (or greater) for giant ragweed, horseweed, and Palmer amaranth control, respectively. Mesotrione should be applied at near neutral carrier water pH, hardness < 200 mg L−1, and with AMS for achieving optimum weed control.

Kochia, common lambsquarters, and wild buckwheat are major problem weeds in glyphosate-resistant corn production in the northern Great Plains of the United States. Field research was conducted in 2011 and 2012 near Huntley, MT to investigate effective PRE herbicides applied alone or in premixes with or without tank-mixed pendimethalin for extended in-season residual control of the selected broadleaf weeds in glyphosate-resistant corn. Control of kochia, common lambsquarters, and wild buckwheat with recently registered herbicide premixes, including saflufenacil + dimethenamid-P and S-metolachlor + mesotrione, was as high as 95 and 90% at 21 and 63 d after treatment (DAT), and mostly similar to the standard atrazine treatment. Residual control of common lambsquarters and wild buckwheat from pyroxasulfone was higher at 298 compared with 149 g ai ha−1 rate. Pyroxasulfone and other chloroacetamide herbicides (acetochlor or dimethenamid-P) applied alone failed to provide greater than 79, 70, and 54% residual control at 21, 35, and 63 DAT, respectively, of the weed species investigated. Residual weed control throughout the growing season was significantly improved with the addition of pendimethalin to pyroxasulfone (149 g ha−1), acetochlor, or dimethenamid-P when compared with any of the three herbicides applied alone. Kochia control by pyroxasulfone, acetochlor, or dimethenamid-P tank mixed with pendimethalin was as high as 94, 92, and 81% at 21, 35, and 63 DAT, respectively. Control of common lambsquarters with the addition of pendimethalin to pyroxasulfone or acetochlor was improved to 94, 89, and 81% at 21, 35, and 63 DAT, respectively. Similarly, wild buckwheat control with acetochlor plus pendimethalin was improved to 87, 85, and 82% at 21, 35, and 63 DAT, respectively. Consistent with the extended in-season (up to 9 wk) residual weed control, pyroxasulfone, acetochlor, or dimethenamid-P treatments when tank mixed with pendimethalin had higher corn yields compared with the herbicides applied alone. The investigation on residual herbicides that provide extended in-season weed control should be continued as an important aspect of glyphosate stewardship and to mitigate the occurrence of glyphosate-resistant weed populations in grower fields.

Growth chamber experiments were conducted to determine if certain genetic, environmental, and chemical factors or their interactions promote chloroacetamide herbicide injury to corn seedlings. Greater chloroacetamide injury occurred with ‘Pioneer 3320’ than with ‘Pioneer 3780’ hybrid corn, with 15 C than with 30 C soil temperature, with soil moisture at 105% field capacity (FC) than at 75% FC, with alachlor than with metolachlor, and with a herbicide rate of 2.2 kg/ha than with 1.1 kg/ha. Covering the plant containers with clear plastic until seedling emergence caused alachlor to be more phytotoxic to corn than metolachlor. Most factors evaluated increased the injury to corn in an additive manner.

Control and regrowth of hemp dogbane, wild blackberry, and triazine-resistant common lambsquarters (TR-CHEAL) were studied in no-till corn from 1992 to 1994. Hemp dogbane, wild blackberry, and TR-CHEAL population increased 10, 123, and 177%, respectively, between 1992 and 1994 in plots treated with PRE applications of paraquat, atrazine, and metolachlor (weedy checks). POST applications of tank mixtures of 35 g ai/ha nicosulfuron or 20 g/ha primisulfuron with 280 g/ha 2,4-D or 140 g/ha dicamba, and 560 g/ha dicamba applied alone controlled hemp dogbane, wild blackberry, and TR-CHEAL 67 to 98%. These treatments reduced the population or prevented expansion of these weeds the year following treatment. In 1992, corn yield response to weed control was inconsistent. In 1993 and 1994, all plots treated with POST herbicides yielded higher than the weedy check. Corn yield of plots treated with combinations of nicosulfuron or primisulfuron with 2,4-D or dicamba and 560 g/ha dicamba applied alone were 102 to 149% and 124 to 153% higher than the weedy check in 1993 and 1994, respectively.

Field studies were conducted at five locations in North Carolina and Virginia during 1996 and 1997 to evaluate weed control, peanut (Arachis hypogaea) response, and peanut yield following diclosulam applied preplant incorporated (PPI) and in systems with commercial herbicide standards. All plots received a PPI treatment of ethalfluralin at 840 g ai/ha. Ethalfluralin plus diclosulam controlled entireleaf morningglory (Ipomoea hederacea var. integriuscula), ivyleaf morningglory (I. hederacea), pitted morningglory (I. lacunosa), common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), eclipta (Eclipta prostrata), and prickly sida (Sida spinosa) as well as and frequently better than ethalfluralin PPI followed by (fb) acifluorfen plus bentazon postemergence (POST), paraquat plus bentazon early postemergence (EPOST) fb imazapic POST, or imazapic POST. Systems with ethalfluralin plus diclosulam PPI at 26 g ai/ha fb acifluorfen plus bentazon POST controlled a broader spectrum of weeds and yielded greater than systems of ethalfluralin PPI fb imazapic POST or ethalfluralin PPI fb acifluorfen plus bentazon POST. Peanut exhibited excellent tolerance to diclosulam PPI at 17, 26, or 35 g/ha.

The effect of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L. #3 CHEAL) density on spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L. ‘Lidal’) was studied in a 2-yr field experiment near Fairbanks, AK. The data were fit to a rectangular hyperbola model. Common lambsquarters densities explained 74 to 75% of the variability in barley yield. The maximum yield loss attributable to common lambsquarters was 23% in 1982 and 36% in 1983.

Several herbicides control common ragweed postemergence in soybean. However, weed response may be altered if herbicides are tank-mixed and the choice of additive may also influence the degree of weed control. Imazethapyr and thifensulfuron could be tank-mixed with bentazon for broadleaf weed control and visual crop injury reduced compared to a bentazon plus acifluorfen tank-mix. Experiments determined common ragweed control with these herbicides and herbicide combinations when applied with various additives. In the greenhouse, bentazon at 560 g ai/ha reduced common ragweed dry weight 95 to 97%. Common ragweed control with imazethapyr at 35 g/ha increased by 13 and 7% when 28% urea ammonium nitrate was applied with nonionic surfactant or petroleum oil adjuvant, respectively. Tank-mixing imazethapyr with bentazon did not change dry weight of common ragweed compared with bentazon. Bentazon plus thifensulfuron plus nonionic surfactant required the addition of 28% urea ammonium nitrate to reduce dry weight of common ragweed comparable to that with bentazon. In field research, bentazon at 1120 g/ha reduced common ragweed dry weight 78 to 81%. Tank-mixing bentazon with thifensulfuron at 4.5 g/ha or imazethapyr at 71 or 35 g/ha reduced common ragweed dry weight at 14 d after treatment by 89 to 91%, thus enhancing control compared to each herbicide applied alone. Adding 28% urea ammonium nitrate to bentazon plus imazethapyr or bentazon plus thifensulfuron tank-mixes did not increase control compared to these treatments applied with either nonionic surfactant or petroleum oil adjuvant. By 28 d after treatment only imazethapyr at 35 or 71 g/ha plus 28% urea ammonium nitrate plus nonionic surfactant or petroleum oil adjuvant and bentazon plus imazethapyr tank-mixes provided 85% or more control of common ragweed in 1991, and only imazethapyr at 71 g/ha plus 28% urea ammonium nitrate plus petroleum oil adjuvant or imazethapyr at 71 g/ha plus bentazon provided greater than 78% common ragweed control in 1992. Soybean yield was not different from the handweeded control only where bentazon plus 71 g/ha of imazethapyr or acifluorfen at 560 g/ha was applied.

The influence of previous herbicide applications on the degradation rate of butylate [S-ethyl bis (2-methylpropyl)carbamothioate], EPTC (S-ethyl dipropyl carbamothioate), alachlor [2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethyl-phenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl)acetamide], and metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] was measured. Degradation studies were conducted on soils with zero to eight previous applications of butylate, zero and six consecutive annual applications of alachlor, and zero to seven previous applications of metolachlor. Previous applications of alachlor or of metolachlor did not affect the rate of degradation when the same herbicide was reapplied. Soils with previous butylate-use history had more rapid degradation of butylate or EPTC than soils with no previous butylate applications. Because soil sterilization reduced 14CO2 evolution to a low level, soil microorganisms could be the primary mechanism of butylate degradation. There was no difference between butylate or EPTC degradation rate in soils treated previously with butylate. Butylate could not be detected 28 days after treatment in soils previously treated with butylate, whereas soils not previously treated with butylate still contained biologically active butylate. Dietholate (O,O-diethyl O-phenyl phosphorothioate) added to butylate generally reduced the rate of butylate degradation in soils previously treated with butylate, but the butylate concentration always was lower in soils treated previously with butylate than in soils without previous butylate applications. Weed control in the field showed rapid loss of butylate and EPTC in soils with previous butylate treatment and that dietholate reduced the rate of butylate and EPTC degradation.

Voucher specimens and herbarium collections provide the foundation for many aspects of research in the plant sciences. Available for study and verification by contemporary and future workers, voucher specimens promote reproducibility in scientific method because permanent records document identification, distribution, and interspecific and intraspecific variation of species. The utility and importance of voucher specimens and herbarium collections in supporting research in weed science are discussed, and the collection, preparation, documentation, storage, and shipment of voucher specimens are detailed.

Primary tillage is an inexpensive method to control foxtail barley, a perennial bunchgrass which is an increasing concern to no-till cereal farmers in the Northern Great Plains. Moldboard plowing or chisel plowing in fall followed by field cultivation-harrowing in spring effectively controlled established foxtail barley on previously untilled sites before planting spring wheat. In contrast, chisel plowing in spring followed by field cultivation-harrowing did not control this weed completely.

Approximately 1,300 growers from 22 states were surveyed during 2010 to determine herbicide use. Cropping systems included continuous glyphosate-resistant corn, cotton, and soybean, and various combinations of these crops and rotations with non–glyphosate-resistant crops. The most commonly used herbicide for both fall and spring applications was glyphosate followed by synthetic auxin herbicides. Herbicide application in spring was favored over application in the fall. The percentage of growers in a glyphosate-only system was as high as 69% for some cropping systems. Excluding glyphosate, the most frequently used herbicides included photosystem II, mitotic, and protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitors. A higher percentage of growers integrated herbicides other than glyphosate during 2010 compared with 2005. Extensive educational efforts have promoted resistance management by increasing the diversity of herbicides in glyphosate-resistant cropping systems. However, a considerable percentage of growers continued use of only glyphosate from the period of 2005 to 2010, and this practice most likely will continue to exert a high level of selection for evolved glyphosate-resistant weed species.

Due to the limited availability of selective herbicides to control Sumatran fleabane after soybean emergence, it is essential to develop new options that provide effective control prior to planting. A new herbicide formulation containing diclosulam+halauxifen-methyl was evaluated for effectiveness at two Sumatran fleabane plant heights (5 to 10 cm, and 10 to 50 cm) and for soybean selectivity when applied at 7 or 3 d before planting. Combined results from the two sites showed that diclosulam+halauxifen, applied either alone or in a tank mixture with glyphosate, and the tank mixture of diclosulam+2,4-D amine+glyphosate are effective at all rates tested to control Sumatran fleabane in preplant applications. Crop response was observed with applications 7 days before planting at only one of the sites. A rate-dependent crop response was observed for pre-plant applications performed 3 days before soybean planting. However, crop yield was not significantly affected for either timing across all rates. All rates tested of diclosulam+halauxifen in this study were considered safe to soybean.

Research conducted since 1979 in the north central United States and southern Canada demonstrated that after repeated annual applications of the same thiocarbamate herbicide to the same field, control of some difficult-to-control weed species was reduced. Laboratory studies of herbicide degradation in soils from these fields indicated that these performance failures were due to more rapid or “enhanced” biodegradation of the thiocarbamate herbicides after repeated use with a shorter period during which effective herbicide levels remained in the soils. Weeds such as wild proso millet [Panicum miliaceum L. spp. ruderale (Kitagawa) Tzevelev. #3 PANMI] and shattercane [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. # SORVU] which germinate over long time periods were most likely to escape these herbicides after repeated use. Adding dietholate (O,O-diethyl O-phenyl phosphorothioate) to EPTC (S-ethyl dipropyl carbamothioate) reduced problems caused by enhanced EPTC biodegradation in soils treated previously with EPTC alone but not in soils previously treated with EPTC plus dietholate. While previous use of other thiocarbamate herbicides frequently enhanced biodegradation of EPTC or butylate [S-ethyl bis(2-methylpropyl)carbamothioate], previous use of other classes of herbicides or the insecticide carbofuran (2,3 -dihydro-2,2 -dimethyl-7-benzofuranyl methylcarbamate) did not. Enhanced biodegradation of herbicides other than the thiocarbamates was not observed.

Studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of grass and broadleaf weeds on peanut growth and peanut yield. In separate studies, grass or broadleaf weeds were allowed to compete with peanut for various intervals to determine both the critical timing of weed removal and the critical weed-free period. Hand-weeding and selective herbicides were used at appropriate times to remove and terminate weed growth. These periods were then used to determine the critical period of weed control. The effects of various weedy intervals on peanut yield were also investigated. The critical period of grass weed control was found to be from 4.3 to 9 wk after planting (WAP), whereas the critical period of broadleaf weed control was from 2.6 to 8 WAP. Peanut yields decreased as weed interference intervals for both grass and broadleaf weeds increased, demonstrating the need for control of both grass and broadleaf weeds throughout much of the growing season.

The influence of carrier volume was evaluated in field experiments for glyphosate applied to wheat at rates representing 12.5 and 6.3% of the usage rate of 1,120 g ai/ha (140 and 70 g/ha, respectively). Wheat at first node and at heading was exposed to glyphosate applied in a constant carrier volume of 234 L/ha, where herbicide concentration declined with reduction in dosage, and in proportional carrier volumes of 30 L/ha for the 12.5% rate and 15 L/ha for the 6.3% rate, where herbicide concentration remained constant. At 28 d after treatment, glyphosate applied at first node in proportional carrier volume (an average for 30 and 15 L/ha adjusted proportionally to glyphosate rate) reduced wheat height 42% compared with 15% when glyphosate was applied in 234 L/ha. Height reduction was no more than 15% when glyphosate was applied at heading in 234 L/ha or in the proportional carrier volumes and at first node in 234 L/ha. Wheat yield was reduced 42% when glyphosate at 140 g/ha was applied in 234 L/ha but was reduced 54% for the same rate applied in proportional carrier volume. For 70 g/ha glyphosate, wheat yield was reduced 11% when applied in 234 L/ha, but was reduced 42% when the same rate was applied in proportional carrier volume. Wheat yield reduction was equivalent when glyphosate was applied in 234 L/ha at first node and at heading (29 and 24%, respectively), but yield reductions of 60% for first node application and 36% for heading application were observed when glyphosate was applied in a proportional carrier volume. When averaged across carrier volumes and glyphosate rates, the greater yield loss from application at first node was attributed to decreased number of spikelets per spike and seed weight per spike.

The leaves of tall morningglory, giant duckweed, and common purslane were treated with nine surfactants at a concentration of 0.1% and examined after 24 hr using cryo-scanning electron microscopy for phytotoxicity as evidenced by tissue damage and epicuticular wax morphology changes. In some instances, tissue damage could be discerned; however, the effects of a particular surfactant were not uniform across the three species. Morphological alteration of epicuticular waxes was not observed. Gas chromatographic analyses of the epicuticular waxes of the species used in the study reveal component differences and may, in part, explain the lack of uniform response across species for a particular surfactant.

Annual bluegrass is a troublesome weed of Kentucky bluegrass because of a lack of selective POST herbicides for control. Field experiments were conducted in New Jersey to investigate the potential of bispyribac-sodium, primisulfuron, and sulfosulfuron for selective annual bluegrass control in Kentucky bluegrass. Primisulfuron provided the best combination of Kentucky bluegrass safety and annual bluegrass control with greater efficacy in summer than fall. Bispyribac-sodium also provided substantial annual bluegrass control, especially in the summer, but caused unacceptable (> 20%) Kentucky bluegrass injury, whereas annual bluegrass control with sulfosulfuron was inconsistent. Growth chamber experiments confirmed that greater primisulfuron efficacy in summer than fall may be attributed to higher temperatures. Overall, primisulfuron has promising implications for future use in Kentucky bluegrass for annual bluegrass control whereas bispyribac-sodium will likely be more applicable in other cool-season turfgrasses.