Linuron, metribuzin, oryzalin, and metolachlor were applied at recommended (1X) and two-thirds (0.67X) rates to evaluate control of redroot pigweed and common lambsquarters in conventional and rye-stubble reduced-tillage potato production systems. Regardless of tillage, common lambsquarters control was satisfactory during both seasons at both rates of linuron, metribuzin, and oryzalin. Redroot pigweed control by these three herbicides, although excellent in 1988, was poor in RT plots during 1987. Yields did not differ between tillage systems. Reduced weed control with metolachlor during both seasons, and possible crop injury with linuron in 1987 resulted in significant yield reductions.

Texas wheat producers have observed reduced efficacy and failure to control Italian ryegrass with registered rates of sulfonylurea herbicides that were previously effective. Growth chamber studies were conducted to quantify the sensitivity and distribution of Italian ryegrass ecotypes in Texas to triasulfuron and to determine alternative herbicide management options. Italian ryegrass seed samples were collected from over 40 wheat fields in 13 central and north Texas counties where declining Italian ryegrass control was reported by farmers following sulfonylurea herbicide application(s). Two-leaf Italian ryegrass was screened with an application of 150 g ai/ha triasulfuron, a rate five times the registered herbicide use rate. Sensitivity was determined by the response of an ecotype to that of a known susceptible population. Of the 48 Italian ryegrass ecotypes sampled, nine were comparable to susceptible standard, while the remaining 39 ecotypes were less sensitive to triasulfuron. Four of the least sensitive ecotypes to triasulfuron plus the susceptible standard were selected for a subsequent study. Diclofop, clodinafop, and metribuzin reduced fresh weights by at least 69, 71, and 62% across all ecotypes. No imazamox or triasulfuron treatment reduced fresh weights more than 60%.

Weed management systems were established near Lubbock, TX in 2013, 2014, and 2015 to assess the effectiveness of premixed 2,4-D choline+glyphosate alone and in combination with glufosinate and soil-residual herbicides for Palmer amaranth control. Systems consisted of trifluralin applied preplant incorporated followed by an early POST application followed by a mid-POST application. Palmer amaranth control 21 days after the early POST application ranged from 75 to 90% for all treatments that included 2,4-D choline+glyphosate alone or in a tank-mixture in 2013. Twenty-eight days after the mid-POST application, Palmer amaranth was controlled 86 to 99% for all herbicide systems with the exception of systems that included a mid-POST application of glufosinate alone. Combined across 2014 and 2015, Palmer amaranth control 21 days after the early POST application ranged from 96 to 98% for all systems that included 2,4-D choline+glyphosate, 2,4-D choline alone, or 2,4-D choline in a tank-mixture. Combined across 2014 and 2015, Palmer amaranth control 28 days after the mid-POST application ranged from 95 to 100% with the exception of the following: trifluralin preplant incorporated followed by glufosinate with or without acetochlor applied early POST followed by glufosinate mid-POST and trifluralin preplant incorporated followed by glyphosate early POST followed by glyphosate mid-POST. Overall, numerous effective systems were identified; however, systems containing 2,4-D choline+glyphosate or 2,4-D choline early POST and/or mid-POST were among the most effective. Glyphosate or glufosinate only systems or systems that relied on glufosinate alone at the mid-POST timing were inconsistent and often performed poorly.

Carrier water pH is an important factor for enhancing herbicide efficacy. Coapplying agrochemical products with the herbicide might save time and resources; however, the negative effect of foliar fertilizers on herbicide efficacy should be thoroughly evaluated. In greenhouse studies, the effect of carrier water pH (4, 6.5, and 9), foliar fertilizer (zinc [Zn], manganese [Mn], or without fertilizer), and ammonium sulfate (AMS) at 0% or 2.5% vol/vol was evaluated on 2,4-D and premixed 2,4-D plus glyphosate efficacy for giant ragweed, horseweed, and Palmer amaranth control. In addition, a field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of carrier water pH (4, 6.5, and 9); and Zn or Mn foliar fertilizer on premixed 2,4-D plus glyphosate efficacy for horseweed and Palmer amaranth control. In the greenhouse study, 2,4-D and premixed 2,4-D plus glyphosate provided 5% greater weed control at acidic compared with alkaline carrier water pH. Coapplied Mn foliar fertilizer reduced 2,4-D and premixed 2,4-D plus glyphosate efficacy at least 5% for weed control. Addition of AMS enhanced 2,4-D and premixed 2,4-D plus glyphosate efficacy at least 6% for giant ragweed, horseweed, and Palmer amaranth control. In the field study, few significant differences occurred between coapplied Zn or Mn foliar fertilizer for any treatment variables. Therefore, carrier water pH, coapplied foliar fertilizer, and water-conditioning adjuvants have potential to influence herbicide performance. However, weed species could play a role in the differential response of these factors on herbicide efficacy.

Herbicide resistance is a major problem in United States and global agriculture, driving farmers to consider other methods of weed control. One of these methods is harvest weed seed control (HWSC), which has been demonstrated to be effective in Australia. HWSC studies were conducted across Virginia in 2017 and 2018, targeting Italian ryegrass in continuous winter wheat as well as common ragweed and Palmer amaranth in continuous soybean. These studies assessed the impact of HWSC (via weed seed removal) on weed populations in the next year’s crop compared with conventional harvest (weed seeds returned). HWSC reduced Italian ryegrass tillers compared with the conventional harvest at two locations in April (29% and 69%), but no difference was observed at a third location. At wheat harvest, HWSC at one location reduced Italian ryegrass seed heads (41 seed heads m−2) compared with conventional harvest (125 seed heads m−2). In soybean, before preplant herbicide applications and POST herbicide applications, HWSC reduced common ragweed densities by 22% and 26%, respectively, compared with the conventional harvest plots. By soybean harvest, no differences in common ragweed density, seed retention, or crop yield were observed, because of effectiveness of POST herbicides. No treatment differences were observed at any evaluation timing for Palmer amaranth, which is attributed to farmer weed management (i.e., effective herbicides) and low weed densities making any potential treatment differences difficult to detect. Across wheat and soybean, there were no differences observed in crop yield between treatments. Overall, HWSC was demonstrated to be a viable method to reduce Italian ryegrass and common ragweed populations.

A thorough understanding of commonly used herbicide application practices and technologies is needed to provide recommendations and determine necessary application education efforts. An online survey to assess ground and aerial herbicide application practices in Arkansas was made available online in spring 2019. The survey was direct-emailed to 272 agricultural aviators and 831 certified commercial pesticide applicators, as well as made publicly available online through multiple media sources. A total of 124 responses were received, of which 75 responses were specific to herbicide applications in Arkansas agronomic crops, accounting for approximately 49% of Arkansas’ planted agronomic crop hectares in 2019. Ground and aerial application equipment were used for 49% and 51% of the herbicide applications on reported hectares, respectively. Rate controllers were commonly used application technologies for both ground and aerial application equipment. In contrast, global positioning system-driven automatic nozzle and boom shut-offs were much more common on ground spray equipment than aerial equipment. Applicator knowledge of nozzles and usage was limited, regardless of ground or aerial applicators, as only 28% of respondents provided a specific nozzle type used, indicating a need for educational efforts on nozzles and their importance in herbicide applications. Of the reported nozzle types, venturi nozzles and straight-stream nozzles were the most commonly used for ground and aerial spray equipment, respectively. Spray carrier volumes of 96.3 and 118.8 L ha−1 for ground spray equipment and 49.6 and 59.9 L ha−1 for aerial application equipment were the means of reported spray volumes for systemic and contact herbicides, respectively. Respondents indicated application optimization was a major benefit of utilizing newer application technologies, herbicide drift was a primary challenge, and research needs expressed by respondents included adjuvants, spray volume efficacy, and herbicide drift. Findings from this survey provided insight into current practices, technologies, and needs of Arkansas herbicide applicators. Research and education efforts can be implemented as a result to address aforementioned needs while providing applied research-based information to applicators based on current practices.

In field studies effective dogfennel control was obtained with glyphosate, dicamba + 2,4-D, triclopyr + 2,4-D, and fluroxypyr at rates of 1.68, 0.44 + 1.25, 0.56 + 1.12, and 0.28 kg ai/ha, respectively, applied after dogfennel was 75 cm tall. Mowing alone reduced dogfennel regrowth by 81% and when combined with dicamba + 2,4-D or triclopyr + 2,4-D regrowth was reduced over 94%. Triclopyr, dichlorprop, and sulfometuron also controlled dogfennel greater than 90% but metsulfuron did not.

Field experiments were conducted in Oklahoma to quantify the wheat grain yield losses and price discounts resulting from season-long interference with cheat, feral rye, Italian ryegrass, jointed goatgrass, and wild oat. Plots were seeded to individual weeds at one of seven seeding rates, and wheat was planted in all plots at a uniform rate. Maximum weed densities were 89 (cheat), 80 (feral rye), 158 (Italian ryegrass), 170 (jointed goatgrass), and 120 plants/m2 (wild oat). Wheat grain yield losses caused by interference from the maximum density of each weed species were 19 (cheat), 55 (feral rye), 20 (Italian ryegrass), 21 (jointed goatgrass), and 28% (wild oat). Wheat grain total price discounts caused by interference from the maximum density of each weed species were 22 (cheat), 368 (feral rye), 26 (Italian ryegrass), 36 (jointed goatgrass), and 64 cents/hectoliter (wild oat). Of the five weed species included in this research, interference from feral rye had the greatest effect on wheat grain yield and price.

Field studies were conducted in wild blueberry in 2007 and 2008 to evaluate the efficacy of hexazinone applied PRE and multiple application timings of POST mesotrione on goldenrods and the efficacy of burning, terbacil applied PRE, nicosulfuron/rimsulfuron applied POST, and multiple application timings of mesotrione applied POST on black bulrush. Mesotrione application timings were at 10 and 30 cm of height, floral bud initiation, and full flower. Hexazinone applied at 1.92 kg ha−1 in 200 L water ha−1 effectively suppressed goldenrods. At least 90% goldenrod damage was achieved with mesotrione POST applied at 101 g ha−1 in 300 L water ha−1 before full flower, following hexazinone PRE at two of three sites. Damage following mesotrione was more variable when hexazinone was not applied. Mesotrione efficacy was lower when applied in the crop year, but a crop-year registration may be warranted to improve harvest ease and increase berry quality. A single application of mesotrione at the label rate did not adequately control black bulrush. Ninety percent black bulrush control was achieved with rimsulfuron/nicosulfuron applied at a rate of 0.03 g L−1 of water with 0.2% v/v nonionic surfactant. Equivalent levels of control were achieved with sequential mesotrione applications at the label rate.

The agricultural community is currently involved in a debate with other members of society concerning many of the tools and tactics used to grow food. The discipline of weed science represents a microcosm of this larger societal debate, and thus is indicative of many other applied agricultural disciplines. Weed science comprises six fundamental disciplines, which have been arranged to depict its three major areas of research: weed technology, weed biology, and the ethics of weed control. Insight into those components of the debate that involve weed science is gained by examining each area. It seems unlikely that solutions to the “neckriddle” can be found through traditional research because of the integrative nature of agriculture, which involves environmental, economic, and social components. It is hoped that movement toward more holistic approaches to research will lead to resolution of the debate between society and the agricultural community.

Soft red winter wheat tolerance and Italian ryegrass control with AE F130060 00 plus AE F115008 00 at 12.5 plus 2.5 g ai/ha applied alone and mixed with dicamba, 2,4-D, or thifensulfuron plus tribenuron were examined in separate field experiments. AE F130060 00 plus AE F115008 00 applied alone in December injured wheat 12% or less, whereas mixtures with thifensulfuron plus tribenuron injured wheat 15% or less. AE F130060 00 plus AE F115008 00 applied alone in February or mixed with dicamba, 2,4-D, or thifensulfuron plus tribenuron injured wheat 3% or less. No treatment affected yield of weed-free wheat. AE F130060 00 plus AE F115008 00 applied in December controlled Italian ryegrass 86 to 99% in May and increased wheat yield 142 to 254%. At two of four locations, Italian ryegrass control was greater with the December application of AE F130060 00 plus AE F115008 as compared with the February application. Dicamba or 2,4-D mixed with AE F130060 00 plus AE F115008 00 reduced Italian ryegrass control in May approximately 10% in half the trials but did not affect wheat yield compared with AE F130060 00 plus AE F115008 00 applied alone. Thifensulfuron plus tribenuron mixed with AE F130060 00 plus AE F115008 00 did not affect Italian ryegrass control or wheat yield. Under greenhouse conditions, the rate of AE F130060 00 plus AE F115008 00 needed for 80% Italian ryegrass visible control and 80% shoot fresh weight reduction was increased 60 to 68% in mixtures with 2,4-D. Dicamba increased the rate needed for 80% visible control and shoot fresh weight reduction 132 to 139%.

Field studies were conducted in 1999 and 2000 to evaluate the response of three runner market-type peanut cultivars to diclosulam applied preplant incorporated at 0,18, 27, or 54 g ai/ha in a weed-free environment. Peanut cultivars evaluated included ‘Georgia Green’, ‘C-99R’, and ‘MDR-98’. Peanut injury was not observed with diclosulam at any rate or with any cultivar. Diclosulam did not affect peanut canopy development, percentage extra-large kernels, sound mature kernels, sound splits, total sound mature kernels, other kernels, or yield for any cultivar.

Studies were conducted in 1988, 1989, and 1992 in Plains, GA to measure effects of paraquat and alachlor on ‘Florunner’ peanut. Peanut treated with paraquat (0.14 kg ai/ha) plus alachlor (3.4 kg ai/ha) applied at vegetative emergence (VE), or paraquat plus alachlor VE followed by paraquat 28 days after emergence (DAE) were compared with a nontreated control. Both herbicide treatments reduced peanut foliage biomass at 65 DAE in 1989 and 1992. Herbicide treatments did not affect foliage biomass 90 DAE in 1988 and 122 DAE in 1989, but paraquat plus alachlor followed by paraquat reduced foliage biomass at 122 DAE in 1992. Pod biomass, measured at 90 and 65 DAE in 1988 and 1992, respectively, was reduced by herbicides. However, pod biomass did not differ among treatments 122 DAE in 1989 and 1992. Percent reflectance from the peanut canopy measured no effects from herbicides in 1988. However, in 1989 and 1992 herbicides applied sequentially reduced peanut canopy development. Peanut treated with a single herbicide and sequentially took longer to mature. Once optimum maturity was reached, peanut yields were not reduced.

A cropping system of soybeans and rice grown in alternate years for 4 yr controlled red rice when combined with effective herbicide treatments applied to the soybean crop. Effective herbicide treatments in soybeans were preplant incorporated applications of alachlor, metolachlor, or alachlor plus trifluralin each followed by postemergence over-the-top applications of bentazon plus mefluidide, postemergence directed applications of paraquat, or sequential applications of postemergence over-the-top bentazon plus mefluidide and postemergence directed paraquat. Control of red rice in soybeans reduced red rice infestations in the subsequent rice crop. Red rice infestations were lower in rice grown the fourth year than in rice grown the second year. Postemergence over-the-top or directed herbicide treatments used alone or combined with preplant incorporated applications of trifluralin did not control red rice in soybeans with subsequent red rice infestations in the rice crop.

Weed-detecting reflectance sensors were modified to allow selective interrogation of the near infrared–red ratio to estimate differences in plant biomass. Sampling was programmed to correspond to the forward movement of the field of view of the sensors. There was a linear relationship (r 2 > 0.80) between actual biomass and crop canopy analyzer (CCA) values up to 2,000 kg/ha for winter wheat sequentially thinned to create different amounts of biomass and up to 1,000 kg/ha for spring wheat sampled at different stages of development. At higher amounts of biomass the sensors underestimated the actual biomass. A linear relationship (r 2 = 0.73) was obtained with the CCA for the biomass of 76 chickpea cultivars at 500 growing degree days (GDD500). The reflectance sensors were used to determine differences in the herbicide response of soybean cultivars sprayed with increasing rates of herbicides. The CCA data resulted in better dose–response relationships than did biomass data for bromoxynil at 0.8 kg ai/ha and glyphosate at 1.35 kg ai/ha. There was no phytotoxicity to soybean with imazethapyr at 1.44 kg ai/ha. The method offers a quick and nondestructive means to measure differences in early-season crop growth. It also has potential in selecting crop cultivars with greater seedling vigor, as an indicator of crop nutrient status, in plant disease assessment, in determining crop cultivar responses to increasing herbicide dose rates, in weed mapping, and in studying temporal changes in crop or weed biomass.

The development of crops resistant to 2,4-D, dicamba, and glufosinate may provide new options for the management of glyphosate-resistant (GR) giant ragweed and other herbicide-resistant weeds. A fallow field study was conducted in 2011 and 2012 to determine the control of GR giant ragweed with 2,4-D and dicamba applied alone and in combination with glufosinate or fomesafen. Dicamba and 2,4-D tank-mixed with glufosinate or fomesafen provided the highest level of control at 10 or 20 days after application (DAA). At 30 DAA, all herbicide treatments provided > 88% control of giant ragweed except glyphosate, glufosinate, and 2,4-D alone at 0.56 kg ae ha−1. Glyphosate, glufosinate, and 2,4-D alone at 0.56 kg ae ha−1 also had the highest number of giant ragweed plants (> 5.8 plants m−2) and highest biomass (> 19.2 g m−2). Contrast statements between 2,4-D and dicamba indicated no differences among treatments containing these herbicides. However, contrast analysis indicated that herbicides applied alone resulted in 56, 58, and 61% control while tank-mix combinations of 2,4-D or dicamba with glufosinate or fomesafen resulted in 86, 91, and 93% control, respectively. Herbicides applied alone also had more giant ragweed plants and biomass per m−2 than herbicides applied in tank-mix combinations. Tank-mixing combinations of 2,4-D and dicamba will be important for effective control of GR giant ragweed.

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) common waterhemp is the fifth GR weed species confirmed in Canada, and the fourth in Ontario. As of 2017, GR common waterhemp has been confirmed in Lambton, Essex, and Chatham-Kent counties in Ontario. Greenhouse and field dose–response experiments revealed that GR common waterhemp in Ontario had a resistance level of 4.5 and 28, respectively, when compared with known glyphosate-susceptible populations. At 12 wk after application, pyroxasulfone/flumioxazin (240 g ai ha−1), pyroxasulfone/sulfentrazone (300 g ai ha−1), and S-metolachlor/metribuzin (1,943 g ai ha−1) controlled GR common waterhemp 97%, 92%, and 87%, respectively. Pyroxasulfone/sulfentrazone or S-metolachlor/metribuzin applied PRE followed by acifluorfen (600 g ai ha−1) or fomesafen (240 g ai ha−1) applied POST controlled GR common waterhemp 98% and performed better than PRE or POST alone. This research is the first to determine the resistance factor of GR common waterhemp in Ontario and identifies control strategies in soybean to mitigate the impact of common waterhemp interference in soybean crop production.

Field studies were conducted in South Carolina and Georgia to evaluate weed control and soybean tolerance and yield after nonionic surfactant addition to combinations of chlorimuron plus an adjuvant-containing glyphosate formulation. Treatments included glyphosate alone, at 420 or 840 g ae/ha, or in combination with 6 or 9 g ai/ha chlorimuron and all possible combinations with or without 0.25% (v/v) nonionic surfactant. Other treatments included a weed-free and nontreated check. Chlorimuron plus glyphosate improved entireleaf, smallflower, and tall morningglory control over glyphosate alone, but nonionic surfactant addition did not further improve the control of any species, except tall morningglory. Up to 31% early-season injury was observed with the three-way mixture. Soybean injury was greater, and yields were reduced in one of three trials when nonionic surfactant was added to chlorimuron plus glyphosate combinations. This research indicates that there would be no benefit from the nonionic surfactant addition to this adjuvant-containing glyphosate formulation when combined with chlorimuron.

Two furrow irrigated field experiments were conducted for two years at the Research and Extension Center, Powell, WY to determine the influence of various mixed densities and durations of wild oat and wild mustard interference in sugarbeet. Sugarbeet root yields were reduced by competition from all examined densities of wild oat and wild mustard, alone and in combination. Root yield reduction was less than additive with mixed densities of wild oat and wild mustard. Root yields decreased as the duration of interference after sugarbeet emergence from a mixed density of wild oat and wild mustard increased. Sucrose content of sugarbeet was not altered by competition. Based on regression analysis, the minimum time that a mixed density of 0.8 wild mustard and 1 wild oat/m of row can interfere with sugarbeet before causing an economic root yield loss was approximately 1.6 weeks after sugarbeet emergence.

Decision support systems (DSSs) have been developed to assist producers and consultants with weed management decisions. WeedSOFT is a DSS currently used in several states in the north-central region of the United States. Accurate estimates of crop yield loss due to weed interference are required for cost-effective weed management recommendations. WeedSOFT uses competitive indices (CIs) to predict crop yield loss under multiple weed species, weed densities, and relative times of weed emergence. Performance of several WeedSOFT versions to predict soybean yield loss from weed competition was evaluated using CI values in WeedSOFT version 9.0 compared to new CI values calculated from weed dry matter, weed volume, and soybean yield loss in two soybean row spacings (19 and 76 cm) and two relative weed emergence times (at soybean emergence and first trifoliate leaf stage). Overall, new CI values improved predictions of soybean yield loss by as high as 63%. It was especially true with using new CI values based on yield loss compared to those based on weed dry matter or weed volume. However, there were inconsistencies in predictions for most weed species, suggesting that additional modifications are needed to further improve soybean yield loss predictions.