Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of chemical treatments applied to Palmer amaranth seeds or gynoecious plants that retain seeds to determine seed germination and quality. Treatments applied to physiologically mature Palmer amaranth seed included acifluorfen, dicamba, ethephon, flumioxazin, fomesafen, halosulfuron, linuron, metribuzin, oryzalin, pendimethalin, pyroxasulfone, S-metolachlor, saflufenacil, trifluralin, and 2,4-D plus crop oil concentrate applied at 1× and 2× the suggested use rates from the manufacturer. Germination was reduced by 20% when 2,4-D was used, 15% when dicamba was used, and 13% when halosulfuron and pyroxasulfone were used. Use of dicamba, ethephon, halosulfuron, oryzalin, trifluralin, and 2,4-D resulted in decreased seedling length by an average of at least 50%. Due to the observed effect of dicamba, ethephon, halosulfuron, oryzalin, trifluralin, and 2,4-D, these treatments were applied to gynoecious Palmer amaranth inflorescence at the 2× registered application rates to evaluate their effects on progeny seed. Dicamba use resulted in a 24% decrease in seed germination, whereas all other treatment results were similar to those of the control. Crush tests showed that seed viability was greater than 95%, thus dicamba did not have a strong effect on seed viability. No treatments applied to Palmer amaranth inflorescence affected average seedling length; therefore, chemical treatments did not affect the quality of seeds that germinated.

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth continues to be challenging to control across the U.S. cotton belt. Timely application of POST herbicides and herbicides applied at planting or during the season with residual activity are utilized routinely to control this weed. Although glyphosate controls large Palmer amaranth that is not GR, herbicides such as glufosinate used in resistance management programs for GR Palmer amaranth must be applied when weeds are small. Dicamba can complement both glyphosate and glufosinate in controlling GR and glyphosate-susceptible (GS) biotypes in resistant cultivars. Two studies were conducted to determine Palmer amaranth control, weed biomass, and cotton yield, as well as to estimate economic net return when herbicides were applied 2, 3, 4, and 5 wk after planting (WAP). In one experiment POST-only applications were made. In the second experiment PRE herbicides were included. In general, Palmer amaranth was controlled at least 98% by herbicides applied at least three times regardless of timing of application or herbicide sequence. Glyphosate plus dicamba applied at 4 and 5 WAP controlled Palmer amaranth similarly compared to three applications by 8 WAP; however, yield was reduced 23% because of early-season interference. The inclusion of PRE herbicides benefited treatments that did not include herbicides applied 2 or 3 WAP. Glyphosate plus dicamba applied as the only herbicides 5 WAP provided 69% control of Palmer amaranth. PRE herbicides increased control to 96% for this POST treatment. Economic returns were similar when three or more POST applications were applied, with or without PRE herbicides.

Extension workers are sensing pressure to use soils information and chemical characteristics data to guide farmers in selecting pesticides least prone to leach into groundwater. Our objective was to estimate differences in herbicide migration to groundwater under conditions typical for the Southeast Coastal Plain, and to consider how a farmer might be advised to use such knowledge in selecting herbicides. We used a simple computer code for microcomputers to predict persistence and migration of 17 herbicides through a hypothetical, coarse-textured soil typical of the Southeast Coastal Plain. Appropriate herbicides were selected for several common crop-weed problems, such as sicklepod in soybean and Palmer amaranth in corn. Groundwater was assumed to be 3.15 m below the soil surface. Herbicides selected covered a broad range of half-lives and organic carbon partition coefficients. Only after the first-order degradation rate constant was reduced by a factor of five did predicted soil water concentrations of several herbicides at the groundwater interface reach normal detection limits. Still, predicted concentrations were below the level established for health effects advisory purposes. Due to the large number of uncertainties and the inability to estimate practical benefits, we conclude that data relating to soil and herbicide characteristics cannot be used at this time to override cost effectiveness, efficacy, and other factors normally considered by farmers and Extension professionals in herbicides for weed control.

Weed control is a limiting factor for adoption of conservation tillage systems on the Texas Southern High Plains. A field study was established to evaluate Palmer amaranth control with strip-tillage dinitroaniline herbicide incorporation in wheat residue. Preemergence herbicides were applied alone and in combination with strip-tilled incorporated herbicides. Significant cotton injury or stand reductions were not observed with any treatment. Effective (>80%) early season Palmer amaranth control was achieved with trifluralin or pendimethalin in conjunction with preemergence herbicides. Preemergence herbicides alone did not provide adequate control.

Root development and the associated acquisition of water and nutrients are an important part of weed competitiveness. Characterization of root morphological development, however, is inherently problematic because of the complexities of soil–plant interactions. In this study, we used hydroponically grown plants and digital imaging to examine root characteristics of Glycine max and the competing weeds Senna obtusifolia and Amaranthus palmeri. The purpose was to define inherent differences in root length and surface area that would contribute to growth responses during the establishment phase in the field. The methodology involved growing plants for 16 to 22 d, dissecting and staining root segments, mounting subsamples on slides, and imaging using a stereomicroscope and digital camera. Microscopy was required because of the small diameters of a significant proportion of the weed roots. With plants of similar root fresh weights (4.5 to 5.0 g), counting of individual roots revealed that 5. obtusifolia and A. palmeri had 2 and 3.7 times more roots than G. max (4,616 and 7,781 vs. 2,120, respectively). The imaging analyses indicated that roots of S. obtusifolia and A. palmeri had 2.9 and 5 times more length than G. max (10,042 and 17,192 cm vs. 3,418 cm, respectively). Furthermore, the analysis of length in different root diameter classes indicated that weed roots were noticeably finer then those of G. max. Approximately 84% of S. obtusifolia root length was contributed by roots in the 0.1- to 0.25-mm range, whereas 45% of the G. max roots were in the 0.1- to 0.25-mm range and 48% were in the 0.25- to 0.75-mm range. In contrast, 68% of A. palmeri length was contributed by roots smaller than 0.1 mm in diameter with 26% in the 0.1- to 0.25-mm range. Based on the expression of root characteristics observed here, root systems of these weed species would have finer roots with much greater length that would occupy a much larger volume of soil than those of G. max. Presumably, this would result in a competitive advantage in the acquisition of water and nutrients, especially when availability is limited.

The weed control spectrum of clomazone, the influence of clomazone on the performance of other herbicides, and the performance of tank mixtures containing clomazone were evaluated from 1985 through 1987. Clomazone applied preemergence at 280 g ai/ha controlled 90 to 100% of barnyardgrass, giant foxtail, goosegrass, large crabgrass, seedling johnsongrass, prickly sida, and velvetleaf. Clomazone at reduced rates was more effective applied preemergence than preplant-incorporated for 10 of 23 weed species. Clomazone enhanced imazaquin activity on entireleaf morningglory and sicklepod in 1986. A tank mixture of clomazone, imazaquin, and metribuzin at half the labeled rates reduced soybean injury, increased soybean yield, and controlled weeds as well as the mixture at labeled rates.

A 2-yr field study was conducted at Fayetteville, AR, to determine the effect of Palmer amaranth interference on soybean growth and yield. Palmer amaranth density had little effect on soybean height, but soybean canopy width ranged from 77 cm in the weed-free check to 35 cm in plots with 10 plants m–1 of row 12 wk after emergence. Soybean yield reduction was highly correlated to Palmer amaranth biomass at 8 wk after emergence and maturity, soybean biomass at 8 wk after emergence, and Palmer amaranth density. Soybean yield reduction was 17, 27, 32, 48, 64, and 68%, respectively, for Palmer amaranth densities of 033, 0.66, 1, 2, 333, and 10 plants m–1 of row. Soybean yield reduction and Palmer amaranth biomass were linear to approximately 2 Palmer amaranth m–1 of row, suggesting intraspecific interference between adjacent Palmer amaranth is initiated at Palmer amaranth densities between 2 and 3.33 plants m–1 of row.

Competition of weeds was characterized by determining the distance down the soybean row that a weed affects soybean biomass and yield. Field studies were conducted for 2 yr to compare competitive effects of common cocklebur, johnsongrass, Palmer amaranth, sicklepod, and tall morningglory on ‘Forrest’ and ‘Centennial’ soybeans. The weeds did not significantly reduce soybean biomass for 6 weeks after emergence. Palmer amaranth, common cocklebur, and tall morningglory had the greatest biomass by 6 weeks after emergence. However, only competition from common cocklebur and Palmer amaranth measurably reduced soybean biomass during the growing season. Biomass of Forrest and Centennial soybeans was reduced when these cultivars were growing within 12.5 and 50 cm of common cocklebur, respectively. Johnsongrass, sicklepod, and tall morningglory grew more slowly than the other weeds and had no measurable competitive effects on soybean biomass. Soybean competition reduced biomass of all weeds 90 to 97%. Soybean cultivar influenced the level and duration of competitiveness depending on the weed species present. Biomass of both soybean cultivars was reduced when they were growing within 50 cm of Palmer amaranth. Soybean seed yield was reduced when soybeans were growing within 25 cm of common cocklebur and Palmer amaranth and also when they were growing within 12.5 cm of tall morningglory. Sicklepod had no effect on soybean seed yield.

Variability in weed control following pyrithiobac applications has been observed under field conditions. The influence of temperature on this variability was investigated. Results from field studies performed over two growing seasons identified plant and air temperatures at the time of herbicide treatment that correlated with whole-plant efficacy differences. Based on the field data, weed control with pyrithiobac was acceptable at application temperatures of 20 to 34 C. To investigate a potential source of thermal limitations on pyrithiobac efficacy, the thermal dependence of in vitro inhibition of acetolactate synthase (ALS), the site of action for pyrithiobac, was examined. A crude leaf extract of ALS was obtained from Amaranthus palmeri. Relative inhibitor potency (I50) values were obtained at saturating substrate conditions for temperatures from 10 to 50 C. Regression analysis of field activity against I50 values showed the two data sets to be highly correlated (R 2 = 0.88). The thermal dependence of enzyme/herbicide interactions may provide another means of understanding environmental factors limiting herbicidal efficacy and predicting herbicide inhibition at the whole-plant level.

Terbacil (3-tert-butyl-5-chloro-6-methyluracil), diuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea], hexazinone [3-cyclohexyl-6-(dimethylamino)-1-methyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione], and metribuzin [4-amino-6-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazin-5(4H)-one] controlled palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats. ♯ AMAPA) in established alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) when applied after first harvest. However, these same herbicides did not control palmer amaranth when applied early-season in March. Alfalfa forage yields were increased when palmer amaranth was controlled. Residue levels of terbacil and its metabolites in alfalfa forage from plots treated postharvest with 1.1 kg/ha of terbacil were well below the 5-ppm tolerance level established for terbacil in alfalfa. There was some chlorosis of alfalfa foliage following the postharvest use of the 1.1 kg ai/ha of terbacil. There was also a yield reduction of alfalfa in two of the six experiments (one from a March and one from a June application) where 1.1 kg ai/ha of terbacil was evaluated.

Black nightshade plants were controlled by hoeing in the same cotton plots each year (1982 to 1986) for 3 to 15 weeks after crop emergence to evaluate the influence of several black nightshade-free periods on cotton yield, reproduction of black nightshade, and longevity of weed seeds in soil. Similar information, although limited, was also collected for Palmer amaranth that escaped the initial herbicidal treatment each year. Except for 1982, black nightshade competing with cotton for the duration of the growing season in nonhoed plots severely reduced yields (60 to 100%), with greatest yield reductions (82 to 100%) occurring in 1983 and 1984 when 0.5 to 0.7 cm of rain fell within 10 days after cotton planting. When combined with cultivation, a 3-week nightshade-free period at cotton planting was of sufficient duration to protect cotton yields. Weed seed production for all hoed treatments was less than 1% of the nonhoed treatment, and after five consecutive cotton crops (1982 to 1986), the amount of both black nightshade and Palmer amaranth seeds in soil was similar for all hoed treatments. These populations were 60 to 80% and 95 to 97% less than beginning populations of black nightshade and Palmer amaranth in 1982, respectively. After 5 yr of continuous treatments, cotton was grown in 1987, with standard cultivation as the only method of weed control, to evaluate how the weed-free periods in 1982 to 1986 influenced weed seed populations in the soil and the resultant effect on weed competition and cotton yields. Reduction of cotton yields in 1987, in the absence of weed-free periods, indicated that black nightshade seed survival in soil appears to be sufficiently long for ample establishment of this weed to compete with cotton. Thus, fields will have to be kept weed free for greater than 5 yr to reduce black nightshade populations to a level that will not reduce cotton yields.

Studies were conducted at the Main Agricultural Experiment Station in Fayetteville and the Vegetable Substation in Kibler, Arkansas, in 1992 and 1993 on the same plots to evaluate weed suppression by winter cover crops alone or in combination with reduced herbicide rates in no-till sweet corn and to evaluate cover crop effects on growth and yield of sweet corn. Plots seeded to rye plus hairy vetch, rye, or wheat had at least 50% fewer early season weeds than hairy vetch alone or no cover crop. None of the cover crops reduced population of yellow nutsedge. Without herbicides, hairy vetch did not suppress weeds 8 wk after cover crop desiccation. Half rates of atrazine and metolachlor (1.1 + 1.1 kg ai ha−1) reduced total weed density more effectively in no cover crop than in hairy vetch. Half rates of atrazine and metolachlor controlled redroot pigweed, Palmer amaranth, and goosegrass regardless of cover crop. Full rates of atrazine and metolachlor (2.2 + 2.2 kg ai ha−1) were needed to control large crabgrass in hairy vetch. Control of yellow nutsedge in hairy vetch was marginal even with full herbicide rates. Yellow nutsedge population increased and control with herbicides declined the second year, particularly with half rates of atrazine and metolachlor. All cover crops except hairy vetch alone reduced emergence, height, and yield of sweet corn. Sweet corn yields from half rates of atrazine and metolachlor equalled the full rates regardless of cover crops.

Seven postemergence (POST) herbicides were evaluated alone and in various mixtures for Palmer amaranth control in peanut from 1992 through 1994. AC 263,222 at rates as low as 0.04 kg/ha controlled ≥ 95% Palmer amaranth. Imazethapyr at rates of 0.05 to 0.07 kg/ha controlled ≥ 90% Palmer amaranth in 2 of 3 yr. Acifluorfen alone or in combination with bentazon or 2,4-DB and lactofen alone controlled > 90% Palmer amaranth in 2 of 3 yr. Bentazon or pyridate failed to provide adequate control (≤ 60%), while 2,4-DB provided good control (80%) in only 1 of 3 yr.

Field experiments were conducted in 1986, 1987, and 1988 to evaluate imazethapyr rate and time of application on postemergence control of 24 weed species. Contour graphs were developed that predicted imazethapyr rates required for various levels of weed control based upon weed leaf number at application. Rates below the labeled rate (70 g ha−1) provided 90% or greater control of common cocklebur, smallflower morningglory, and smooth pigweed if applied to 3 true-leaf or smaller weeds and of barnyardgrass, seedling johnsongrass, and Palmer amaranth if applied while weeds were in the cotyledon or 1 true-leaf stage. A rate of 70 g ha−1 provided 90% control of large crabgrass in the 1 true-leaf stage. Entireleaf morningglory, red rice, pitted morningglory, and velvetleaf are not susceptible enough to imazethapyr for 90% or greater control to be obtained with rates lower than 70 g ha−1 at the 1 true-leaf growth stage. These data demonstrate how control data can be used for developing effective reduced-rate herbicide recommendations based on weed leaf number.

Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats. # AMAPA) residue was incorporated into soil to determine its allelopathic effects on the seedling growth of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench.), cabbage (Brassica oleracea, var. capitata L.), carrot (Daucus carota L.), and onion (Allium cepa L.). Root and shoot growths were equally sensitive to the toxic effects of soil-incorporated Palmer amaranth. Growth of ‘Grand Slam’ cultivar of cabbage was 17 to 30% more sensitive than the growth of 'Sanibel’ cabbage. Growth of onion and carrot seedlings was less inhibited than either cabbage or grain sorghum. Growth of grain sorghum root was severely inhibited by 8000 and 16 000 ppm of Palmer amaranth in soil and was not affected by oven dryings other than lyophilization. Seedling growth was more severely inhibited by thyrsus and leaf tissues than by stem and root tissues of Palmer amaranth.

An experiment was conducted at four locations in North Carolina during 1994 and 1995 to evaluate weed control, cotton yield, fiber quality, and net returns in no-tillage bromoxynil-tolerant cotton. The experiment focused on using bromoxynil or pyrithiobac sodium applied early POST over-the-top as alternatives to fluometuron plus MSMA applied early POST directed. Fluometuron plus MSMA was more effective than bromoxynil or pyrithiobac sodium on tall morningglory, large crabgrass, goosegrass, and broadleaf signalgrass. Bromoxynil and fluometuron plus MSMA were similarly effective on common lambsquarters, common ragweed, and eclipta and more effective than pyrithiobac sodium. Pyrithiobac sodium and fluometuron plus MSMA were similarly effective on smooth pigweed and Palmer amaranth and more effective than bromoxynil. Prickly sida control by bromoxynil and pyrithiobac sodium was equal to or greater than control by fluometuron plus MSMA. All early POST herbicides controlled pitted morningglory similarly. Regardless of the early POST herbicides used, fluometuron applied PRE and cyanazine plus MSMA applied late POST directed increased control of most weeds and increased cotton yield and net returns. Bromoxynil and pyrithiobac sodium effectively substituted for fluometuron plus MSMA only in systems that included fluometuron applied PRE and cyanazine plus MSMA applied late POST directed. Effects of herbicide systems on cotton fiber quality were minor.

Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats. # AMAPA) planted in a field at monthly intervals from March through October at Shafter, CA, began to emerge in March when soil temperatures at a depth of 5 cm reached 18 C. With the exception of March and April plantings, at least 50% of the seed of later plantings produced seedlings within 2 weeks after planting. Although growth of plants was initially slower for early plantings, plantings from March to July reached 2 m or greater in height by fall. Due to longer growing times, plantings from March to June eventually produced more dry matter and a greater number of inflorescences than later plantings. Plants began flowering 5 to 9 weeks after planting in March through June and 3 to 4 weeks after planting in July through October. Some viable seed was produced as early as 2 to 3 weeks after flowering began. Total seed production in the fall ranged from 200 000 to 600 000 seed/plant for the March through June plantings, and 115 to 80 000 seed/plant for the July through September plantings. Killing frosts in November prevented Palmer amaranth planted in October from producing seed.

Studies were conducted at the Vegetable Substation in Kibler, AR, in 1992 and 1993, in the same plots, to evaluate weed suppression by spring-seeded cover crops and to determine the effects of cover crop and imazethapyr on no-till southern pea. A plot without cover, conventionally tilled before planting southern pea, served as control. Weed control treatments, applied as subplots in each cover crop, included a weedy check, handweeded check, and half and full rates of imazethapyr (0.035 and 0.07 kg/ha) followed by sethoxydim (0.22 kg/ha). Biomass of Palmer amaranth 6 WAR without herbicides, was less in Italian ryegrass and sorghum-sudangrass residues than in oat residue and no cover crop. Over the years, Palmer amaranth density increased 333% without cover crops and 28% with cover crops. Rice flatsedge density increased four to five times in oat and sorghum-sudangrass residues but remained the same in Italian ryegrass residue. In general, Italian ryegrass residue suppressed the most weeds. Oat residue was least suppressive. Italian ryegrass and sorghum-sudangrass also reduced southern pea stand. Regardless of cover crop and year, half and full rates of imazethapyr followed by sethoxydim equally reduced density of Palmer amaranth, goosegrass, large crabgrass, southwestern cupgrass, and rice flatsedge compared with the untreated check. Residual control of Palmer amaranth by imazethapyr was higher at the full rate than the reduced rate, regardless of cover crop. Half rate of imazethapyr followed by sethoxydim controlled 94 to 100% of Palmer amaranth, rice flatsedge, large crabgrass, and southwestern cupgrass late in the season, regardless of cover crop in 1992 and 1993. Southern pea yield in untilled plots with cover crops was two to three times lower than yield in plots with preplant tillage and no cover crops mostly because of reduction in crop stand in the presence of cover crops.

Concentrations of DIBOA [2,4-dihydroxy-1,4-(2H)-benzoxazine-3-one] and BOA [2-(3H)-benzoxazolinone], described previously as major allelochemicals in Secale cereale (rye), were determined in eight field-grown cultivars, harvested at booting, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Allelochemicals were also quantified in greenhouse-grown cultivar ‘Bates’ harvested 30, 45, 60, and 75 days after planting (DAP). The total production of DIBOA and BOA from field-grown S. cereale ranged from 137 to 1,469 μg g−1 dry tissue among the eight cultivars. ‘Bonel’ cultivar had the highest hydroxamic acid (HA) content and ‘Pastar’ the lowest. Bonel also showed the highest activity on Eleusine indica (goosegrass) and Pastar the least, in culture plate bioassays using aqueous extracts. HA content in shoot tissue varied with S. cereale maturity. The greatest level of HA in greenhouse-grown Bates was obtained 60 DAP compared to 30 DAP.

Field experiments were conducted on eight weed species to determine if chlorimuron, fomesafen, imazethapyr, or sulfentrazone at two rates (labeled and one-half the labeled rate) were complementary tank mixtures with glyphosate at 210 and 420 g ai ha−1. Laboratory experiments were conducted on barnyardgrass, pitted morningglory, Palmer amaranth, and velvetleaf using radiolabeled glyphosate, chlorimuron, and imazethapyr to determine the absorption and translocation pattern of these herbicides applied alone and in combination. In the field, glyphosate plus chlorimuron tank mixtures were generally additive. Adding chlorimuron did not decrease absorption or translocation of 14C-glyphosate by barnyardgrass, pitted morningglory, or velvetleaf. Adding glyphosate increased absorption of 14C-chlorimuron by Palmer amaranth and velvetleaf. All four fomesafen plus glyphosate rate combinations were antagonistic to goosegrass, sicklepod, Palmer amaranth, and velvetleaf, and three of the four were antagonistic to barnyardgrass and entireleaf morningglory. Fomesafen decreased absorption and translocation of 14C-glyphosate in barnyardgrass, pitted morningglory, and velvetleaf. Ninety percent of glyphosate plus imazethapyr combinations were additive or synergistic, with all rate combinations synergistic for pitted morningglory. Adding glyphosate to imazethapyr increased absorption of 14C-imazethapyr by Palmer amaranth and velvetleaf. Glyphosate plus sulfentrazone tank mixtures were antagonistic at all rate combinations for barnyardgrass and Palmer amaranth and at three of the four combinations for goosegrass and entireleaf morningglory, indicating that these herbicides are not complementary in tank mixtures.