Field studies were conducted at four locations over a 2-year period to evaluate the utility of soil-applied herbicides and glyphosate timing for weed control and soybean yield. Pendimethalin, S-metolachlor plus metribuzin, and flufenacet plus metribuzin were applied pre-emergence (PRE) alone or followed by glyphosate applied early postemergence (EPOST), late postemergence (LPOST), or EPOST plus LPOST. Soil-applied herbicides or glyphosate alone failed to control (<45%) broadleaf signalgrass in 2003 due to late-season rainfall, which accounted for a late flush of growth. In 2004, soil-applied herbicides alone controlled 79–100% broadleaf signalgrass, whereas glyphosate alone or in combination with soil-applied herbicides controlled at least 99%. Barnyardgrass and tall waterhemp were controlled at least 87% with soil-applied herbicides alone and at least 95% when glyphosate was used alone or in combination with a soil-applied herbicide. Soybean yield varied, but at only one location did herbicide treatments produce higher yields than the untreated check. Under low to moderate weed pressure, the use of a soil-applied herbicide followed by glyphosate failed to increase net returns over soil-applied herbicides alone.

Field research conducted over 3 yr evaluated the utility of preemergence (PRE), soil-applied herbicides at half- and full-label rates in glyphosate-resistant soybean. Soil-applied herbicide treatments at full-label rates included pendimethalin plus imazaquin (0.84 + 0.14 kg ai/ha), pendimethalin (1.12 kg/ha), metolachlor (1.68 kg ai/ha), dimethenamid plus imazaquin (1.0 + 0.14 kg ai/ha), sulfentrazone plus chlorimuron (0.22 + 0.04 kg ai/ha), and metribuzin plus chlorimuron (0.36 + 0.06 kg ai/ha). Weed density and growth were reduced when PRE herbicides were used, and in many cases for broadleaf weeds, half-label rates were as effective as full rates. None of the herbicides provided complete control of all weeds. Sulfentrazone plus chlorimuron reduced ivyleaf morningglory density an average of 90%. For hemp sesbania, metribuzin plus chlorimuron reduced weed emergence over 3 yr at least 95%. The initial glyphosate application was made when the largest weeds, barnyardgrass or hemp sesbania, reached 10 cm. In 1998 all soil-applied herbicide treatments extended the time period of glyphosate application by 3 to 5 d when compared with the nontreated control. In 1999 the full rate of metribuzin plus chlorimuron delayed the application of glyphosate by 6 d, and an extension of 7 d was noted for the full rates of sulfentrazone or metribuzin plus chlorimuron in 2000. When soil-applied herbicides were used each year, only a single application of glyphosate was needed. A second glyphosate application was needed in only 1 yr when soil-applied herbicides were not used. Even though differences in weed control were observed among the herbicide treatments, soybean yield was the same.