Chlorimuron, clomazone, imazaquin, imazethapyr, and pendimethalin were each applied at five rates to soils at 10 different sites each year for three years to determine which soil properties influenced their bioactivity. Six soils in the U.S. (NC) and four in Zimbabwe were characterized for their plow-layer contents of organic matter (OM), humic matter (HM), clay mineral (CM), and silt and for pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC). At each site, the rate of each herbicide yielding 80% weed control (I80) was determined by visually evaluating the treated plots. The I80 values were then regressed with the various soil properties to determine which of them contributed to this rate. In the U.S. soils, the I80 was highly correlated with % OM (r 2 = 0.64–0.72) and % HM (r 2 = 0.55–0.69) for chlorimuron, imazaquin, and pendimethalin but was less correlated with % OM (r 2 = 0.30) and pH (r 2 = 0.31) for imazethapyr. Equations relating the herbicide rate for 100% weed control to soil properties were derived for chlorimuron, imazaquin, imazethapyr, and pendimethalin then compared with registered recommended rates for each chemical from the label. Herbicide rate equations based on similar soil parameters were taken from the literature to compare with our rate equations and with registered rate recommendations for comparison purposes and to add validity to the use of soil parameters for making herbicide rate recommendations. The rate equations, based on selected soil parameters, produced rates comparable with registered rates for chlorimuron, pendimethalin, and metribuzin and lower rates of application than registered rates for imazaquin, imazethapyr, alachlor, and metolachlor for soils with OM levels below 3.5%.

Pesticide leaching experiments using widely spaced sampling sites may not adequately characterize chemical leaching behavior such as nonuniform flow between sampling points. We conducted this study to determine the three-dimensional variability of atrazine and chloride movement within a small volume of soil (2,700 cm1) under field conditions. A 1-m2area of Williamson silt loam (coarse-silty, mixed, mesic, Typic Fragiochrept) was sprayed uniformly with atrazine (1.1 kg ai/ha) and chloride (80 kg/ha). We used the Leaching Estimation and Chemistry Model (LEACHM) to simulate chemical movement. After 6.5 cm of rainfall during a 29-d period, we sampled 36 squares (5 by 5 cm) in the central 30- by 30-cm portion of the treated area at six depth increments (0 to 2, 2 to 5, 5 to 10, 10 to 15, 15 to 21, and 21 to 30 cm) and determined atrazine and Cl−concentrations. We recovered 26% of the applied atrazine and 138% of the applied chloride. Low atrazine recovery may have been due to leaching beyond 30 cm and/or degradation while excess chloride recovery is attributed to high background concentrations. Coefficients of variation (CVs) for atrazine significantly increased with depth and ranged from 26 to 353%, while CVs for Cl−were independent of depth and ranged from 32 to 66%. Derived atrazine concentration isograms illustrated highly nonuniform herbicide transport. Although LEACHM overestimated atrazine movement in the upper 15 cm, it was fairly accurate in the lower 15 cm. The overall trend in Cl−flow was adequately predicted, even though the predicted Cl−concentrations were underestimated. LEACHM could not accurately predict nonuniform flow or the variability in solute concentrations between points. However, its prediction of the atrazine center of mass (about 4.7 cm) agreed well with the derived isograms. These findings demonstrate that localized nonideal solute transport may be missed in larger sampling schemes and in simulation models.

Field experiments were conducted in 2001 and 2002 at two sites in Ohio to characterize the effect of isoxaflutole herbicide applied the previous year to field corn on processing tomato, bell pepper, cabbage, snapbean, and cucumber. Isoxaflutole was applied preemergence to field corn in 2001 at 0, 53, 70, 105, and 210 g ai/ha. There were no rotational crop cultivar by herbicide rate interactions at either site. Generally, there was a higher level of visible injury on crops at the Fremont site. Isoxaflutole residues at either site did not affect processing tomato yield. Bell pepper yield was reduced 33% when rotated into 210 g ai/ha rate plots only at Fremont. Snapbean marketable yield was reduced by isoxaflutole carryover from 70 and 210 g ai/ha rates resulting in 0.39 and 0.0 t/ha at Fremont. Similarly, isoxaflutole soil residues from 105 and 210 g ai/ha resulted in 14 and 24% visible injury on cucumber but did not reduce marketable yield. Site differences in soil characteristics and precipitation in the application year may have contributed to observed differences in crop response.

Field studies were conducted in 1998 and 1999 to evaluate the sensitivity of a common sunflower population to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides and evaluate alternative control methods for ALS-resistant common sunflower in soybean. Imazaquin, imazethapyr, imazamox, flumetsulam, chlorimuron, cloransulam, and CGA277476 provided 35 to 73% control of common sunflower with labeled rates. Postemergence glyphosate and sequential applications of bentazon effectively controlled ALS-resistant common sunflower. Although pendimethalin + imazaquin + imazethapyr preemergence followed by glyphosate postemergence with and without cultivation provided 100% control of ALS-resistant common sunflower, sequential applications of glyphosate provided net incomes approximately $50 to $110/ha higher than the alternative control methods. Pendimethalin preemergence followed by acifluorfen + bentazon postemergence followed by bentazon 10 d later provided the lowest overall weed control and net income. In treatments with a soil-applied herbicide followed by glyphosate postemergence, cultivation generally did not improve weed control. Soybean yields were the same comparing glyphosate with a soil-applied herbicide followed by glyphosate.

Waterhemp has emerged as one of the most problematic weeds in agronomic crops in the Midwest because of an extended germination period and widespread occurrence of biotypes resistant to atrazine and sulfonylurea herbicides. However, the competitive effects of late-emerging cohorts on corn yield are not known. Field studies were conducted in 2001 and 2002 at Columbia, Novelty, and Albany, MO, to determine the effects of late-emerging waterhemp interference on corn growth, nitrogen (N) accumulation, and yield. Waterhemp emerged approximately 20 d after planting (DAP) and was treated at heights of 8, 15, 23, 31, 38, or 46 cm with directed applications of dicamba + diflufenzopyr followed by hand hoeing. Soil water status, corn leaf chlorophyll content, and corn and common waterhemp height were recorded at the time of waterhemp removal. N stress was detected with a chlorophyll meter at four of six removal timings at high waterhemp densities (362 or more plants/m2) but only at one of six removal timings at lower densities (82 or less plants/m2). Water stress was observed at five of the six removal timings at high densities but at none of the removal timings at low densities. High waterhemp densities reduced corn yield when allowed to reach 15 cm before removal, and yields were reduced 36% when not controlled. At low densities, yield losses did not occur unless waterhemp was allowed to remain with corn season long. Our research suggests that waterhemp is less competitive with corn than redroot pigweed, smooth pigweed, and Palmer amaranth. In addition, low densities of late-emerging waterhemp would not warrant removal to protect corn yield.

Studies were conducted in 1998 and 1999 in Ohio to determine the effect of postemergence (POST) application timing of glyphosate on weed control and grain yield in glyphosate-tolerant corn, and how this was influenced by corn planting date and the use of soil-applied herbicides. Glyphosate was applied based on giant foxtail height. Two applications of glyphosate provided better weed control than a single application, especially when applied to weeds 10 cm or less in early-planted corn. Yield was reduced occasionally with a single application on 5- or 10-cm weeds, because of weed re-infestation. Failure to control weeds before they reached a height of 15 to 30 cm also resulted in occasional yield loss. Application of atrazine or acetochlor plus atrazine prior to glyphosate did not consistently increase weed control or yield. Results suggested that glyphosate should be applied before weeds reach 15 cm in height to avoid corn grain yield loss.

Effects of soil pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC) on sunflower tolerance to sulfentrazone were investigated in a greenhouse study. Variables were soil pH (7.0, 7.3, 7.5, and 7.8), soil CEC (8.2, 13.7, 18.4, and 23.3 cmol/kg), and sulfentrazone rate (0, 105, 158, and 184 g ai/ha). Sulfentrazone-induced leaf chlorosis was affected by soil pH at 12 d after planting (DAP), but plants recovered, and earlier differences were not visible 9 d later. At 12 DAP, leaf chlorosis was 3 or 4% more severe in soils with pH 7.3 or higher compared with soils with pH 7.0 when averaged over both sulfentrazone rate and soil CEC. Leaf chlorosis resulting from sulfentrazone rates of 105, 158, and 184 g/ha was 17, 25, and 35% less at 23 cmol/kg than at 8.2 cmol/kg, respectively. Differences in chlorosis among sulfentrazone rates were greatest in soil with low CEC and lessened as soil CEC increased. Plants regained normal color over time, and newly emerging leaves were not affected. However, plant dry weights were reduced when sulfentrazone rate was ≥158 g/ha. Averaged over sulfentrazone rate and soil pH, sunflower dry weights were less when soil CEC was 8.2 compared with a CEC of 13.7 cmol/kg or higher, indicating a greater response at low CEC. Sunflower plant dry matter was not different in sulfentrazone-treated soil with a CEC above 13.7 cmol/kg. At the ranges tested, soil CEC had a considerably greater effect than did pH on sunflower tolerance to sulfentrazone.

Field experiments were conducted at three locations in 2000 and 2001 to evaluate what effect soil characteristics have on sensitivity of two corn hybrids to soil-applied isoxaflutole plus flufenacet. Soil types were a Flanagan silt loam with 3.9% organic matter (OM), a Drummer silty clay loam with 5.0% OM, and a Cisne silt loam with 2.1% OM. Soil pH was adjusted to four target levels, < 6.0, 6.0 to 6.5, 6.6 to 7.0, and > 7.0, at each location. Isoxaflutole plus flufenacet treatments consisted of the recommended rate (1 ×) and two times (2 ×), and four times (4 ×) the recommended rates based on soil type. Additional treatments included 1 × and 2 × isoxaflutole plus flufenacet with 1.1 kg/ha atrazine and S-metolachor plus atrazine as a control treatment. Corn hybrid ‘Garst 8366’ (G8366) was more sensitive to soil-applied isoxaflutole plus flufenacet compared with ‘Garst 8600’ (G8600). Corn injury occurred only at two of three locations. Addition of atrazine to the 1 × and 2 × isoxaflutole plus flufenacet treatments showed a trend (P = 0.15) toward increased injury and reduced yield only for the G8366 on the Cisne soil. The 4 × rate of the premixture reduced yield 9 to 49% at two locations. Yields were reduced at the low-OM (2.1%) location, regardless of hybrid or application rate. At two locations, there was a negative linear relationship between soil pH and corn grain yield, particularly at the 4 × rate. Corn visual injury and yield reductions were greatest from herbicide applications to low-OM soils with high pH levels.