The nature of organo-phosphate and carboxylate bonding in aqueous suspensions of noncrystalline alumina, boehmite, and gibbsite has been studied using the anionic nitroxide spin probes 3-carboxy-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxyl and 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidinooxyl dihydrogen phosphate. Analysis of the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of these molecules revealed that adsorption of both molecules occurred rapidly on the high surface area alumina and boehmite, whereas only the organophosphate adsorbed on gibbsite. A loss in rotational motion of the molecules accompanied adsorption, with the greater degree of motional restriction observed for the carboxylate attributed to steric restrictions to rotation about the surface-bound C-COO− bond axis. The ease of displacement of adsorbed carboxylate from surface binding sites by weakly adsorbing anions (Cl−, ClO4−) compared to organophosphate suggests that the carboxylate adsorbed by ligand exchange of a single surface OH, whereas the organophosphate probably formed a bidentate bond. The carboxylate bound on noncrystalline alumina showed evidence of nonspecific electrostatic adsorption in addition to ligand exchange of surface OH. This weak bonding was indicated by a moderate loss in rotational motion and ease of exchangeability.

Weed management programs in ‘Superior’ potato with PRE and POST rimsulfuron treatments were investigated during 1992, 1993, and 1994 in Virginia on a State sandy loam soil. Common ragweed control by PRE combinations of metolachlor with linuron or metribuzin was higher when treatments included PRE or POST rimsulfuron. Common lambsquarters control was 93 to 96% by treatments that included POST rimsulfuron. In the absence of PRE herbicides, POST applications of 35 g ai/ha rimsulfuron plus 280 g ai/ha metribuzin controlled weeds comparable to sequential applications of this combination. Potato recovered from occasional terminal leaf chlorosis caused by rimsulfuron, rimsulfuron plus metribuzin, and organophosphate insecticides combined POST with rimsulfuron plus metribuzin. These studies demonstrate that rimsulfuron can be a useful component of weed management programs that include metolachlor, linuron, and metribuzin.

Field studies were conducted in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to explore interactions among DPX-V9360 herbicide applied postemergence, terbufos insecticide applied as an in-furrow treatment, and the environment. Field corn (‘Pioneer 3751’) and sweet corn (‘Jubilee’) were planted with and without an in-furrow application of terbufos. DPX-V9360 was applied postemergence when the corn was in the 4- to 6-leaf stage at 0, 35, 70, 140, and 280 g ai ha-1 with nonionic surfactant and 28% N fertilizer solution. Crop response to DPX-V9360 was similar at all three locations, varying only in magnitude of injury. Crop injury was greater with Jubilee sweet corn than with Pioneer 3751 field corn. Injury to both hybrids increased as DPX-V9360 application rate increased. Application of terbufos increased injury from DPX-V9360 to both hybrids. Significant yield reduction did not occur with either hybrid when DPX-V9360 was applied at rates of 140 g ha-1 or less and no terbufos was applied.

Field experiments were conducted to determine the occurrence and the extent of interaction among four soil-applied organophosphate insecticides and the sulfonylurea herbicide nicosulfuron applied POST to corn. Nicosulfuron was damaging to corn when the crop was planted with terbufos, phorate, or fonofos applied into the open furrow. Terbufos was the most damaging and also caused damage when applied as a 17-cm band prior to or after closing the furrow, with or without incorporation. Phytotoxic symptoms appeared within 3 d of application of nicosulfuron and damage increased as the rate was increased from 53 g ai/ha to 140 g ai/ha. However, despite severe damage of up to 50% recorded in some terbufos combinations, all plants had completely recovered within 4 wk and none of the treatments had any effect on grain yield or crop maturity. No damage resulted from nicosulfuron when corn was planted with the insecticide chlorpyrifos. Efficacy data of nicosulfuron on the main weeds present are also reported.

Sweet corn tolerance to nicosulfuron as affected by interactions between nicosulfuron applied postemergence (POST), sweet corn hybrid, and rootworm insecticide applied at planting was determined in 1992 and 1993 field experiments. Sweet corn vigor was reduced as nicosulfuron rate increased from 35 to 140 g ai/ha. Sweet corn vigor was reduced 4% more by nicosulfuron with oil emulsifier mixture than nicosulfuron with non-ionic surfactant one week after treatment (WAT). Adjuvant selection did not influence nicosulfuron injury to sweet corn 2 WAT. Nicosulfuron applied postemergence directed (PDIR) caused less sweet corn injury than nicosulfuron applied broadcast POST. ‘Jubilee’ sweet corn was more sensitive to nicosulfuron and insecticide treatments than ‘Excellency’ or ‘Green Giant 40.’ Nicosulfuron reduced sweet corn vigor twice as much when terbufos was applied at planting compared to no insecticide at planting. Neither chlorpyrifos or chlorethoxyfos at planting increased sweet corn injury due to nicosulfuron compared to no insecticide. Excellency and Green Giant 40 yields were not reduced by any treatment. Yields were reduced only when nicosulfuron was applied to Jubilee treated with terbufos. Jubilee yield reduction from nicosulfuron and terbufos was prevented by applying nicosulfuron PDIR.

House flies (Musca domestica L.) are key pests of poultry and are managed worldwide with a variety of insecticides. However, extensive and injudicious use of insecticides has led to the development of resistance in many insect pests. Insecticide mixtures can increase the efficacy of the product and/or delay the development of resistance, thus making them a useful tool for pest control. In addition to their efficacy when used alone, mixtures of emamectin benzoate, spinosad or nitenpyram with either lambda-cyhalothrin or profenofos were assessed against a susceptible strain of house flies collected from poultry farms. The analysis revealed that combination indices for lambda-cyhalothrin/emamectin benzoate and lambda-cyhalothrin/spinosad mixtures were significantly >1, indicating an antagonistic effect. In contrast, the indices for all the tested ratios of lambda-cyhalothrin/nitenpyram were significantly < 1, suggesting a synergistic effect. For mixtures containing profenofos, combination indices varied significantly. For example, synergism was observed in a 1:1 mixture containing lambda-cyhalothrin and emamectin benzoate, but antagonism occurred when a higher proportion of the latter insecticide was used. Conversely, synergism in a mixture containing profenofos and nitenpyram was observed only when a lower proportion of the second insecticide was used. The present results suggest that ideal insecticide mixtures must be empirically determined and alternative strategies such as mosaics, rotations and cultural control should be considered for the management of the house fly.