Intraspecific interference of populations of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic), as well as interspecific populations of these two broadleaf weeds, in sugarbeets (Beta vulgaris L. ‘Mono Hy D2′) was determined in 2-yr field experiments. Sunflower was more competitive in sugarbeets than was velvetleaf. At densities of 6, 12, 18, and 24 sunflower plants/30 m of row, root yields were reduced 40, 52, 67, and 73%, respectively. At the same densities of velvetleaf, root yields were reduced only 14, 17, 25, and 30%, respectively. Interspecific interference of these two broadleaf weeds at the same densities reduced root yields 19, 36, 43, and 56%, respectively. The minimum number of weeds required/30 m of row to reduce sugarbeet root yields was predicted to be 1 for sunflower, 9 to 12 for velvetleaf, and 2 to 7 for an equal population of sunflower and velvetleaf.

Season-long interference of shattercane, giant foxtail, common cocklebur, and common lambsquarters in corn was evaluated in the field at weed densities from 0.4 to 13.1 plants or clumps/m of corn row during 1985, 1986, and 1987. Corn seed yields decreased linearly with increases in the density of clumps of 2 to 3 shattercane plants and 5 to 8 giant foxtail plants, reaching 22% yield loss at 6.6 shattercane clumps/m of row and 18% yield loss at 13.1 giant foxtail clumps/m of row. Increases in common cocklebur density caused corn yields to decrease curvilinearly in 1985 with a maximum predicted yield loss of 27% occurring at a density of 4.7 common cocklebur plants/m of row. In 1986 and 1987, yields decreased linearly as common cocklebur density increased to 6.6 plants/m of row, where a 10% yield loss was observed. Common lambsquarters reduced corn yields only in 1985. In this year, yields decreased curvilinearly with increasing weed density, resulting in a maximum yield loss of 12% at 4.9 common lambsquarters plants/m of row. Corn yields averaged 11600 kg/ha when grown without weed interference in these experiments.

According to Grime's model, velvetleaf can be classified as a competitive-ruderal species. Its biological and ecological characteristics make it particularly competitive and persistent in cultivated fields. Herbicide control is difficult and, once established, it is almost impossible to avoid seed production. The economic threshold, on a single year basis, varies between 0.3 and 1.7 plants m–2. When the competitive relationships and their effects are evaluated, it is very difficult to apply a weed management system based on a single-season threshold. When one considers the agronomic implications of the ecological characteristics of velvetleaf over a longer period, it can be concluded that the use of a single-season economic threshold is probably not the best management strategy.

Interference of Powell amaranth (Amaranthus powellii S. Wats. ♯ AMAPO) in sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L. ‘Mono Hy A4’) was determined in field experiments. Yield of sugarbeet roots and recoverable sucrose/ha decreased as the density of Powell amaranth increased. At densities of 6, 12, 18, and 24 Powell amaranth plants/30 m of row, root yields were reduced 8, 14, 24, and 25%, respectively, and recoverable sucrose yields were reduced 7, 13, 23, and 24%, respectively. The minimum number of Powell amaranth plants required per 30 m of row to reduce sugarbeet root yields was estimated to be nine in 1982 and 11 in 1983.

Area-of-influence (AOI3) experiments measure the effect of a single weed on crop growth at intervals away from the weed plant. Effects of treatment variables, e.g., weed species or control measures, on the AOI of a single weed can be estimated. AOI experiments can be analyzed by regression of crop growth on distance from the weed plant, but this analysis violates an important regression assumption: independece of observations. Statistical dependence can occur among successive observations along the row because uncontrolled sources of variation are likely to act in similar ways on adjacent individuals. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) is a statistical technique that accounts for dependencies among crop growth measurements along the row. The technique tests three hypotheses: first, that different treatments cause weed AOI to differ in spatial distribution of competitive effects; second, that different treatments cause weed AOI to differ in size; and third, that the weed has an effect, i.e., crop growth near the weed differs from growth away from weed. MANOVA can be applied to most common experimental designs, e.g., randomized blocks or split plots, and can be implemented on various mainframe and microcomputer statistical packages.

The performance of four sequential weed management models that assumed either low or high risk was compared to the performance of two sugarbeet consultants, one who assumed low risk and the other high risk. Weed management recommendations were performed over one growing season at two locations, each with several levels of weed populations. Recommendations for preplant, postemergence, and layby herbicide treatments or late-season handweeding differed among the four weed management levels. The high-risk management level was labor intensive and the low-risk management level was herbicide intensive. Weed populations at harvest, recoverable sucrose, and net return above weed control costs were not different among the four weed management levels. Weeds can be controlled in sugarbeets by employing weed management practices based on bioeconomic modeling.

Volunteer corn (Zea mays L. # ZEAMX) is a troublesome weed in soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] grown in the Corn Belt. Field studies were conducted in 1983 and 1984 at Champaign, IL, to determine the soybean growth and yield parameters affected by volunteer corn interference. Soybean yield was inversely and linearly related to volunteer corn clump density, with yield losses reaching 25% at 5380 clumps/ha (10 plants/clump). Volunteer corn clumps of 1, 4, 7, and 10 plants reduced soybean yields by 6, 16, 21, and 22%, respectively, at a density of 5380 clumps/ha. Treatments of either the butyl ester of fluazifop {(±)-2-[4-[[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy] propanoic acid} or glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] were applied at various dates between 2 and 12 weeks after soybean emergence (WAE) to a volunteer corn infestation of 5380 clumps/ha (10 plants/clump). Volunteer corn caused soybean yield losses of 2, 6, 12, 19, and 27% when herbicides were applied at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 WAE, respectively. Volunteer corn interference reduced soybean seed yield, plant dry weight, pod number, seed number, leaf fresh weight, and leaf area index, within 40 cm of a clump of 10 volunteer corn plants. A clump of 10 volunteer corn plants reduced soybean pod number/plant within a radius of 86 cm.

Interference of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) in sugarbeets (Beta vulgaris L. ‘Mono Hy D2′) was determined in a 2-yr field experiment. Yield of sugarbeet roots and recoverable sucrose/ha decreased as the density of common lambsquarters increased. At densities of 6, 12, 18, and 24 common lambsquarters plants/30 m of row, root yields were reduced 13, 29, 38, and 48%, respectively, and recoverable sucrose yields were reduced 11, 27, 37, and 46%, respectively. The minimum number of common lambsquarters plants required per 30 m of row to reduce sugarbeet root yields was estimated to be six in 1980 and four in 1981.

A perceived limitation to incorporating herbicide application decision support system (HADSS) into routine peanut weed management decisions is efficient scouting of fields. A total of 52 peanut fields were scouted from 1997 through 2001 in North Carolina to determine the weed density in a 9.3-m2 section for each 0.4-ha grid of the field. These weed populations and their spatial distributions were used to compare theoretical net return (TNR) over herbicide investment for various scouting methods and weed management approaches. HADSS was used to determine the expected net return for each treatment in each 0.4-ha section of every field under differing assumptions of weed size, soil moisture conditions, and pricing structures. The treatment with the highest net return averaged across all 0.4-ha grids was considered to be the optimal whole-field treatment. For all 52 fields, TNR for the best whole-field treatment and for site-specific weed management (applying the most economical recommendation on each 0.4-ha grid) averaged $414 and $435/ha, respectively. Estimated return from the commercial postemergence herbicide program of aciflurofen plus bentazon plus 2,4-DB followed by clethodim (where grass was present) averaged $316/ha across all 52 fields. For fields of 5 ha or more (17 fields) in which 12 or more samples were taken, TNR was $500, $510, and $516/ha for three-sample (one pass through the middle of the field with samples taken on both ends and the center of the field), six-sample (two passes through the field with three stops per pass), and full-sample (one stop for each 0.4 ha) approaches, respectively.

The utility of solaria (1 by 1-m plastic sheets) to predict densities of a few weed species in summer crops has been demonstrated previously, but needed further research to be adopted by farmers and advisors. We tested the method to detect important weeds in Argentina and Minnesota, and determined the minimum number of solaria required to predict the presence of emerged weed seedlings in the forthcoming growing season. Three experiments were performed in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, and one in Minnesota. Solaria were placed in fields with different previous crops and soil management: no tillage (two fields) and conventional tillage (two fields). Preceding crops were corn (one field), wheat (one field), and double-cropped wheat/soybean (two fields). After weeds were enumerated, solaria were removed, sunflower (one field) and soybean (three fields) were planted, and weeds later assessed in each crop. Results indicate that one solarium per 1.9 ha can detect common lambsquarters with 95% confidence within the next summer crop. For other species, one solarium per 4.2, 1.2, 1.0, and 1.8 to 2.7 ha (depending upon field site) for large crabgrass, prostrate knotweed, wild buckwheat, and green foxtail, respectively, was required. The low cost and simplicity of assessment make this technique more suitable than that of soil seed-bank samples to predict weed emergence. The number of solaria required to forecast weed infestation levels confidently is sufficiently low that their use may be justified, especially in small fields of high-value crops.

Field experiments were conducted to determine the critical period of weed interference in glyphosate- and glufosinate-resistant sugar beet, and to determine if PRE herbicides increased weed control or sugar beet root yield when glufosinate, glyphosate, or conventional POST herbicides were applied. Glyphosate- and glufosinate-resistant sugar beet root yields were reduced by up to 66 and 67%, respectively, when weeds remained all season in the weedy control treatment compared with yields when weed removal occurred as soon as the weeds were 2.5 cm tall, approximately 2 to 3 wk after planting (WAP). A critical period of weed interference did not occur in this research. The critical time of weed removal was approximately 8 WAP in 1998 and beyond 11 WAP in 1999. Weeds averaged 20 cm in height at 8 WAP and weed densities were greater in 1998 compared with 1999. The critical weed-free period for glyphosate- and glufosinate-resistant sugar beet was 4.5 to 5 WAP in 1998. In 1999, the critical weed-free period at the Michigan Sugar location was 1.5 WAP in glyphosate-resistant sugar beet, and 6.5 WAP in glufosinate-resistant sugar beet for the Michigan Sugar site. Glyphosate or glufosinate POST provided better weed control and resulted in greater sugar beet root yield compared with conventional POST herbicides when data were combined over PRE herbicide treatments. PRE herbicides improved the control of common lambsquarters and Amaranthus species in some of the site-years when data were combined over POST treatments, but sugar beet yield did not increase. Our research suggests that PRE herbicides will not be necessary in glyphosate- or glufosinate-resistant sugar beet. To avoid sugar beet yield loss, multiple POST applications of glyphosate or glufosinate will be needed until 6 to 9 WAP to prohibit yield loss from weeds emerging after the last POST application.