Nine field experiments were conducted from 2017 to 2019 in Ontario to determine the impact of early weed interference on corn yield based on corn growth stage, days after emergence (DAE), accumulated crop heat units (CHU), and weed size. The predicted weed size at herbicide application that resulted in a 1%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, 25%, and 50% yield loss in corn was estimated to be 1, 4, 11, 53, non-estimable (N est.*), and N est.* cm under low weed density and 3, 5, 7, 11, 27, and N est.* cm under high weed density, respectively. The predicted DAE at herbicide application time that resulted in a 1%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, 25%, and 50% yield loss in corn was predicted to be 14, 20, 27, 44, N est.*, and N est.* DAE under low weed density and 5, 7, 11, 17, 25, and 59 DAE under high weed density, respectively. The predicted CHU from planting at herbicide application time that led to a 1%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, 25%, and 50% yield loss in corn was 468, 636, 821, 1,271, N est.*, and N est.* CHU from planting under low weed density and 207, 283, 385, 551, 972, and 1,748 CHU from planting under high weed density, respectively. The predicted crop stage at herbicide application that led to a 1%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, 25%, and 50% yield loss in corn was V5, V6, V7, V11, N est.*, and N est.* under low weed density and V1, V2, V3, V4, V8, and V14 under high weed density, respectively. Results indicate that weeds must be controlled before they reach 7 cm in height, prior to 11 d after crop emergence, prior to 385 accumulated CHU from emergence, or prior to the V3 stage under high weed density to avoid greater than 5% yield loss.

The critical period of weed control for crops grown under conventional tillage systems has been well studied, and the results generated by these studies have been proven to be very useful in developing ecologically and economically sound weed management practices. However, these management systems may not be directly applicable under no-till situations because the species composition, total amount, and temporal pattern of seedling emergence change substantially with tillage. The objective of this study was to identify the critical period of weed control for soybean and corn in fields that had been under no-till management for 1 yr. Although estimates of the critical period for a crop vary from year to year and site to site, some interesting comparisons can be made between no-till and conventional tillage. The start of the critical period in no-till corn was stable, usually beginning at the six-leaf stage. The end of the critical period was more variable ranging from the 9- to 13-leaf stage. The critical period for corn under no-till conditions tended to start and end earlier than under conventional tillage practices. In soybean, we were unable to identify a critical period at one of the sites. At the other location (sandy loam soil), the critical period was estimated to begin at the first or second node developmental stage, whereas the end was determined to be at the R1 stage (early flowering). The critical period in soybean was longer than that observed under conventional tillage.

Trials were conducted under weed-free conditions in 2001, 2002, and 2003 on a loamy sand soil in Georgia to investigate the phytotoxicity of flumioxazin on peanut, and in separate trials, the effects on peanut maturity. The first study evaluated time of flumioxazin application (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 d after planting [DAP]) and flumioxazin rate (nontreated, 71, and 105 g ai/ha). Peanut (variety ‘C99R’) were seeded 3.2 cm deep and irrigated immediately after seeding. Flumioxazin applied to peanut 6, 8, and 10 DAP significantly injured peanut (20 to 59%) early season, with more phytotoxicity from flumioxazin at 105 g/ha than 71 g/ha. However, peanut stand was not reduced by any of the times of application or rates. Peanut recovered by midseason, except in cases of severe (up to 49%) visual phytotoxic injury. Peanut yields were not affected by either flumioxazin application timing or rate. The second study (variety ‘Georgia Green’) evaluated flumioxazin applied at 105 g/ha at varying intervals after planting to determine the phytotoxic effects on peanut maturity using the hull-scrape method. Peanut maturity was delayed by flumioxazin when applied 1 d after planting and later. These results show that the optimum time of application is from immediately after planting to 2 d after planting, but ideally, the application should be made immediately after planting. The highest recommended flumioxazin rate, 105 g/ha, is not significantly phytotoxic when applied within the recommended range of timings and has no effect on yield. However, there is potential for yield loss as peanut maturity is delayed in cases of severe injury.