Living mulches can provide many sustainability benefits. However, living mulch–cash crop competition and unreliable weed control are major challenges in living mulch systems. In this study, we evaluated the potential of herbicides used at reduced rates in combination with living mulch to suppress weeds, while simultaneously reducing living mulch vigor. Herbicide treatments were a combination of two POST applications, each consisting of a single, different herbicide. Field trials were conducted in Freeville, NY, USA, using: fresh market field tomato as cash crop; sesbania and sunn hemp as living mulch; and the herbicides fomesafen, halosulfuron, metribuzin, and rimsulfuron. In 2015, when water was not limiting, tomato yield and living mulch biomass were positively correlated. This relationship was negative in 2016, likely because of drought during the growing season. Compared with the untreated living mulch check, using the herbicide treatments in combination with living mulch reduced tomato yield losses by up to 71% in 2015 and 51% in 2016. In these herbicide plus living mulch plots, weed biomass was reduced by up to 97%, compared with the weedy check. Living mulch in herbicide treatments generated up to 2500 kg ha−1 of dry matter during both 2015 and 2016, with an average ground cover of 63% in 2015 and 85% in 2016. A predominantly PRE herbicide with residual soil activity (metribuzin), followed by a herbicide with greater POST activity (halosulfuron/rimsulfuron) was the most effective herbicide application sequence. Results from our study indicate that well-designed herbicide applications may enhance the practicability of living mulch systems.

The potential for yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L. var. leptostachyus Boeck. # CYPES) regrowth was reduced by increasing plant age and by glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] and oxyfluorfen [2-chloro-1-(3-ethoxy-4-nitrophenoxy)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene]. Of the amount of glyphosate transported to underground parts, most was found in the tubers, with immature rhizomes, roots, and tubers having 2 to 3 times higher concentrations than comparable mature tissues. Addition of unlabeled oxyfluorfen as a tank mixture with glyphosate increased absorption and translocation, mainly into leaves and new tubers, of radioactivity from 14C-glyphosate in 30-day-old plants. In contrast to the younger plants, the addition of oxyfluorfen decreased 14C-glyphosate detected in 60-day-old plants. The greater effectiveness of glyphosate when applied with oxyfluorfen on yellow nutsedge at the early growth stage has important implications in the field because the tuberization process must be stopped early in the development of the plant for successful control.

Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate factors affecting johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. # SORHA] control in soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Essex’] with three foliarly-applied herbicides. In 1980, johnsongrass height at treatment time had little effect on control due to inadequate soil moisture. In 1981, a wet year, best control was achieved on 15- or 40-cm-tall johnsongrass. BAS-9052 {2-[1-(ethoxyimino)butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one} at 0.6 kg/ha gave good to excellent control at all growth stages. Two applications of 0.3 kg/ha of BAS-9052 in both years and PP-009 butyl {2-[4-[5-(trifluoromethyl-2-pyridinyloxy)] phenoxy] propanoate} in 1981 increased johnsongrass control compared to only one treatment. Mixing BAS-9052 with other herbicides significantly reduced johnsongrass control. Greenhouse studies to determine the effect of soil water on herbicide response indicated that drier soils decreased johnsongrass regrowth with PP-009 and increased regrowth with BAS-9052.

Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effect of selected insecticides on cotton when applied in combination with pyrithiobac. In the field, acephate, azinphos-methyl, bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos, dicrotophos, esfenvalerate, malathion, methomyl, or oxamyl was applied foliarly with the sodium salt of pyrithiobac at 70 g ae/ha. Pyrithiobac plus malathion resulted in greatest injury when compared with other treatments. There were no differences observed in fruiting characteristics of cotton. Cotton yield was lower with oxamyl, methomyl, and chlorpyrifos when applied in combination with pyrithiobac in one of three experiments. In greenhouse experiments, injury due to pyrithiobac was greater in a cool (21 C day, 13 C night) temperature than in a warm temperature (30 C day, 21 C night), but differences were less than 15%. Pyrithiobac plus malathion in the cool environment injured cotton more severely 7 DAT than either pesticide alone. Adding insecticides to pyrithiobac did not influence injury in the warm environment.

Weed resistance has not generally been considered a serious problem where herbicide rotations and combinations are used. Herbicide-tolerant crops present new opportunities for decreasing risk of crop injury, decreasing carryover problems, broadening control spectrum, and for using herbicides that present less risk to the environment. However, herbicide-tolerant crops that allow intensified use of some herbicides may allow tolerant weed species to proliferate and herbicide carryover problems to increase for certain crops. Those responsible for the technology transfer process will need to keep well informed and objectively provide clientele with the basis for appropriate decisions as new weed control systems are designed as a result of these developments.

Efficacy of primisulfuron and reduced rates of nicosulfuron on woolly cupgrass, wild-proso millet, and giant foxtail in field corn was evaluated in 1994 and 1995. Nicosulfuron was applied at 18, 27, and 36 g ai/ha alone and with 20 g ai/ha primisulfuron. Woolly cupgrass control from nicosulfuron at 18 and 27 g/ha was less than control from 36 g/ha (79% and 84% vs. 90%, respectively). Woolly cupgrass control was 5% greater when primisulfuron was combined with nicosulfuron at 27 and 36 g/ha than when nicosulfuron was applied alone. Corn grain yields were similar among all nicosulfuron plus primisulfuron treatments applied to control woolly cupgrass in 1994. In 1995, corn grain yield was increased 900 kg/ha when primisulfuron was combined with nicosulfuron at 18 g/ha compared to nicosulfuron applied at the same rate alone. Wild-proso millet control 3 WAT with nicosulfuron at 18 g/ha was less than control with nicosulfuron at 36 g/ha. Wild-proso millet control 8 WAT with nicosulfuron alone was greater than when nicosulfuron at any rate was applied with primisulfuron. No differences in corn grain yields were observed across nicosulfuron rates or combinations with primisulfuron to control wild-proso millet either year. Giant foxtail control and corn grain yield were not affected by nicosulfuron rate or combined applications of nicosulfuron and primisulfuron either year.

Absorption, translocation, and metabolism of the methyl ester of 14C-flamprop [N-benzoyl-N-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-DL-alanine] (hereafter referred to as flamprop-methyl) and 14C-barban (4-chloro-2-butynyl-m-chloro carbanilate) in wild oat (Avena fatua L.) were investigated to determine the basis of the synergistic interaction between the two herbicides. The mutual effects of the two herbicides were studied when they were applied together to wild oat at the two- and four-leaf stage. The addition of the commercial formulation of barban, barban formulation additives, technical barban, or the nonionic surfactant polyoxyethylene-6-tridecylether resulted in varying degrees of increase in the absorption of 14C-flamprop-methyl. Translocation of 14C-flamprop-methyl following leaf application in wild oat was mainly acropetal. The addition of commercial barban to 14C-flamprop-methyl did not influence the pattern of 14C translocation. Metabolism of flamprop-methyl by wild oat at either leaf stage was not influenced by barban. Absorption of 14C-barban was increased by the addition of the commercial formulation of flamprop-methyl and by polyoxyethylene-6-tridecylether. The addition of flamprop-methyl did not influence the pattern of translocation and metabolism of 14C-barban in wild oat at either leaf stage. It is concluded that increased absorption of flamprop-methyl and barban by wild oat at the two- and four-leaf stages is the most important factor in the synergistic interaction between these herbicides. Translocation and metabolism of the herbicides do not seem to be important factors in the synergism observed.

Single and sequential applications of mefluidide {N-[2,4-dimethyl-5-[[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl] amino] phenyl] acetamide} and acifluorfen {5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoic acid} were evaluated in the field for velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic. ♯ ABUTH) and common cocklebur (Xanthium pensylvanicum Wallr. ♯ XANPE) control in soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Williams’]. Acifluorfen was applied at 0.4 or 0.6 kg ai/ha alone or 3, 5, or 7 days following application of 0.1 or 0.3 kg ai/ha mefluidide. Acifluorfen applied alone provided acceptable control of velvetleaf and common cocklebur in the two- and three-leaf stage of growth, but acifluorfen was not as effective when applied to weeds with five to eight true leaves. Sequential applications of mefluidide and acifluorfen often increased velvetleaf and common cocklebur control, compared to either herbicide applied alone.

Fall applications of 0.14 kg/ha of picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid) to musk thistle (Carduus nutans L.) rosettes controlled musk thistle stems better and more consistently than fall applications of 2.2 kg/ha of 2,4-D amine [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid], 0.6 kg/ha of dicamba (3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid), or a mixture of 0.3 kg/ha dicamba + 1.1 kg/ha of 2,4-D. Dry conditions in 1975 and cool conditions in November, 1976, hampered control with all herbicides except picloram. In spring applications when growing conditions were favorable, herbicide differences were usually not significant. For all herbicides, treatment of bolted stems did not control musk thistle satisfactorily. Picloram was superior for reducing stems 12 to 18 months after application in 2 of 3 yr. Residual control resulted principally because the herbicide killed many seedlings and first-year rosettes at the time of application.

Combined effects of herbicides, herbicide rates, and cultivation for weed control in soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Williams’] were studied using full and one-half rates of either chloramben (3-amino-2,5-dichlorobenzoic acid) or alachlor [2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)acetanilide] + linuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methoxy-1-methylurea] with no, one, and two cultivations. The full rate was 2.2 kg/ha for alachlor and chloramben and 0.70 kg/ha for linuron. Alachlor + linuron was better than chloramben, and the full rate was better than the one-half rate. One or two cultivations were better than no cultivation. Cultivations were more effective when used with alachlor + linuron than when used with chloramben or when used alone. Alachlor + linuron at the full rate with one or two cultivations produced the best soybean yields. A one-half rate of alachlor + linuron with one or two cultivations yielded the same as a full rate of alachlor + linuron alone or with one cultivation, chloramben at one-half rate with two cultivations, and chloramben at a full rate with two cultivations. Cultivations can be effective by increasing weed control and yields when herbicide rate or effectiveness has been reduced. Use of a cultivation in addition to the preemergence herbicides used in this study is necessary for improved weed control and yields.

Glufosinate applied postemergence alone and in mixture with pendimethalin, thiobencarb, quinclorac, propanil, bensulfuron, bentazon, acifluorfen, or triclopyr was evaluated on bialaphosresistant (BAR) rice and red rice in field studies. Glufosinate at 2.2 kg ai/ha alone was less phytotoxic (6%) to BAR-transformed rice than when it was applied in combination with 0.4 kg ai/ha triclopyr (59%) or 0.6 kg ai/ha acifluorfen (22%). Rice yield with glufosinate alone was similar to the weed-free check the first year, but 13% less than the weed-free check the second year. For the glufosinate plus triclopyr mixture, rice yield was reduced by 39 and 76% compared with glufosinate alone in 1994 and 1995, respectively. Red rice control was 92% with either 3.4 kg ai/ha propanil or 0.6 kg/ha acifluorfen mixed with 0.6 kg/ha glufosinate, which was greater than for glufosinate alone and the other combinations. Propanil or acifluorfen mixed with glufosinate reduced red rice plant height, panicle maturity, and 100-seed weight 16, 31, and 24%, respectively, compared to glufosinate alone and 30, 48, and 43%, respectively, compared to the nontreated weedy check.

Field studies were conducted at Arlington, WI, in 1996 and 1997 and at Georgetown, DE, and LeSueur, MN, in 1997 to determine weed control efficacy, crop injury, and yield response of PAT-transformed sweet corn to glufosinate-based weed management. Sequential applications of glufosinate 10 to 18 d apart at 0.4 and 0.3 kg ai/ha controlled common lambsquarters, common ragweed, velvetleaf, wild-proso millet, and fall panicum 90% or better at all locations. Weed control varied little among 0.3, 0.4, or 0.3 and 0.3 (sequential) kg/ha glufosinate rates. Glufosinate applied alone, with, or following atrazine controlled velvetleaf 90% or greater but was less consistent on common ragweed and common lambsquarters (73 to 100%). Atrazine plus metolachlor applied preemergence (PRE) and glufosinate applied alone postemergence (POST) provided inconsistent wild-proso millet and fall panicum control (43 to 99%). Metolachlor followed by glufosinate improved consistency of grass control (> 76%). Glufosinate followed by cultivation provided 80% or greater control of velvetleaf and wild-proso millet. Glufosinate did not injure or delay maturity of PAT-transformed sweet corn. Sweet corn treated with glufosinate resulted in yields greater than or equal to the sweet corn that was hand-weeded or received a standard herbicide treatment.

The effects of seed depth on growing point location of wild-proso millet, effects of alachlor placement, and chemical control of wild-proso millet were studied in field and greenhouse experiments. In 1986, 55 to 88% of the seedlings originating in the top 6 cm of soil had their growing point above the soil surface. The respective figures were 11 to 36% in 1987. Shoot exposure to alachlor resulted in significantly greater phytotoxicity than root exposure. Only EPTC or vernolate with a protectant, preplant incorporated, or pendimethalin preemergence, followed by atrazine plus tridiphane postemergence controlled wild-proso millet more than 85% all season.

Field studies were conducted to evaluate weed control with paraquat and glyphosate applied at various rates alone and in combination with residual herbicides. Morningglory, prickly sida, and hemp sesbania control 28 d after treatment was similar regardless of herbicide treatment. In contrast, barnyardgrass control when paraquat was tank mixed with pendimethalin plus imazaquin was equal to that of paraquat alone but less than that for tank mixtures with metolachlor plus metribuzin plus chlorimuron or metolachlor plus metribuzin. Barnyardgrass control and soybean yield when paraquat was applied at 1050 g ai/ha in combination with metolachlor plus metribuzin plus chlorimuron or metolachlor plus metribuzin was greater than when the same residual herbicide treatments were applied with paraquat at 350 g/ha. Yield following glyphosate at 840 and 1120 g ai/ha in combination with residual herbicides was no greater than when glyphosate was applied alone, which was reflective of barnyardgrass control. Tank mixtures of glyphosate at 1680 g/ha with metolachlor plus metribuzin plus chlorimuron or metolachlor plus metribuzin resulted in soybean yield higher than for glyphosate alone. Regardless of the glyphosate and residual herbicide combination, soybean yield was no greater than when paraquat was applied at 350 g/ha in combination with metolachlor plus metribuzin plus chlorimuron.

When trifluralin [α,α,α - trifluoro - 2,6 - dinitro -N,N-dipropyl-p -toluidine] was manually incorporated in small field plots to a depth of 10 cm, ivyleaf morningglory [Ipomoea hederacea (L.) Jacq.] was controlled more effectively than when incorporation was only 5 cm deep. No significant differences in ivyleaf morningglory control were observed between different incorporation depths when trifluralin was mechanically incorporated in large field plots. Ivyleaf morningglory emerging from 10 cm deep was controlled to a greater degree than that emerging from 5 cm deep. Preplant incorporated (PPI) trifluralin plus alachlor [2 - chloro – 2′, 6’ - diethyl - N- (methoxymethyl)acetanilide ] applied preemergence (PE) controlled up to 92% of the ivyleaf morningglory compared to 33 and 15% respectively, when these herbicides were applied alone at equal rates. This indicates a synergistic interaction between these two compounds. Trifluralin PPI plus RH 8817 [5-(2-chloro-4-trifluoromethyl phenoxy) - 2 - nitrobenzoic acid ethyl ester] and alachlor applied PE controlled ivyleaf morningglory more effectively (88 to 94%) than all other treatments. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] injury and stand reduction were less than 5% in all studies.

The combination of glyphosate and 2,4-D at various rates was evaluated for controlling existing weeds at planting in no-till corn and soybeans. Herbicide combinations in soybeans also included paraquat plus 2,4-D, linuron, or diuron. Standard treatments included glyphosate (0.6 and 1.1 kg ae/ha) and paraquat (0.3 and 0.6 kg ai/ha), and 2,4-D (0.6 kg ae/ha) alone. For corn, the addition of 2,4-D to glyphosate did not improve weed control, although the addition of 2,4-D to paraquat did improve horseweed control. Corn yield with the herbicide combinations was higher than that for the nonselective herbicides alone. Although initial weed control was good in soybeans, weed regrowth in all paraquat alone treatments was substantial, especially with horseweed. The addition of 2,4-D to paraquat improved control of horseweed and tall morningglory. The addition of linuron or diuron to paraquat improved horseweed and common ragweed control, whereas the addition of 2,4-D to glyphosate improved the control of tall morningglory but not the other weed species. Generally, after 4 weeks, all glyphosate treatments provided better horseweed control than all paraquat treatments. Paraquat plus either linuron or diuron and glyphosate alone or in combination with 2,4-D gave the highest soybean yields.

Two 5-yr experiments in a winter wheat-grain sorghum rotation were conducted near Hesston, KS, to evaluate selected foliage-applied herbicides to control honeyvine milkweed in the fall after wheat harvest. Herbicides that suppressed honeyvine milkweed stem populations 9 months after treatment included glyphosate, glyphosate plus dicamba, glyphosate plus 2,4-D, picloram, and four combinations of picloram plus 2,4-D. Honeyvine milkweed had regrown sufficiently by 24 months after herbicide application to require retreatment. Stem populations were suppressed following repeat treatments. Herbicide treatments increased yields of grain sorghum planted 9 months later but did not increase yields of winter wheat planted 13 months or longer after herbicide application.

A 3-yr experiment and a 1-yr experiment in continuous winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ‘Newton’) and two 3-yr experiments in continuous grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor L. (Moench.) ‘Co-op SG-10’ or ‘DeKalb DX-42Y’] were conducted to evaluate selected foliage-applied herbicides for control of honeyvine milkweed [Ampelamus albidus (Nutt.) Britt # AMPAL]. Glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)-glycine] applied at 3.4 kg ae/ha, glyphosate plus dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid) applied at 1.7 plus 0.6 kg ae/ha, and glyphosate plus 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] applied at 1.7 plus 1.1 kg ae/ha in summer between harvesting and planting winter wheat and in spring prior to planting grain sorghum effectively reduced honeyvine milkweed regrowth 1 yr after initial application in both cropping systems. One or two additional annual applications did not provide complete control in either cropping system. Applications of 2,4-D at 2.2 kg ae/ha dicamba at 1.1 kg ae/ha and 2,4-D plus dicamba at 1.1 plus 0.6 kg ae/ha were effective if applied consecutively for 3 yr in continuous winter wheat but not in continuous grain sorghum.

Combinations of herbicides applied preemergence and postemergence, with and without cultivation, were evaluated for their effectiveness for controlling weeds in soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Williams’]. Annual weeds were controlled best when a sequential treatment of a mixture of alachlor [2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)acetanilide] + linuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methoxy-1-methylurea] was applied preemergence, and glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] was applied postemergence, followed by one cultivation. The largest soybean yields were obtained when alachlor + linuron applied preemergence was followed by a cultivation, bentazon [3-isopropyl-1H-2,1,3-benzothiadiazin-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide] applied postemergence, bentazon applied postemergence and a cultivation, or glyphosate applied postemergence and a cultivation. Regression analysis of the soybean yield vs. weed control data for all treatments indicated that soybean yields were suppressed an average of 180 kg/ha when glyphosate was applied postemergence. A cultivation in addition to the preemergence and postemergence treatments improved both weed control and soybean yield.

Combinations of herbicides applied preplant incorporated and preemergence plus at layby were evaluated in corn (Zea mays L.) at three Nebraska locations in 1977 through 1980 for their effectiveness in providing season-long weed control. Pendimethalin [N-(1 -ethylpropyl) - 3,4-dimethyl - 2,6 - dinitrobenzenamine], pendimethalin + atrazine [2- chloro - 4 - (ethylamino) -6 - isopropylamino) -s- triazine ], metolachlor [2 - chloro - N - (2 - ethyl - 6 - methylphenyl) - N - (2 - methoxy -1 - methylethyl) acetamide], alachlor [2 - chloro -2′,6’ - diethyl - N- (methoxymethyl)acetanilide], cyanazine {2 -[[4 - chloro- 6 - (ethylamino) - s - triazin-2 - yl] amino] -2 -methylpropionitrile}, and cyanazine + atrazine were shown to be selective to corn and effective in controlling late - germinating weeds. Irrigated - corn yield was not increased by layby herbicide applications on the weed species and weed densities present in these experiments.