Weeds are among the main limitations on chickpea production in Iran. The efficacy of herbicide treatments including linuron PPI, imazethapyr PPI, PRE, and POST, pendimethalin PPI and POST, bentazon POST, pyridate POST, and oxadiazon POST along with one or two hand weedings were evaluated for weed control and yield response in rain-fed chickpea in Aleshtar, Lorestan, Iran in 2015 and 2016. Wild safflower, threehorn bedstraw, wild mustard, and hoary cress were the predominant weed species in both experimental years. Total weed dry biomass in weedy check plots averaged 187 and 238 g m−2 in 2015 and 2016, respectively, and weed density and biomass were reduced in all treatments compared to the weedy check in both years. Treatments composed of pyridate followed by one hand weeding or imazethapyr POST followed by two hand weedings resulted in the lowest weed biomass. The presence of weeds reduced yield by 74% and 66% in the weedy check plots compared to the weed-free control plots in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Application of oxadiazon, bentazon, and imazethapyr PPI, PRE, and POST resulted in lower chickpea yields. All herbicides tested injured chickpea slightly, with pyridate causing the least injury.

Lentil is vulnerable to weed competition because of its short stature, slow establishment, and limited vegetative growth. Although the vast majority of lentil production is under rain-fed conditions, there is a little published information on weed control with herbicides in rain-fed lentils. Field experiments were conducted to determine the efficacy of nine herbicide treatments including fomesafen, imazethapyr, linuron, pendimethalin, and pyridate alone or in combination compared with one or two hand weeding(s) on weed control and yield response in rain-fed lentil in Khorramabad, Iran in 2012 and 2013. Weed species included catchweed bedstraw, cowcockle, haresear mustard, hoary cress, wild mustard, and wild safflower. Total weed dry biomass in weedy check plots averaged 156 and 170 g m−2 in 2012 and 2013, respectively, and weed density and biomass were reduced in all treatments compared to the weedy check in both years. Plots that were hand weeded twice reduced weed biomass the greatest, whereas fomesafen, linuron, or one hand weeding did not control weeds satisfactorily. Noncontrolled weeds reduced lentil yield by 67% both years compared to the weed-free control. Lentil yield in 2013 (1,370 kg ha−1) was higher than in 2012 (1,150 kg ha−1). All herbicides tested injured lentil slightly, with pyridate (1,200 g ai ha−1) and pendimethalin (660 g ai ha−1 plus imazethapyr at 250 to 500 g ai ha−1) causing the least injury. Across all treatments, imazethapyr plus pendimethalin PRE, pyridate POST, and two hand-weeding treatments had the best performance for weed control and lentil yield.

Black greasewood (greasewood) and gray rabbitbrush are important shrub components of several plant communities throughout western North America. Land managers may view these species differently depending on their goals. Greasewood and gray rabbitbrush shrub communities may be invaded by several invasive plants including Russian knapweed, perennial pepperweed, hoary cress, halogeton, and several annual mustards. Metsulfuron and chlorsulfuron are commonly used for controlling these and other invasive plants, but little is known regarding their impacts on greasewood and gray rabbitbrush. Our objective was to quantify the impact of these herbicides on greasewood and gray rabbitbrush communities from both an efficacy and nontarget impact perspective. Field studies were established in the spring of 2004 and repeated twice in 2005 near Laramie, WY, in a pasture with mixed stands of greasewood and gray rabbitbrush. Treatments included metsulfuron applied at 21, 42, 63, 84, 126, and 168 g ai/ha (0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, 1.8 and 2.4 oz ai/A), chlorsulfuron applied at 52, 105, and 157 g ai/ha (0.75, 1.5 and 2.25 oz ai/A), and an untreated control. All treatments contained methylated seed oil at 2% v/v. Treatments were applied in mid-June to 3.3 by 9-m (10 by 30 ft) plots with a handheld broadcast sprayer delivering 187 L/ha (20 gal/ac) in a randomized complete block, with three blocks per study. Plots were sampled 12 and 24 mo after treatment (MAT), utilizing visual control estimates and point frame sampling for vegetative cover of greasewood, gray rabbitbrush, perennial grasses, and bare ground. Metsulfuron at 42 g/ha and chlorsulfuron at 105 g/ha provided > 75% visual control of greasewood 24 MAT. For gray rabbitbrush, metsulfuron at 63 g/ha provided approximately 60% control 24 MAT, while chlorsulfuron provided negligible control at any rate. These results suggest differential impacts of these herbicides on greasewood and gray rabbitbrush, and provide land managers with a decision tool for noxious and invasive weed control when managing for or against greasewood and gray rabbitbrush.