Broadleaf weed control ranged from 80% with clomazone at 0.14 kg/ha to 100% with clomazone at 1.12 kg/ha. Broadleaf weed control was higher with clomazone than naptalam or ethalfluralin. The combination of clomazone at 0.14 kg/ha and naptalam at 5 kg/ha or ethalfluralin at 1.25 kg/ha gave more than 90% broadleaf weed control. Clomazone caused chlorosis and bleaching on cucumber leaves but plants rapidly recovered. Cucumber yields were higher in plots treated with clomazone alone at 0.14 to 0.56 kg/ha than with ethalfluralin or naptalam alone. Clomazone dose response studies were conducted in weed-free plots with five cucumber varieties. The 0.28 kg/ha rate caused low levels of visible injury and did not decrease yields. Cultivar differences were more pronounced at higher clomazone rates. The five cucumber cultivars were, in order of increasing clomazone tolerance, ‘Sunre 3537,’ ‘Pioneer,’ ‘Quest,’ ‘Prince,’ and ‘Calypso.’ We concluded that clomazone is an effective and selective herbicide for broadleaf weed control in pickling cucumber.

In the greenhouse, naptalam at 1.1 to 4.5 kg ai ha−1 antagonized activity of paraquat at 0.04 to 0.14 kg ai ha−1 in 14 of 16 rate combinations when applied to sicklepod. Sicklepod shoot fresh weight reduction was less compared to that obtained with paraquat alone when paraquat at 0.04 kg ha−1 was mixed with bentazon at 0.42 to 0.84 kg ai ha−1 or monocarbamide dihydrogensulfate at 14 to 58 kg ai ha−1. Paraquat activity on Florida beggarweed was antagonized by mixtures of paraquat at 0.04 or 0.07 kg ha−1 with bentazon at 0.63 or 0.84 kg ha−1 or paraquat at 0.04 to 0.14 kg ha−1 with naptalam at 3.4 or 4.5 kg ha−1. Mixtures of lactofen at 0.06 to 0.22 kg ai ha−1 with monocarbamide dihydrogensulfate at 14 kg ha−1 or lactofen at 0.06 or 0.16 kg ha−1 with alachlor at 1.4 to 2.8 kg ai ha−1 synergistically increased tall morningglory shoot fresh weight reduction. In the field, excellent sicklepod shoot fresh weight reduction by paraquat applied alone masked most antagonistic effects of paraquat mixtures. Addition of alachlor to monocarbamide dihydrogensulfate at 29 kg ha−1 improved activity on sicklepod compared to monocarbamide dihydrogensulfate applied alone.

Two field experiments were established in 1988 and 1989 in southeast Missouri to evaluate several herbicides and herbicide combinations for giant ragweed control in soybean. In 1988, a timely rainfall was not received for soil-applied herbicides and giant ragweed control was less than 75%. However, in 1989 soil moisture was sufficient for uptake of soil-applied herbicides and early season giant ragweed control was generally greater than 80%. Chlorimuron, chlorimuron plus 2,4-DB, imazaquin plus 2,4-DB, acifluorfen followed by naptalam plus 2,4-DB, fomesafen, and imazethapyr applied to 2.5 to 5-cm giant ragweed controlled more than 85% in 1988. In 1989, all POST treatments except imazaquin controlled more than 81% of giant ragweed 2 wk after treatments. Imazethapyr controlled seedling giant ragweed at heights up to 12 to 25 cm. Giant ragweed regrowth and/or reinfestation and giant ragweed seed production occurred with all herbicide treatments.

Three herbicide treatments were evaluated for use under clear polyethylene mulch and three types of row covers (spunbonded polyester, double-slitted polyethylene, and perforated polyethylene). Treatments included combinations of bensulide {O,O-bis(1-methylethyl)-S-[2-[(phenylsulfonyl)amino]ethyl]phosphorodithioate} and naptalam {2-[(1-naphthalenylamino)carbonyl]benzoic acid}, and cinmethylin {exo-1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-2-[(2-methylphenyl)methoxy]-7-oxabicyclo [2.2.1] heptane} alone and in combination with naptalam. In 1985 and 1986, all herbicide treatments controlled more than 95% of carpetweed (Mollugo verticillata L. # MOLVE) and large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. # DIGSA], except for the combination of bensulide plus naptalam in 1986, which controlled only 73 to 85% of these weeds. In both years, all herbicide treatments reduced crop vigor at 3 weeks but not at 7 weeks after transplanting. Total yield was not different with any of the herbicide treatments in 1985 and 1986. However, in 1986, yields were greater from the bensulide plus naptalam treatment than for the weed-free control. Herbicide treatment did not affect early yields in 1985, but the bensulide plus naptalam treatment was greater than all others in 1986. The use of row covers did not increase herbicide-induced crop injury over that of clear mulch alone. Greenhouse studies indicated that soil-applied cinmethylin reduced muskmelon root and shoot weight. Foliar applications reduced muskmelon shoot weight.

Field studies were conducted to determine if oxyfluorfen alone or combined with other herbicides could be applied between black polyethylene mulch without injuring muskmelon. Oxyfluorfen at rates up to 1.1 kg ai/ha did not injure muskmelon provided adequate rain or irrigation occurred to incorporate the oxyfluorfen thereby minimizing vapors that could injure muskmelon. Using this practice, muskmelon yields from oxyfluorfen-treated plots were the same as yields from untreated cultivated plots.

Control of Texas panicum and southern crabgrass with sethoxydim was reduced under field conditions when bentazon, acifluorfen, bentazon + acifluorfen, pyridate, or naptalam plus 2,4-DB was added. The addition of lactofen to sethoxydim did not result in antagonism. Complete control of annual grasses did not appear to be a necessity in order to improve peanut yields. Peanut yields in plots with 70 to 80% control of annual grasses were comparable to those where annual grass control was 99%.

Studies were conducted to determine injury potential to rotational crops from carryover of herbicides used in watermelon production. Treatments included halosulfuron, ethalfluralin, and sulfentrazone alone; halosulfuron in tank mixtures with bensulide, clomazone, ethalfluralin, and naptalam; and a tank mixture of naptalam and bensulide. Sulfentrazone applied at 224 g ai/ha to watermelon severely reduced spinach emergence, but did not reduce emergence of broccoli, cabbage, or wheat. Residues of sulfentrazone applied to watermelon at 450 g/ha stunted growth of broccoli and cabbage and was the only treatment that reduced wheat stand. Injury to broccoli, cabbage, and spinach increased as the halosulfuron rate increased. Ethalfluralin did not reduce stand or cause injury to any of the four rotational crops. Naptalam plus bensulide did not reduce stand of the four crops and caused either slight or no injury. Residues of sulfentrazone and halosulfuron can injure vegetables following crops in which these herbicides are used, and caution should be taken particularly with spinach, broccoli, and cabbage in this respect.

Studies were conducted at eight sites during a 3-yr period in Oklahoma and Arkansas to determine the effectiveness and safety of preemergence applications of halosulfuron both alone and in tank mixtures with bensulide, clomazone, ethalfluralin, and naptalam. Ethalfluralin, naptalam plus bensulide, and sulfentrazone also were applied alone. Although halosulfuron caused up to 20% seedling stunting, watermelon plants recovered by 5 to 7 wk after planting, and yield was similar to that of hand-weeded plots. Halosulfuron treatments controlled hophornbeam copperleaf, Palmer amaranth, carpetweed, and cutleaf groundcherry 80 to 100%. Control of goosegrass was at least 97% with clomazone plus ethalfluralin plus halosulfuron. Injury to watermelon treated with sulfentrazone ranged from 76 to 98% at 2 to 4 wk after treatment. This was reflected by yields that were lower than any other herbicide treatment in the studies.