Weed populations, weed control with imazethapyr, and Glycine max yields were affected by a 4-yr history of different weed control practices. A range of chemical and mechanical practices were applied in separate field experiments initiated under high and low weed densities. In the high-density experiment, plots kept weed free for 4 yr averaged 24 Setaria faberi plants m−2 compared with 200 to 600 plants m−2 with the various weed control treatments. In plots with a history of mechanical control, weeds not controlled by imazethapyr reduced G. max yield by 340 kg ha−1 compared with plots that were kept weed free during the same period. In the low-density experiment, weed control history had less effect on weed densities. For example, S. faberi densities ranged from 19 plants m−2 for the weed-free plots to 195 plants m−2 with mechanical control. Weed control history had little effect on weed control with imazethapyr or G. max yields in imazethapyr-treated plots. While weed-free conditions for 4 yr greatly reduced weed densities, imazethapyr application still increased G. max yields 22% in the low-density experiment and 51% in the high-density experiment. Differences in densities of individual annual broadleaf species also developed in response to weed control history in both experiments.

Economic evaluation of Scotch thistle (Onopordium acanthium L.) infestation of grazing land in northeastern California revealed potential annual losses to ranchers approximated $10.20/A for wet meadows, $6.70/A for wheatgrass (Agropyron spp.) stands, and $3.40/A on downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) rangelands. Annual application of 0.06 lb/A of 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) provided the most economical ($3.57/A) means of suppressing Scotch thistle. Annual application of 0.06 lb/A also introduced less picloram into the environment than less frequent application of higher rates. Application of picloram to suppress Scotch thistle limits management options and reduces potential land values.

Terbacil (3-tert-butyl-5-chloro-6-methyluracil) metabolism was evaluated as a possible basis of tolerance in two species, strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne) and goldenrod (Solidago fistulosa Miller). Reported cultivar variation in strawberry tolerance to terbacil was examined by comparing herbicide metabolism patterns in an established tolerant cultivar, 'Sunrise’, with those of the reported susceptible cultivar, ‘Guardian’. A terbacil-sensitive plant, cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. ‘Chipper’), was also used as a basis for comparison. Using gradient elution high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), two terbacil metabolites were separated and quantitated from methanol extracts of the three species treated with 14C-terbacil via roots in solution culture. The minor metabolite was identified as the non-phytotoxic derivative, 3-tert-butyl-5-chloro-6-hydroxymethyluracil, based on its co-migration with authentic 3-tert-butyl-5-chloro-6-hydroxymethyluracil in two chromatographic systems. The major metabolite was a glycoside, which yielded the hydroxylated derivative upon β-glucosidase hydrolysis. In all species, metabolites accumulated more rapidly and extensively in roots than in leaves. Metabolism was greater in the two tolerant species than in cucumber. However, the greater tolerance of goldenrod to terbacil compared to that of strawberry was apparently unrelated to differences in herbicide metabolism.

Field studies in 1990 and 1991 evaluated treatment timings of nicosulfuron and bentazon alone and in mixture for weed control, peanut injury, and yield. The experimental areas were treated with a broadcast PPI application of benefin at 1.68 kg ai ha-1. Nicosulfuron was applied at 40 g ai ha-1 and bentazon at 560 g ai ha-1. Nicosulfuron mixed with bentazon applied 1 wk after crop emergence (WAE) controlled yellow nutsedge 81%. Bentazon or bentazon plus nicosulfuron applied 1 or 3 WAE controlled smallflower morningglory at least 94%. Nicosulfuron controlled sicklepod at least 76% in 1990. However, control of sicklepod was 71% from 1 WAE nicosulfuron application in 1991 and less than 26% for 3, 5, or 7 WAE application. Bentazon controlled Ipomoea spp. at least 70% but did not control Florida beggarweed and sicklepod. Nicosulfuron alone controlled Florida beggarweed and Ipomoea spp. Nicosulfuron reduced early-season peanut growth, but peanut recovered by mid-August. Bentazon reduced nicosulfuron control of Florida beggarweed when applied 1, 3, or 5 WAE, but not 7 WAE. Bentazon mixed with nicosulfuron applied 3 WAE in 1990 reduced weed-free peanut yields compared to nicosulfuron alone. Nicosulfuron and bentazon did not significantly reduce peanut yields under weed-free conditions in 1991.

Investigations were conducted on Euglena gracilis Klebs strain Z to determine the effects of fluometuron [1,2-dimethyl-3-(α,α,α-trifluoro-m-tolyl)urea], MSMA (monosodium methanearsonate), glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine], and metribuzin [4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazin-5(4H)-one] on cell number, chlorophyll content, and photosynthesis. Euglena cell number was reduced by 65% or more after 48 h with fluometuron levels above 4 X 10-5M. MSMA at 6 X 10-4M reduced cell number 42% after 144 h exposure. Chlorophyll content was reduced 33 to 80% by metribuzin levels of 2 X 10-6M or greater, and fluometuron inhibited chlorophyll content by 30% or more from 4 X 10-6M or greater concentrations. Chlorophyll was reduced 21 to 69% by treatment with glyphosate at 3 X 10-3M, but MSMA appeared to have little effect on chlorophyll except at the high level of 6 X 10-4M at 48 h. Photosynthesis was reduced 50% or more with metribuzin levels above 9 X 10-7M and with fluometuron above 9 X 10-5M. MSMA reduced photosynthesis by 20% at the 6 X 10-3M level, and glyphosate slightly reduced photosynthesis at levels below 1.2 X 10-4M but slightly stimulated it above that level. Chronic effects (Euglena exposed to herbicides 96 h prior to measurement) on photosynthesis indicated a more pronounced reduction from fluometuron than from short-term exposure, little change with glyphosate, but less reduction with metribuzin than from short-term exposure. Metribuzin caused increased respiration rates of 100 to 200% after 100 min of exposure. Respiration was stimulated 20% by glyphosate and relatively unaffected by the other compounds. Removal of Euglena from metribuzin- and fluometuron-treated media to non-treated media resulted in increased levels of chlorophyll to near that of the control. These results suggest that use of these herbicides is not detrimental to non-target algae if the exposure is not intensive.

Mefluidide {N-[2,4-dimethyl-5-[[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]-amino] phenyl] acetamide} was applied postemergence in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] fields and its effectiveness in controlling johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.], hemp sesbania [Sesbania exaltata (Raf.) Cory], and common cocklebur (Xanthium pensylvanicum Wallr.) was evaluated. In plots treated preplanting with trifluralin (α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine), mefluidide gave 95% johnsongrass control when it was applied postemergence (over-the-top without surfactant) once at 0.90 kg/ha or twice at 0.44 kg/ha. Directed sprays of mefluidide at 0.22 to 0.67 kg/ha without surfactant were more effective on johnsongrass than similar treatments applied over-the-top. When 0.5% (v/v) nonoxynol [α-(p-nonyl-phenyl)-ω-hydroxypoly (oxyethylene)] surfactant was added, mefluidide at 0.44 or 0.67 kg/ha applied as directed or over-the-top sprays provided 76 to 90% johnsongrass control. Mefluidide at 1.12 kg/ha plus nonoxynol surfactant, applied as a directed spray, was required to provide 81% control of hemp sesbania. Directed sprays containing mixtures of mefluidide at 0.28 kg/ha plus dinoseb (2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenol) at 2.2 kg/ha, or mefluidide at 0.28 kg/ha plus a 2:1 mixture of naptalam (N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid)/dinoseb at 4.7 L/ha, effectively controlled 40- to 60-cm-tall hemp sesbania. A single, directed spray of mefluidide at 0.56 kg/ha plus nonoxynol provided 92% common cocklebur control, and mixtures of mefluidide at 0.28 kg/ha plus dinoseb at 2.2 kg/ha or naptalam/dinoseb (a 2:1 mixture) at 4.7 L/ha increased control above that provided by either of the herbicides alone.

A study was conducted to evaluate the response of common and giant ragweed to postemergence applications of imazethapyr using relative growth rate parameters. The relative growth rate was the same for untreated common and giant ragweed through the 21 d harvest interval. Relative growth rates of treated common and giant ragweed were 50% lower than the relative growth rates of untreated ragweeds 21 d after treatment. Between 21 and 56 d after treatment, the relative growth rate of common ragweed declined an additional 13%, while the relative growth rate of giant ragweed declined an additional 38%. The sharp continued decline in the relative growth rate of giant ragweed indicated plant death. The moderation and slight increase in the relative growth rate of common ragweed between 21 and 56 d corresponded with the initiation of lateral axillary buds and the regeneration of plant growth. Relative growth rate parameters identified differences in the response of common and giant ragweed to imazethapyr as early as 21 d after treatment. Relative growth rate demonstrated utility by objectively measuring differences in the growth response of these two weeds that are moderately susceptible to imazethapyr under laboratory conditions.

Field studies were conducted in 1998 and 1999 to evaluate crop response, weed control, Glycine max yield, and economic returns of labeled (1×) and one-half labeled (½×) rates of early preplant (EPP) sulfentrazone plus chlorimuron and postemergence glyphosate, compared to glyphosate-alone systems in no-till, narrow-row, glyphosate-resistant G. max. Treatments containing a 1× or ½× rate of EPP sulfentrazone plus chlorimuron with glyphosate followed by (fb) a postemergence treatment of glyphosate provided 80 to 100% control of Xanthium strumarium, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, and Polygonum pensylvanicum and 82 to 100% control of Setaria faberi and Amaranthus rudis if glyphosate was applied mid-postemergence (MPOST) or late postemergence (LPOST). Glyphosate alone EPP fb glyphosate postemergence or sequential postemergence treatments of glyphosate provided 77 to 100% control of S. faberi, A. artemisiifolia, and P. pensylvanicum. Glycine max yield did not significantly differ between treatments that contained 1× or ½× rates of sulfentrazone plus chlorimuron EPP with postemergence glyphosate or sequential glyphosate. Residual herbicides fb glyphosate reduced overall weed control variability but did not reduce the overall yield variability compared to glyphosate alone. Greater weed control, G. max yield, net incomes, and lower coefficient of variation (CV) of net incomes were generally associated with treatments that included both EPP and postemergence treatments vs. single herbicide applications. A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the optimal spray additive to maximize the foliar activity of sulfentrazone on three annual weeds. Sulfentrazone alone and in combination with a nonionic surfactant (NIS), methylated seed oil (MSO), crop oil concentrate (COC), and a silicone-based surfactant (SBS), with and without ammonium sulfate (AMS), were applied on two sizes of Abutilon theophrasti, P. pensylvanicum, and S. faberi. AMS provided little additional efficacy of sulfentrazone on S. faberi, but improved efficacy on A. theophrasti and P. pensylvanicum. SBS or MSO plus AMS with sulfentrazone generally provided the greatest efficacy on all species.

Actinonin is a naturally occurring hydroxamic acid and a potent inhibitor of the essential cotranslational protein processing enzyme peptide deformylase. Actinonin has both pre- and post-emergence herbicidal activity, but it is rapidly metabolized by plants, thus limiting herbicidal efficacy. Studies designed to elucidate the metabolic fate of actinonin revealed that after absorption actinonin was metabolized by tobacco plants with only about 17% of the parent compound remaining 48 h after application. Subcellular fractionation revealed that a microsomal fraction was capable of metabolizing actinonin in vitro. Two actinonin metabolites were isolated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and identified by mass spectrometric analyses. The major metabolite was derived from the hydrolysis of the hydroxamate group to its corresponding acid, and a relatively minor metabolite through reduction of the hydroxamate group to the corresponding amide. Both metabolites were functionally inactive as inhibitors of peptide deformylase. These results provide rationale for the low efficacy of actinonin as a broad-spectrum herbicide, and identify functional groups in actinonin targeted by plants during detoxification. This information may facilitate the design and synthesis of actinonin analogues with increased herbicidal efficacy.

Aerial applications of pelleted tebuthiuron {N-[5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]-N,N′-dimethylurea} at 0.5 kg/ha reduced creosotebush [Larrea tridentata (DC.) Coville] density by up to 86% and by 99% when applied at 1 kg/ha in February or March. Grass production 32 months after treatment was 174 to 305% greater in tebuthiuron-treated plots than on untreated ran gel and, but forb production in treated plots was reduced 38% or more and the poisonous half-shrub broom snakeweed [Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britt. and Rusby] was reduced 94% or more.

Canopy cover of false broomweed (Ericameria austrotexana M.C. Johnston) on the Rio Grande Plains of Texas was initially reduced by 96% by glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] applied at 2.2 kg/ha in the spring. Acceptable control of this shrub with glyphosate lasted at least 4 yr. Glyphosate severely reduced basal cover of perennial grasses during the year of treatment, but grasses completely recovered within 2 yr after treatment. Standing forage crop increased by an average of 83%, compared to untreated areas, and livestock carrying capacity increased from 1 animal unit (AU)/13 ha to 1 AU/7 ha. Picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid), paraquat (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium ion), and paraquat plus atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine] applied in the spring were less effective than glyphosate. Canopy reductions of false broomweed 6 months after applications of 2.2 kg/ha of picloram, paraquat, or paraquat plus atrazine were equivalent to that from 1.1 kg/ha of glyphosate, and control with these herbicides was usually restricted to the season of application. Dicamba (3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid), 2,4-D-[(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid], atrazine, and 2,4-D plus atrazine were not effective when applied in the spring or fall. Time required for recovery of false broomweed canopy apparently varied with amounts of rainfall received after herbicide application.

Annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) is a problematic annual weed in established turf where the intensive use of herbicides has resulted in the evolution of herbicide resistance. In 2017, 31 populations of P. annua suspected to be resistant to herbicides commonly used to control this weed in turf were collected from golf courses across southeastern Australia to check the resistance status to different herbicide groups. All populations were found to be resistant to multiple turf herbicides. Dose–response experiments confirmed resistance to propyzamide, simazine, rimsulfuron, foramsulfuron, endothall, and pinoxaden. Levels of resistance to rimsulfuron (>56-fold), foramsulfuron (>19-fold), endothall (>7-fold), and pinoxaden (>4.3-fold) compared with the susceptible population were high, but levels of resistance to propyzamide (>2-fold) and simazine (>2-fold) were lower. Considerable variation in resistance to endothall and pinoxaden was observed among the populations of P. annua. Target-site resistance was confirmed for acetolactate synthase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitors, but not for photosystem II and microtubule assembly inhibitors. This study documented the extensive resistance to herbicides in P. annua from turf in Australia. Three of the populations investigated exhibited multiple resistance to herbicides from five mechanisms of action. The identification of multiple-resistant P. annua on several golf courses is a serious concern for turf managers.

Site-specific weed management using open-source object detection algorithms could accurately detect weeds in cropping systems. We investigated the use of object detection algorithms to detect Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. The objectives were to (1) develop an annotated image database of A. palmeri and soybean to fine-tune object detection algorithms, (2) compare effectiveness of multiple open-source algorithms in detecting A. palmeri, and (3) evaluate the relationship between A. palmeri growth features and A. palmeri detection ability. Soybean field sites were established in Manhattan, KS, and Gypsum, KS, with natural populations of A. palmeri. A total of 1,108 and 392 images were taken aerially and at ground level, respectively, between May 27 and July 27, 2021. After image annotation, a total of 4,492 images were selected. Annotated images were used to fine-tune open-source faster regional convolutional (Faster R-CNN) and single-shot detector (SSD) algorithms using a Resnet backbone, as well as the “You Only Look Once” (YOLO) series algorithms. Results demonstrated that YOLO v. 5 achieved the highest mean average precision score of 0.77. For both A. palmeri and soybean detections within this algorithm, the highest F1 score was 0.72 when using a confidence threshold of 0.298. A lower confidence threshold of 0.15 increased the likelihood of species detection, but also increased the likelihood of false-positive detections. The trained YOLOv5 data set was used to identify A. palmeri in a data set paired with measured growth features. Linear regression models predicted that as A. palmeri densities increased and as A. palmeri height increased, precision, recall, and F1 scores of algorithms would decrease. We conclude that open-source algorithms such as YOLOv5 show great potential in detecting A. palmeri in soybean-cropping systems.

Perennial weeds capable of vegetative reproduction comprise, as a group, some of our most serious weed problems. Eradication is difficult where new top growth can be produced repeatedly from underground buds. A time honored control method involves the cutting of all top growth with special tillage implements each time sufficient new growth has been produced. In this way food reserves in the root system of the weed are slowly depleted until all growth stops. Root systems of most creeping perennial weeds are supplied with numerous buds on either the crown, lateral roots or rhizomes. Removal of the top growth of such plants with either chemicals or tillage results in the activation of a small percentage of the available buds and new top growth is produced. The new growth thus produced tends to prevent further bud activation presumably through the maintenance of auxin levels unfavorable for growth of these buds. This phenomenon is often referred to as apical dominance. Food depletion of the root system would be faster if more buds could be stimulated to active growth prior to each cycle of top growth removal.

Saltcedar (Tamarix pentandra Pall.) and Woods rose (Rosa woodsii Lindl. var. ultramontana [Wats.] Jeps.) were sprayed with systemic herbicides at frequent intervals over a 2-year period. Root samples were collected at each spray date and analyzed for “total available carbohydrates.” Food reserve levels in the roots and response to herbicides were not correlated.

The distribution of 3 (p–chlorophenyl)–1,1–dimethyl urea (CMU) in the soil horizon is an important factor to consider in using the material since it is a soil active herbicide. It has been reported that the persistence and toxicity of CMU vary considerably with soil type, temperature, and moisture conditions.

Synthetic auxin herbicides are commonly used in forage, pasture, range, and turfgrass settings for dicotyledonous weed control. Aminocyclopyrachlor (AMCP) is a newly developed pyrimidine carboxylic acid with a chemical structure and mode of action similar to the pyridine carboxylic acids—aminopyralid, clopyralid, and picloram. Injury to sensitive dicotyledonous plants has been observed following exposure to monocotyledonous plant material previously treated with pyridine compounds. The absorption, translocation, and metabolism of AMCP has been documented in susceptible broadleaf weeds; however, no information is available, to our knowledge, regarding AMCP fate in tolerant Poaceae, which may serve as the vector for off-target plant injury. Based on this premise, research was conducted to characterize absorption, translocation, and metabolism of AMCP in tall fescue. 14C-AMCP was applied to single tiller tall fescue plant foliage under controlled laboratory conditions at North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC). Radiation was quantified in leaf wash, treated leaf, foliage, crown, roots, and root exudates at 3, 12, 24, 48, 96, and 192 h after treatment (HAT). 14C-AMCP was rapidly absorbed by tall fescue, reaching 38 and 68% at 3 and 48 HAT, respectively. Translocation of 14C-AMCP was limited to the foliage, which reached maximum translocation (34%) at 96 HAT. Most of the recovered 14C-AMCP remained in the leaf wash, treated leaf, or foliage, whereas minimal radiation was detected in the crown, roots, or root exudates throughout the 192-h period. No AMCP metabolism was observed in tall fescue through the 192 HAT. These data suggest AMCP applied to tall fescue can remain bioavailable, and mishandling treated plant material could result in off-target injury.

Evaluations were made of the α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine (trifluralin) distribution patterns produced by eight incorporating implements. The power rotary cultivator concentrated the trifluralin in the top inch when operating at a 4-inch depth, while the disk, operated at the same depth, concentrated the trifluralin at a point 2 to 3 inches below the surface. All the remaining implements resulted in more than 80% of the recovered trifluralin in the top inch, except for isolated treatments with the Richardson and Lilliston tools. Surface applications resulted in less trifluralin recovery than from any implement. The disk resulted in the highest recovery and was two to three times greater than the recovery from the surface application. The recovery from the Richardson, Lilliston, and Ro-Wheel was 1.5 to 2 times greater than the recovery from the Mix-A-Product, field cultivator, and spike harrow.

Field studies were conducted at Morden, Manitoba, in 1994 and 1995 to investigate the effect of crop growth stages on canola and sunflower tolerance to sublethal doses of thifensulfuron:tribenuron (2:1). Thifensulfuron:tribenuron at doses of 0, 0.23, 0.45, 0.9, 1.8, and 3.6 g ai ha−1 plus a nonionic surfactant at 0.5% v/v were applied to canola and sunflower at the two- to three-leaf, four- to five-leaf, and six- to seven-leaf stages. Crop leaf stage at the time of application affected tolerance of both crops to thifensulfuron:tribenuron. Crop injury was lowest, and flowering, seed yield, and seed oil content were least affected when low doses of thifensulfuron:tribenuron were applied at the two- to three-leaf stage. At the highest dose, there was little practical difference among growth stages since yield of both crops was severely reduced. Producers with drift-affected canola or sunflower can expect less effect on crop yield when thifensulfuron:tribenuron injury occurs during early crop growth.

Greenhouse and field trials were conducted at the Aberdeen Research and Extension Center to determine the effect of hairy nightshade competition on two potato varieties with different growth habits. Greenhouse replacement trials included treatments of three plants total in each pot with potato : hairy nightshade ratios of 3 : 0, 2 : 1, 1 : 2, or 0 : 3. Varieties tested were ‘Russet Burbank’ and ‘Russet Norkotah’. Greenhouse-grown hairy nightshade (cotyledon to one-leaf stage) were transplanted into pots earlier than or at the same time as potato plant emergence. As the number of Russet Burbank plants per pot decreased, potato plant biomass dry weight (average per plant) increased, regardless of hairy nightshade number or transplant time. When hairy nightshade were transplanted before Russet Norkotah emergence, potato plant biomass dry weight per plant was similar, regardless of potato : nightshade ratio. Field trials were conducted with Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah in 2004 and 2005. At potato emergence, greenhouse-grown hairy nightshade plants (one- to two-leaf) were transplanted in between potato rows at densities of 0, 1, 2, or 3 plants m−1 row, and solid-seeded at approximately 100 plants m−1 row. Hairy nightshade biomass, stem and berry number, and seeds per berry were reduced by competition from Russet Burbank due to the amount and duration of shading, as compared with Russet Norkotah. Russet Burbank U.S. No. 1 and total tuber yields in plots with 1 hairy nightshade plant m−1 row were similar to weed-free control yields, whereas yields in plots with 2, 3, or 100 m−1 row were reduced in comparison. In contrast, Russet Norkotah yields were reduced when only 1 hairy nightshade plant m−1 row was present. Overall, Russet Norkotah were less competitive with hairy nightshade than Russet Burbank in both the greenhouse replacement and field trials.