In a 6-yr field study, johnsongrass growing in ‘Forrest’ soybeans for the entire growing season reduced yields 45% in the year with most rainfall and 69% in the year with least rainfall. Yields of soybeans grown without johnsongrass competition were 56% higher in the year with the most rainfall than in the year with least rainfall. Yields of soybeans with full-season competition were reduced 75% from those in the year with most rainfall as compared with those in the year with least rainfall. The number of weeks of johnsongrass competition required to significantly reduce soybean yields varied from 3 wk, in the year with least rainfall, to 8 wk, in the year with most rainfall. Nine applications of sethoxydim at 0.84 kg ai ha-1 or haloxyfop at 0.55 kg ai ha-1 each year did not reduce soybean growth or yields.

Control of goosegrass and large crabgrass with different preemergence herbicides for the initial and sequential application was studied at four locations in Indiana. Pendimethalin at 1.1 kg ai ha-1 was used as the initial application in all treatments. Sequential treatments applied 6 wk after the initial treatment consisted of: 2.2 kg ha-1 benefin; 1.4/0.7 kg ha-1 benefin/trifluralin; 8.4 kg ha-1 bensulide; 11.8 kg ha-1 DCPA; 0.6 kg ha-1 dithiopyr; 2.2 kg ha-1 oxadiazon; 1.1 kg ha-1 pendimethalin; or 0.6 kg ha-1 prodiamine. Dithiopyr at 0.6 kg ha-1 with no initial application was also included. Highest large crabgrass control ratings were obtained through September with pendimethalin + pendimethalin, pendimethalin + dithiopyr, and dithiopyr alone postemergence. All other sequential applications tested improved control over a single application of 1.1 kg ha-1 pendimethalin, but rarely gave adequate season long control.

Sugarbeet tolerance to and Canada thistle control from tank mixtures of clopyralid plus other postemergence herbicides and/or petroleum oil adjuvant applied at various times were determined. Herbicides were applied to 5 to 20 or 20 to 70-cm tall Canada thistle. Clopyralid at 0.14 and 0.21 kg ai ha-1 alone or with petroleum oil adjuvant did not injure sugarbeet. Tank mixing clopyralid with desmedipham/phenmedipham plus endothall injured sugarbeet 7 d after application in 2 of 3 yr but not when observed 14 d after application. Herbicides applied early postemergence in 1987 and late postemergence in 1988 controlled Canada thistle poorly due to rainfall 1 h after application and drought conditions, respectively. The addition of petroleum oil adjuvant enhanced control of Canada thistle by clopyralid at 0.14 kg ha-1, and control equaled that of clopyralid at 0.21 kg ha-1 alone. Addition of desmedipham/phenmedipham plus endothall to clopyralid did not reduce Canada thistle control. Petroleum oil adjuvant added to clopyralid at 0.14 kg ha-1 increased Canada thistle control to that achieved by clopyralid at 0.21 kg ha-1 plus desmedipham/phenmedipham plus endothall.

Field studies were conducted in the northern and southern cane belt areas of Louisiana to determine the effect of itchgrass on sugarcane growth and yield. Itchgrass was allowed to interfere with sugarcane season-long, early-season from emergence in the spring until layby (last cultivation) in mid-June, and late-season from layby until harvest. Itchgrass germination occurred throughout the growing season. Populations of millable sugarcane stalks and yields of cane and sugar were similar for no interference, early-, and late-season interference. Season-long itchgrass interference reduced sugarcane stalk populations and cane and sugar yields an average of 34, 42, and 43%, respectively, compared with no interference.

Brush control and woody plant community structure in the Cross Timbers of Oklahoma resulting from treatments with herbicides and fire were compared. Tebuthiuron and triclopyr were applied alone and in combination with burning at 2.2 kg ai ha-1 in March and June of 1983, respectively. The burned pastures were burned with strip headfires in late spring of 1985, 1986, and 1987. Both herbicides were effective on the dominant overstory brush species, blackjack oak and post oak, and this resulted in good reduction of canopy cover of brush initially. However, effects of triclopyr were short-lived because of ineffectiveness on many of the other hardwood species (American elm, gum bumelia, hackberry, roughleaf dogwood, and buckbrush). Crown reduction and tree kill of these hardwood species was usually better with tebuthiuron than with triclopyr. Neither herbicide was effective on eastern redcedar. Better brush control, associated with tebuthiuron, resulted in better fine fuel release and by 1988, burning was having a significant effect on woody plants in the tebuthiuron-treated plots.

Understory vegetation was studied following treatment by herbicides and fire on grazed pastures within the Cross Timbers vegetation type. Tebuthiuron and triclopyr at 2.2 kg ha-1 were applied in March and June of 1983, respectively. The pastures were burned in late spring of 1985, 1986 and 1987. Frequency of horseweed, rosette panicgrass, and little bluestem increased with both herbicides, but the increase was usually larger with tebuthiuron than triclopyr. Burning as a follow-up to either herbicide had little effect on frequency of rosette panicgrass and little bluestem. Horseweed increased following burning in 1985 and 1987. Standing crop of grasses and forbs increased dramatically following herbicide treatments. Grass production was greater with tebuthiuron, whereas production of forbs and browse was generally greater with triclopyr.

Field experiments were conducted in Oklahoma to evaluate the effect of three imidazolinone herbicides and metsulfuron on established field bindweed and hard red winter wheat followcrops. Imazapyr at 280 g ai ha-1 and imazethapyr at 560 g ai ha-1 controlled field bindweed from 78 to 100% for 48 wk, but imazaquin at 560 g ai ha-1, metsulfuron at 17.5 g ai ha-1, and 2,4-D plus picloram at 1120 plus 280 g ae ha-1 did not. Imidazolinone herbicides reduced forage and grain yield of wheat seeded 8 to 14 wk after herbicide application. Only imazapyr reduced grain yield of wheat seeded 15 mo after treatment.

Field experiments were conducted in 1988 and 1989 to evaluate timing of POST herbicide application in peanut for annual broadleaf weed control, peanut yield, and net returns. Bentazon tank-mixtures with either acifluorfen or paraquat controlled common lambsquarters, prickly sida, and morningglory species equally when applied either at ground-cracking (GC) or 2 wk after ground-cracking (2WGC). Paraquat controlled common lambsquarters least (32 to 33%). Bentazon plus acifluorfen plus BCH 81508S controlled 82% common lambsquarters at 2WGC compared with 66% control from bentazon plus acifluorfen plus a crop oil concentrate. Lactofen controlled 86% common lambsquarters when applied at GC compared to 34% at 2WGC. All applications applied at 4 wk after GC (4WGC) controlled essentially no annual broadleaf weeds. Higher yields and net returns were generally obtained with earlier herbicide applications. Bentazon tank-mixtures with acifluorfen provided equivalent peanut yields and net returns for GC and 2WGC applications.

The effect of glyphosate applied alone and with 2,4-D as a commercial mixture on 30 native or introduced grass species was evaluated. Grass yield averaged 98 and 87% of the untreated controls when glyphosate was applied in the fall at 0.2 or 0.4 kg ae ha-1, respectively, alone or with 2,4-D at 0.35 or 0.7 kg ae ha-1. Western wheatgrass production decreased more than any other species present in a native rangeland site following either a spring or fall glyphosate application. In seeded plots, intermediate wheatgrass was the most and ‘Fairway’ crested wheatgrass the least susceptible to glyphosate plus 2,4-D with average yields of 57 and 97% compared with untreated controls of each species, respectively. Glyphosate reduced the yield of ‘Nordan’ standard crested wheatgrass more than that of Fairway crested wheatgrass or other diploid cultivars. The greater the spring precipitation following a fall application of glyphosate, the less effect of glyphosate on forage yield. Glyphosate plus 2,4-D can be used for weed control in pasture and rangeland provided some yield reduction is acceptable.

In field studies trifluralin and pendimethalin at 1.7 kg ai ha-1 applied PPI controlled itchgrass 87 and 78%, respectively, in late season when averaged over a 2-yr period. Clomazone at 1.1 kg ai ha-1 applied PRE to the soil surface in one year controlled 80% of itchgrass compared with 51% when applied PPI. POST application of 0.15 kg ai ha-1 fluazifop-P, 0.21 kg ai ha-1 haloxyfop, 0.10 kg ai ha-1 quizalofop, and 1.1 kg ai ha-1 diclofop controlled at least 90%. Itchgrass control was less effective with 0.43 kg ai ha-1 sethoxydim and 0.07 kg ai ha-1 clethodim POST and poor with 0.15 kg ai ha-1 imazaquin and 0.07 kg ai ha-1 imazethapyr.

Thirty soybean cultivars were grown in a hydroponic culture to observe differential tolerance to AC 263,222. Root length was reduced with 1.1 mM AC 263,222 in 18 of the 30 cultivars. ‘Bedford’, ‘Asgrow 5403’, and ‘Asgrow 6297’ were cultivars with a root length reduction of 30% or more, whereas roots of ‘DPL 506’, ‘RA 606’, and ‘Coker 6727’ were reduced less than 7%. Root weight was reduced in only 10 of the 30 cultivars. Asgrow 6297, ‘Bragg’, and ‘Narow’ root weights were reduced more than 20%. Shoot weight was reduced in 23 cultivars, and ‘Coker 6955’, ‘Braxton’, ‘Coker 485’, ‘Epps', and Coker 6727 shoots were reduced more than 25%. The most tolerant cultivars were ‘Centennial’, RA 606, ‘Tracy M’, ‘Johnston’, and ‘Hartz 7126’. The most sensitive cultivars to AC 263,222 with all response variables measured were Bedford, Asgrow 6297, Asgrow 5403, Coker 6955, Narow, Bragg, and Braxton. These cultivars all have ‘Jackson’ as a common parent. This suggests a genetic basis for AC 263,222 sensitivity in soybean.

Field experiments were established in 1989 and 1990 to determine the effects of application rate and timing on sicklepod control and soybean tolerance to POST applications of AC 263,222 and chlorimuron. When applied to 3-, 6-, or 10-leaf sicklepod, 35 g ai ha-1 or more AC 263,222 controlled more than 85% of sicklepod early in the season, and season-long when applied to 3- or 6-leaf sicklepod. At all timings, 70 g ha-1 or more AC 263,222 resulted in better control than a PRE application of 420 g ai ha-1 metribuzin followed by 9 g ai ha-1 chlorimuron applied POST. At 35 g ha-1 or more AC 263,222, application timing did not affect sicklepod control. However, control was reduced with 18 g ha-1 when applications were delayed from 3- or 6-leaf to 10-leaf sicklepod. At the 10-leaf sicklepod growth stage, a PRE application of imazaquin increased both sicklepod control and soybean yield with 35 g ha-1 AC 263,222 as compared with AC 263,222 applied alone. Soybean injury and height reductions with AC 263,222 at 35 g ha-1 and above were greater than with chlorimuron; however, increased soybean injury or height reduction was not reflected in pod numbers or yield.

Paraquat was applied at 0.28 and 0.56 kg ai ha-1 to winter wheat at five growth stages at 0800, 1300, and 1600 hr to determine whether growth stage or time of application influenced winter wheat response to paraquat. Paraquat bioactivity was affected by growth stage. Biomass reduction by paraquat was 84% when winter wheat was in the 1 to 3 leaf stage, but only 68% when application was delayed until tillering. Paraquat bioactivity continued to decrease at later growth stages. The time of day when paraquat was applied did not affect its bioactivity on winter wheat.

An invert emulsion with low viscosity and excellent water-holding properties was developed for delivery of fungal weed pathogens (mycoherbicides). Alternaria cassiae, a pathogen of sicklepod, proliferated after incorporation of spores in the emulsion. The oil phase (CDQ-1) contained paraffin wax, a paraffinic spray oil, and an unsaturated monoglyceride emulsifier (Myverol 18–99). The oil phase was mixed 1:1 (by weight) with water to form the invert, which was sprayed onto glass plates for testing of water retention properties. Water contents ranged from 22% (with A. cassiae present) to 41% (without fungus) for 0.6 to 0.7-mm2 spray deposits after 24-h storage at 21 C and 65% relative humidity. An invert emulsion containing lactofen was prepared using the CDQ-1 formulation.

The number of computer applications for purposes of weed control decisions has increased dramatically in the past eight yr. During this time, many efficacy-, and population-based weed control decision aids have been developed. The complexity of decisions range from those based on optimal weed control (independent of net profitability) to those predicting weed population effects before most profitable treatments are selected. While the number of software applications has increased sharply, national software databases have not been funded and tracking has been made difficult. The purpose of this paper is to review the criteria upon which efficacy- and population-based weed control decision aids are founded, and to identify software currently available in each of the two categories.

The first weed contest was held at the Eli Lilly Research Farm at Albany, GA, in late May 1980. From the original idea of David Teem of FL, a contest evolved that was sanctioned by the Southern Weed Science Society in 1981. In August 1981, the first North Central Collegiate Weed Science Contest was held at the Agri-Growth Research Farm, Hollandale, MN. An undergraduate division was established in 1982. The Northeast Collegiate Weed Science Contest began in 1983 at the Wye Research Center in Queenstown, MD, with both graduate and undergraduate formats. The North Central contest annually has the most participants followed by the Southern and Northeast contests. Representatives from 39 universities have competed in at least one contest. The three contests follow a similar format that includes four events: plant and seed identification of weed species, identification of herbicides from plant symptoms, calibration of herbicide application equipment, and crop/weed problems and recommendations. Preparation by universities has varied from minimal to establishing a class to prepare students for the contest. Regardless of the level of preparation, the weed contests have developed into one of the most anticipated and worthwhile experiences for students and university and industry personnel.

A random mail survey of Ohio growers was conducted to determine the geographic distribution of weeds across Ohio and the influence of production practices on the severity of agronomic weed problems. Statewide, the ten most severe weed problems, in descending order, were Canada thistle > foxtail spp. > velvetleaf = common ragweed > common cocklebur > giant ragweed = annual morningglory spp. > quackgrass = common lambsquarters = Pennsylvania smartweed. Distribution of most weeds varied geographically. Infestations of common and honeyvine milkweeds, hemp dogbane, and tree seedlings increased as tillage was reduced. Infestations of common cocklebur and common ragweed decreased as tillage was reduced. As crop rotation became more diverse, infestations of velvetleaf, common cocklebur, giant ragweed, Pennsylvania smartweed, and jimsonweed decreased. Where rotations included forage or hay crops, infestations of large crabgrass, common chickweed, wild carrot, and common dandelion increased.

Believed native to the Mediterranean region, dwarf snapdragon [Chaenorrhinum minus (L.) Lange ♯ CHNMI] was introduced into North America in the late 19th century. Since its introduction, it has spread, mainly along railroad lines, to at least 30 states as far west as Kansas and Nebraska. Increased use of herbicides by railroad companies has resulted in a marked decrease in its abundance in recent years.