Field studies were conducted over 2 yr to evaluate rhizome johnsongrass control with tank mixtures and sequential applications of bromoxynil at 1.7 kg ai/ha and the graminicides clethodim, fluazifop-P, and quizalofop-P. When compared with the graminicide alone, bromoxynil reduced johnsongrass control 28 days after treatment (DAT) 20, 36, and 55% when applied in combination with clethodim, fluazifop-P, and quizalofop-P, respectively. Application of bromoxynil 7, 3, and 1 d before or 1, 3, and 7 d after all graminicides reduced antagonism when compared with the bromoxynil plus graminicide mixtures. Based on johnsongrass control 28 DAT, antagonism was precluded when bromoxynil was applied 3 d before clethodim and 7 d before fluazifop-P and quizalofop-P. Application of bromoxynil 3 and 7 d after quizalofop-P and 7 d after clethodim also precluded antagonism. The antagonistic tank mixtures of bromoxynil and graminicides reduced cotton yield 17% because of reduced johnsongrass control compared with graminicides alone. A 3-d or greater application interval between bromoxynil and the graminicides was necessary to maximize cotton yield.

Reciprocal controlled crosses were made in the greenhouse between Gulfmont rice transformed with the bialaphos resistance (BAR) gene and red rice and BAR-transformed Koshihikari rice and red rice to assess the inheritance of glufosinate resistance. All F1 plants were resistant to 2.2 kg ai/ha glufosinate. Ammonia accumulation as a measure of glufosinate resistance in the F1 hybrids was assayed at 4 and 8 days after treatment (DAT). Ammonia accumulation in hybrids 4 DAT was similar to glufosinate treated, transformed rice, while treated nontransformed plants accumulated 14 to 23 times more ammonia compared with the hybrids. The nature of inheritance of glufosinate resistance in F2 rice plants was studied by a glufosinate dip test, a spray test, and ammonia assay. All three tests confirmed that glufosinate resistance, as influenced by the BAR gene, segregated in a 3 (resistant): 1 (susceptible) ratio.

Following suggested guidelines developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), comparative snap bean herbicide performance field trials were conducted from 1993 to 1995 in New York. Data were obtained on crop injury, weed control, and weed biomass, and crop yield, quality, and losses during harvest. Trifluralin, EPTC, and pendimethalin applied preplant incorporated (PPI) and applications of metolachlor applied preemergence (PRE) provided less than adequate control of redroot pigweed, common lambsquarters, and hairy galinsoga. Cultivation improved weed control with PPI and PRE applications. Metolachlor + fomesafen PRE provided good control of hairy galinsoga, adequate redroot pigweed control, and marginal control of common lambsquarters. Fomesafen applied postemergence (POST), combinations of metolachlor applied PRE with fomesafen or bentazon applied POST, and fomesafen + bentazon applied POST adequately controlled the three weed species without cultivation. Herbicide treatments had little measurable impact on snap bean quality or losses during harvest. Information from product comparison trials may be useful in developing recommendations for growers but may prove less than adequate in providing data necessary for a thorough evaluation of the relative benefits of individual herbicides as intended by EPA guidelines. Difficulties were encountered in following the guidelines, and costs of conducting the product comparison trials for a single crop in one growing region exceeded $90,000 over 3 yr.

Foxtail emergence patterns were evaluated in spring wheat under three tillage regimes, moldboard plow, chisel plow, and no-till, and three wheat planting dates. The first planting date was as soon as feasible in spring, and the second and third planting dates averaged 9 and 17 d later. Foxtail emergence patterns and seedbank density were evaluated each year for three consecutive years. Green foxtail was the dominant weed species. Tillage regime did not influence initial percent emergence of foxtail. Subsequent percent foxtail emergence was sometimes lower in no-till or chisel plow than in moldboard plow regimes until emergence approached 100%. By the third year, total foxtail plant emergence was greater in no-till and chisel plow than in moldboard plow and also greater in no-till than chisel plow. Earlier planting generally increased percent foxtail emergence until midseason. At 22 d after planting, average emergence of foxtail was 48, 67, and 81% for planting dates one, two, and three, respectively. Delayed planting increased rate of foxtail emergence but decreased density of emerged seedlings. Producers adopting chisel plow or no-till systems can expect to see greater foxtail infestations than in moldboard plow systems. Subsequently, more extensive weed management in reduced tillage systems will be needed to prevent heavy foxtail infestations. Delaying wheat planting may be a viable option for foxtail management through reduced plant densities and more simultaneous emergence patterns.

Additive series studies were conducted under greenhouse conditions to determine the effects of nitrogen (N) rate and purple nutsedge densities on the yield of ‘California Wonder’ bell pepper. Initial densities of purple nutsedge were 0, 100, 200, and 300 plants/m2. Nitrogen was applied at 70, 140, and 210 kg/ha. Plants were allowed to interfere for 10 wk. There were significant purple nutsedge population density by N rate interactions on bell pepper fruit yield. At 70 kg N/ha, no significant effect of weed population densities was found on fruit yield, whereas at the rates of 140 and 210 kg N/ha there were significant nutsedge density effects. As N rates and nutsedge densities increased, so did purple nutsedge biomass. Linear regression models described the interference. Bell pepper fruit yield reduction was 73% at 210 kg N/ha with an initial nutsedge population density of 300 plants/m2.

Chlorimuron, clomazone, imazaquin, imazethapyr, and pendimethalin were each applied at five rates to soils at 10 different sites each year for three years to determine which soil properties influenced their bioactivity. Six soils in the U.S. (NC) and four in Zimbabwe were characterized for their plow-layer contents of organic matter (OM), humic matter (HM), clay mineral (CM), and silt and for pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC). At each site, the rate of each herbicide yielding 80% weed control (I80) was determined by visually evaluating the treated plots. The I80 values were then regressed with the various soil properties to determine which of them contributed to this rate. In the U.S. soils, the I80 was highly correlated with % OM (r 2 = 0.64–0.72) and % HM (r 2 = 0.55–0.69) for chlorimuron, imazaquin, and pendimethalin but was less correlated with % OM (r 2 = 0.30) and pH (r 2 = 0.31) for imazethapyr. Equations relating the herbicide rate for 100% weed control to soil properties were derived for chlorimuron, imazaquin, imazethapyr, and pendimethalin then compared with registered recommended rates for each chemical from the label. Herbicide rate equations based on similar soil parameters were taken from the literature to compare with our rate equations and with registered rate recommendations for comparison purposes and to add validity to the use of soil parameters for making herbicide rate recommendations. The rate equations, based on selected soil parameters, produced rates comparable with registered rates for chlorimuron, pendimethalin, and metribuzin and lower rates of application than registered rates for imazaquin, imazethapyr, alachlor, and metolachlor for soils with OM levels below 3.5%.

Fifty irrigated cornfields in five eastern Colorado counties were sampled for their seedbanks and annual weed seedlings and mature populations between 1988 and 1992. Fourteen annual broadleaf species and seven annual grass species were identified in the 50 seedbanks sampled after the fields were tilled in the fall. Redroot pigweed and a mixture of green and yellow foxtail were the weed species encountered most, occurring in 90 and 54% of the fields, respectively. The single-plant populations of broadleaf and grass species in June and September were similar to those observed in the seedbanks. The number of weed species as seeds in the seedbank, June seedlings, and September plants per field ranged from zero to five grass species and zero to eight broadleaf species.

In preliminary field trials, a reduction in grass control was observed when flumetsulam or MON 12037 with and without the safener MON 13900 was applied with metolachlor compared to metolachlor alone. Greenhouse studies were initiated to study potential interactions between acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides and metolachlor. Metolachlor at 0.14, 0.28, and 0.56 kg ai/ha was applied alone and in combination with flumetsulam at 0.0073 and 0.015 kg ai/ha and MON 12037 with safener at 0.011 and 0.021 kg ai/ha. Flumetsulam and MON 12037 with safener alone provided 13 to 23% visible barnyardgrass control and metolachlor at 0.14 kg/ha provided 82% control. Combining flumetsulam and MON 12037 with metolachlor did not increase herbicide activity beyond that observed from metolachlor alone, regardless of the parameter evaluated. Combinations of 0.14 kg/ha of metolachlor with 0.011 and 0.021 kg/ha of MON 12037 with safener or 0.015 kg/ha of flumetsulam resulted in antagonism of barnyardgrass according to Colby's multiplicative interactive model. Visible control and plant dry weight were also antagonized when 0.28 kg/ha of metolachlor was applied with 0.021 kg/ha of MON 12037 with safener. Field studies were conducted in corn and soybean to evaluate giant foxtail control from metolachlor alone and in tank mixtures with flumetsulam, chlorimuron and MON 12037 with and without safener. Although isolated incidences of antagonism were noted, there was no consistent effect on grass control when these ALS-inhibiting herbicides were applied in combination with metolachlor in 3 years of field trials.

Experiments were conducted from 1994 through 1996 to determine the response of the rice cultivars ‘Bengal,’ ‘Cypress,’ ‘Jodon,’ and ‘Kaybonnet’ to triclopyr at 0.42 (standard rate) and 0.84 kg ai/ha applied postemergence at the four-leaf and panicle initiation stages of growth. Applications at the four-leaf stage were made in close association with fertilization and flood establishment, which often increases the potential for triclopyr to injure rice. Visible injury from triclopyr was slightly higher for the cultivar Jodon than for the cultivars Bengal, Cypress, or Kaybonnet. Injury was 3% or less when triclopyr at 0.42 kg/ha was applied at panicle initiation regardless of the cultivar. Triclopyr at 0.42 and 0.84 kg/ha applied at the four-leaf growth stage injured rice 7% and 22%, respectively. Triclopyr at 0.84 kg/ha applied at the four-leaf stage of growth delayed days from seedling emergence to seed head emergence and rice grain yield, irrespective of cultivar.

Field studies were conducted in 1993 and 1994 to evaluate the tolerance of 16 sweet corn cultivars, representing a range of genotypes, to rimsulfuron applied postemergence (POST) at 12.5 and 25 g ai/ha. There was a significant cultivar by herbicide interaction for visual plant injury, plant height, and yield. ‘Merit’ and ‘Silver Extra Sweet’ were the most sensitive cultivars, with rimsulfuron resulting in complete plant mortality regardless of application dose. ‘Golden Jubilee,’ ‘King Arthur,’ ‘Ivanhoe,’ and ‘Zenith’ were less sensitive. Ten cultivars were tolerant to applications of rimsulfuron at 12.5 g/ha. Sensitivity to rimsulfuron increased as application dose increased.

Jointed goatgrass and downy brome continue to plague winter wheat producers in the western United States. Because there are no effective herbicides for in-crop control of these weeds, producers are seeking cultural practices that stimulate seed germination and deplete the soil seed bank. We determined the effect of limited tillage and crop canopy on seedling emergence of these grasses. One tillage operation with a sweep plow increased jointed goatgrass seedling emergence 74% in the first year but did not affect emergence in later years. Downy brome emergence was not affected by tillage. Jointed goatgrass seedlings emerged over 5 yr, whereas downy brome did not emerge after 3 yr. Seedling emergence of both species was two times greater in corn and barley than in proso millet. Producers will accrue more benefit for seedbank management with cultural strategies such as alternative rotations and competitive wheat canopies than with limited tillage using a sweep plow.

Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to evaluate early postemergence (POST) tank mixtures of SAN 582 with fluazifop-P, imazethapyr, or sethoxydim. In the greenhouse, SAN 582 synergistically improved barnyardgrass, broadleaf signalgrass, and johnsongrass control from imazethapyr and sethoxydim. Half-rates of imazethapyr and sethoxydim tank-mixed with SAN 582 controlled grass weeds as well as full rates of either herbicide applied alone. Grass weed control with imazethapyr increased up to 40% with the addition of SAN 582. In field experiments, SAN 582 increased grass control with imazethapyr to a lesser degree than observed in the greenhouse. In a multispecies study, grass weed control increased up to 15% when SAN 582 was tank-mixed with a reduced rate of imazethapyr, although the full rate of imazethapyr applied POST with or without SAN 582 controlled grass weeds 80% or less. The combination of SAN 582 with sethoxydim was synergistic for barnyardgrass and johnsongrass control in this experiment. When applied POST in soybean, SAN 582 plus fluazifop-P or sethoxydim controlled barnyardgrass throughout the season better than a single POST application of a graminicide.

In greenhouse experiments, translucent polyethylene film mulches reduced or eliminated purple nutsedge shoot emergence compared to a conventional, opaque, white/black polyethylene film mulch. The translucent mulches reduced purple nutsedge shoot biomass, tuber and rhizome number, and tuber biomass 85–99%. In a nonilluminated growth chamber, purple nutsedge shoots emerging from tubers readily penetrated translucent mulch as well as opaque mulch. Shoots emerging in pots illuminated by a mixture of fluorescent and incandescent lighting failed to penetrate translucent mulch but penetrated the opaque mulch. In field experiments, translucent mulches reduced emergence and growth of purple nutsedge 70–88% compared to opaque mulch. Numbers of viable tubers in the soil were reduced 65–76%. In greenhouse and field experiments, the translucent mulches elevated soil and air space temperatures 4–13 C compared to opaque mulch. However, in the growth chamber experiment, air space temperatures were not affected by mulch type, and soil temperatures were only 0.4–0.6 C higher under the translucent mulches. Results suggest that the suppression of nutsedge emergence and growth by translucent mulch cannot be attributed to solarization effects.

Field studies on a sandy loam soil determined the influence of application method and rate and subsequent tillage on corn response to imazaquin and imazethapyr residues remaining in the soil. Imazaquin was applied preplant incorporated (PPI) and preemergence (PRE) at 70, 140, and 280 g ai/ha and postemergence (POST) at 70 and 140 g/ha. Imazethapyr was applied PPI and PRE at 70, 105, and 140 g ai/ha and POST at 70 and 105 g/ha. Subsequent tillage included fall moldboard plowing followed by spring field cultivation, fall chisel plowing followed by spring field cultivation, and no tillage. Herbicide dissipation was determined by analyzing soil cores taken in the spring at the time of corn planting and by measuring corn height and grain yield. Imidazolinone residues were detected in only 1 of 2 yr. Imazaquin was detected more frequently than imazethapyr. Imazaquin concentrations in the upper 10 cm of soil 11 mo after a PPI application of 280 g/ha were 5, 6, and 7 ng/g of soil in moldboard plow, chisel, and no-tillage systems, respectively. Imazaquin (5 ng/g) was also detected in the 10–18-cm soil depth in the moldboard plow system. Corn height and grain yield were not reduced from imazaquin or imazethapyr, regardless of application method or rate in any tillage system.

Experiments were conducted near Duke and Forgan, OK, on land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve program (CRP) that had been seeded to Old World bluestem (OWB) to evaluate tillage systems for returning CRP grassland to winter wheat production. Glyphosate controlled OWB 72% or less in no-till (NT) wheat. Disk tillage (DT) and moldboard plow tillage (MPT) for wheat seedbed preparation controlled OWB 87 and 99%, respectively, at Forgan and 96 and 100%, respectively, at Duke. At Forgan, OWB control in NT was higher when glyphosate was applied in July than when applied in May. Soil water content to a depth of 120 cm at planting was as high in DT and MPT without herbicide as in NT with 1,680 g ae/ha glyphosate. Within NT and MPT, glyphosate did not consistently increase soil water content compared to the respective nontreated checks. In DT, soil water content to a depth of 120 cm was greater following glyphosate at 1,680 g/ ha than without glyphosate. Wheat density was greater in DT and MPT than in NT. Compared to the NT no herbicide treatment, tillage tripled wheat yields. Wheat yields were often greater where glyphosate was applied before tillage. No-till wheat production immediately after CPR in Oklahoma without prior destruction of accumulated OWB residue does not appear feasible.

Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate postemergence (POST) soybean injury and weed control with CGA-277476 and cloransulam-methyl alone and in tank mixtures. In the field, visible soybean injury was 12 to 14% from CGA-277476 and 9 to 13% from cloransulam-methyl 7 d after treatment. Tank mixtures of either herbicide with acifluorfen or acifluorfen plus thifensulfuron were more injurious than CGA-277476 or cloransulam-methyl applied alone. Both CGA-277476 and cloransulam-methyl reduced velvetleaf dry weight 82%, and cloransulam-methyl reduced common ragweed dry weight 92%. Neither herbicide adequately controlled common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, nor eastern black nightshade. The addition of acifluorfen to the spray solution improved common ragweed, common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, and eastern black nightshade control with CGA-277476 and improved common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, and eastern black nightshade control with cloransulam-methyl. Tank mixing thifensulfuron with CGA-277476 or cloransulam-methyl increased common lambsquarters and redroot pigweed control. In the greenhouse, CGA-277476 at 20 g ai/ha reduced velvetleaf dry weight 98%, and 79 g/ha was required to reduce common ragweed dry weight 93%. Cloransulam-methyl at 4.4 g ai/ha reduced velvetleaf dry weight 98% and common ragweed dry weight 94% at 8.8 g/ha. Chlorimuron reduced yellow nutsedge dry weight more than CGA-277476 or cloransulam-methyl. Antagonism of POST graminicide activity by CGA-277476 was grass species and graminicide related. CGA-277476 reduced giant foxtail control by clethodim but not by quizalofop. Cloransulam-methyl tank mixed with clethodim or quizalofop controlled giant foxtail.

Uptake and translocation of glyphosate in three commercial formulations were examined in velvetleaf, a dicotyledonous weed that is commonly treated with glyphosate. The formulations included Roundup® (MON 35085), Roundup Ultra, and Touchdown® as sold in Canada. A minimal amount of 14C-glyphosate was spiked into a lethal rate of each formulation, and the short-term (3 to 72 h) uptake into the treated leaf and subsequent translocation into the plant were measured. Time-course studies showed very rapid uptake and translocation of glyphosate in the Ultra formulation. In comparison, the uptake and translocation of glyphosate in Touchdown was much slower but continued throughout the 72-h period. Glyphosate in the Roundup formulation showed intermediate uptake and translocation. Tissue necrosis at the application sites of Ultra and Roundup was visible within 24 h after treatment. Examinations using stereo and fluorescence microscopy revealed extensive cell death and tissue disruption. Tissue necrosis from Ultra and Roundup was also observed in blank formulations containing no glyphosate and therefore was likely caused by the surfactants. In contrast, the application sites of Touchdown produced little to no leaf damage. Our results demonstrated a direct correlation between tissue necrosis and rapid rates of glyphosate uptake and translocation.

Methods were developed and evaluated that utilize state of the art weed-sensing technology in row-crop production systems. Spectral differences in green living plants and bare soil allowed ‘real-time’ weed detection, with intermittent spraying of herbicide only where weeds were present. Sensor units were mounted in 0.7-m-wide hooded sprayers providing sensors with an unobstructed view of the area between soybean rows. Single hood and commercial-size eight-row systems were evaluated, and savings in glyphosate spray solution applied using sensors ranged from 63 to 85%, compared to conventional hooded spray systems with continuous application. Weed control by the sensor-controlled spray system was equal to the conventional system. This technology can significantly reduce herbicide usage and decrease production cost without reducing weed control.

Field and greenhouse studies were conducted in 1995 and 1996 in Kansas to determine the efficacy of 21 herbicide treatments for control of tumble pigweed, Palmer amaranth, redroot pigweed, and two biotypes of common waterhemp in soybean. In field studies, nine of eleven preemergence treatments controlled all four species 90% or more. However, pendimethalin and trifluralin controlled Palmer amaranth, redroot pigweed, and tumble pigweed less than the other preplant incorporated and preemergence treatments. With the exception of flumiclorac and NAF-75, postemergence treatments controlled 75 to 90% of all four species. A biotype of common waterhemp collected in Iowa was not controlled by acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides. Greenhouse results were similar to field experiments. Results suggest at least 90% control of these Amaranthus species is possible with proper herbicide selection.

Resistance to bromoxynil and terbacil was confirmed in common groundsel collected from peppermint (Mentha piperita) fields in Oregon. This is the first reported case of a bromoxynil-resistant weed selected under field conditions. The bromoxynil rate required to reduce growth by 50% was 10 times higher for the resistant biotype than for the susceptible biotype. The bromoxynil-resistant biotype also was resistant to terbacil.