Use of organic mulch is one of the most common methods of weed control in landscape planting beds and provides other benefits, including improved soil characteristics, increased growth of ornamental plants, and enhanced property aesthetics. In the landscape maintenance industry, it is common to apply mulch and herbicides concurrently to landscape beds to provide long-term, broad-spectrum weed control. It is known that herbicides behave differently when applied to different soil types and organic materials; however, research is lacking concerning which herbicides are most effective with different mulch materials in the landscape. Determining the most effective herbicide–mulch combinations could potentially improve weed control, reduce labor costs from hand weeding, and mitigate negative environmental impacts resulting from off-site herbicide movement. The objective of this paper is to review the research that has been conducted pertaining to various mulch–herbicide combinations in the landscape and in other areas of agricultural production while also identifying key knowledge gaps that should be addressed in future research. Review of the literature suggests satisfactory weed control can be achieved with high mulch depths (≥ 7 cm) regardless of herbicide use, and herbicide–mulch interactions become more pronounced as mulch depth decreases. Additionally, future research is needed to determine which herbicides are best suited for different mulch types to improve weed control and potentially reduce environmental impacts, including herbicide leaching and runoff into urban and suburban waterbodies.

Four field experiments were conducted in Louisiana and Mississippi in 2009 and 2010 to evaluate POST herbicides treatments with tembotrione applied alone or as a prepackaged mixture with thiencarbazone for weed control in corn. Treatments included tembotrione at 92 g ai ha−1, thiencarbazone : tembotrione at 15 : 76 g ai ha−1, atrazine at 2,240 g ai ha−1, glufosinate at 450 g ai ha−1, glyphosate at 860 g ae ha−1, and coapplications of tembotrione or thiencarbazone : tembotrione with atrazine, glufosinate, or glyphosate. All treatments were applied to 26-cm corn in the V4 growth stage. Treatments containing thiencarbazone : tembotrione and those with tembotrione controlled barnyardgrass, browntop millet, entireleaf morningglory, hophornbeam copperleaf, johnsongrass, Palmer amaranth, and velvetleaf 85 to 96% and 43 to 97% 28 d after treatment and at corn harvest, respectively. Corn yield ranged from 9,200 to 10,420 kg ha−1 and was greater than the nontreated control following all herbicide treatments, except atrazine alone. Results indicated that thiencarbazone : tembotrione or tembotrione POST is an option for weed management in corn, and applications of thiencarbazone : tembotrione would be strongly encouraged where rhizomatous johnsongrass is problematic.

Biochar and vinasse are by-products of biofuel production that can be used as soil amendments. However, their addition to the soil might affect PRE herbicide activity. Although studies have shown that biochar has a high herbicide adsorption capacity, there is little information available about biochar effect on weed control especially under field conditions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the influence of biochar and vinasse application on atrazine and pendimethalin availability and herbicide activity under in vitro and field conditions. In vitro atrazine and pendimethalin herbicidal activities were not influenced by vinasse addition, but biochar application reduced atrazine and pendimethalin injury for all evaluated species. A sorption experiment confirmed high affinity of biochar for atrazine and pendimethalin. Linear regression analysis showed that the slope for atrazine and pendimethalin adsorption was 16 and 4 times higher in soil with biochar than in soil alone. Under field conditions, biochar at 0.5 kg m−2 reduced atrazine and pendimethalin weed control 75% and 60%, respectively. These results suggested that the use of biochar as a soil amendment in cropping system could decrease PRE herbicide efficacy. Therefore, mitigating practices such as the use of higher rates or reliance on POST herbicides and cultivation might be necessary to ensure proper weed control.

Spring barley can be used to diversify and intensify winter wheat-based production systems in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The objective of this study was to describe the effects of tillage system and weed management level (WML) on weed control and spring barley grain yield when grown in a winter wheat-spring barley-spring dry pea rotation. A long-term integrated pest management field study examined the effects of three WMLs (minimum, moderate, and maximum) and two tillage systems (conservation and conventional) on weed control and barley grain yield. Total weed biomass at harvest was 8.0 and 59.7 g m−2 for the maximum and minimum WMLs, respectively, in the conservation tillage system, but was similar and averaged 12.2 g m−2 for all three WMLs in the conventional tillage system. Despite greater weed biomass with minimum weed management in the conservation tillage system, barley grain yields averaged 5,060 and 4,780 kg ha−1 for the conservation tillage and conventional tillage systems, respectively. The benefits of conservation tillage require adequate herbicide inputs.

Volunteer Enlist corn with the AAD-1 (aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase-1) transgene can become a problem when glyphosate-resistant (GR) soybean follows Enlist corn in the rotation. Field trials were conducted at Ridgetown, Ontario in 2013 and 2014 to evaluate the control of volunteer Enlist corn in GR soybean. Glyphosate plus clethodim at 30 g ai ha−1 provided 75 to 92% control of volunteer Enlist corn at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after treatment application (WAT) and reduced volunteer Enlist corn density and dry weight 95 to 97%. Glyphosate plus clethodim at 60 g ai ha−1 provided 84 to 98% control of volunteer Enlist corn at 1, 2, 4, and 8 WAT and reduced volunteer Enlist corn density and dry weight 97 to 99%. Glyphosate plus sethoxydim at 150 g ai ha−1 provided 66 to 86% control of volunteer Enlist corn at 1, 2, 4, and 8 WAT and reduced volunteer Enlist corn density and dry weight 91 to 97%. Glyphosate plus sethoxydim at 300 g ha−1 provided 84 to 96% control of volunteer Enlist corn at 1, 2, 4, and 8 WAT and reduced volunteer Enlist corn density and dry weight 96 to 98%. Glyphosate plus fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, fluazifop-p-butyl, and quizalofop-p-ethyl applied POST provided 0 to 9% control of volunteer Enlist corn at 1, 2, 4, and 8 WAT and reduced volunteer Enlist corn density and dry weight 18 to 44%. Soybean yields closely reflected the level of volunteer Enlist corn control. Based on these results, the cyclohexanedione herbicides, clethodim and sethoxydim, provide adequate control of volunteer Enlist corn in GR soybean. In contrast, the aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicides, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, fluazifop-p-butyl and quizalofop-p-ethyl do not provide control of volunteer Enlist corn in GR soybean.

Field trials were conducted in Ontario in 2013 and 2014 in soybean to determine the efficacy of POST herbicides on common ragweed resistant to group 2 and group 9 herbicides. Glyphosate dose-response experiments were conducted in the field on two resistant common ragweed populations and one susceptible population. None of the POST herbicides evaluated provided 80% control of glyphosate-resistant (GR) common ragweed. The most effective POST herbicide mixture was glyphosate (Monsanto Canada Inc., 67 Scurfield Blvd., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) plus fomesafen(Syngenta Canada Inc., 140 Research Lane, Research Park Guelph, Ontario, Canada), which provided 68 to 98% control of GR common ragweed. Chlorimuron, cloransulam, imazethapyr, and thifensulfuron provided control similar to glyphosate alone. An application of glyphosate/fomesafen reduced biomass by as much as 95%. Glyphosate plus acifluorfen reduced GR common ragweed biomass by as much as 92%. The remaining POST herbicide tank mixes evaluated reduced GR common ragweed biomass by less than 80%. Glyphosate plus bentazon, glyphosate plus chlorimuron, and glyphosate plus thifensulfuron resulted in soybean yields similar to the weedy control, with yield reductions of 70, 62, and 73%, respectively. An application of glyphosate plus fomesafen or glyphosate/fomesafen had the lowest soybean yield reductions of 29 and 34%, respectively. The resistant biotype required a 2- to 28-fold increase in glyphosate dose compared to the susceptible population to achieve 50% control.

A field experiment was conducted in Fayetteville, AR, in 2012 and 2013 to determine the influence of soybean row spacing, seeding rate, and herbicide program in glufosinate-resistant soybean on Palmer amaranth control, survival, and seed production; soybean groundcover and grain yield; and economic returns. Soybean groundcover was > 80% by 85 d after soybean planting (DAP) for all row spacing and seeding rates in 2012 and in 2013 all soybean row spacings and soybean seeding rates had achieved > 90% groundcover by 50 DAP. Difference in groundcover between years was due to lack of precipitation in 2012. Palmer amaranth control at 21 DAP was 99 to 100% for both years when a PRE application of S-metolachlor plus metribuzin was made at planting. At 42 DAP, Palmer amaranth control following PRE-applied S-metolachlor plus metribuzin was ≥ 98 and ≥ 88% in 2012 and 2013, respectively. When relying on a POST-only herbicide program initiated at 21 DAP, Palmer amaranth control ranged from 52 to 84% across row spacings at 42 DAP. At soybean harvest, Palmer amaranth control was ≥ 95% in 2012 and ≥ 86% in 2013 regardless of row spacing or seeding rate when S-metolachlor plus metribuzin was applied at planting. Conversely, total-POST programs had no more than 50 and 85% Palmer amaranth control in 2012 and 2013, respectively. In both years, Palmer amaranth density and seed production at soybean harvest were generally lower in the PRE herbicide programs compared to POST-only programs. Use of a PRE herbicide at planting also improved soybean grain yield and economic returns over programs that relied on a POST-only program. Overall, the impacst of soybean row spacing and seeding rate on Palmer amaranth control, density, or seed production were less apparent than the influence of herbicide programs.

Recent increases in the prevalence of glyphosate-resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth mandate that new control strategies be developed to optimize weed control and crop performance. A field study was conducted in 2012 and 2013 in Jackson, TN, and in 2013 in Knoxville, TN, to evaluate POST weed management programs applied after harvest (POST-harvest) for prevention of seed production from GR Palmer amaranth and to evaluate herbicide carryover to winter wheat. Treatments were applied POST-harvest to corn stubble, with three applications followed by a PRE herbicide applied at wheat planting. Paraquat alone or mixed with S-metolachlor controlled 91% of existing Palmer amaranth 14 d after treatment but did not control regrowth. Paraquat tank-mixed with a residual herbicide of metribuzin, pyroxasulfone, saflufenacil, flumioxazin, pyroxasulfone plus flumioxazin, or pyroxasulfone plus fluthiacet improved control of regrowth or new emergence compared with paraquat alone. All residual herbicide treatments provided similar GR Palmer amaranth control. Through implementation of POST-harvest herbicide applications, the addition of 1,200 seed m−2 or approximately 12 million seed ha−1 to the soil seedbank was prevented. Overall, the addition of a residual herbicide provided only 4 to 7% more GR Palmer amaranth control than paraquat alone. Wheat injury was evident (< 10%) in 2012 from the PRE applications, but not in 2013. Wheat grain yield was not adversely affected by any herbicide application.

Field experiments were conducted in 2013 and 2014 in Jackson, TN, to evaluate the efficacy of integrating cover crops and POST herbicides in corn to control glyphosate-resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth. Crimson clover and hairy vetch were planted in the fall and accumulated greater than 1,600 kg ha−1 aboveground biomass by time of termination. Crimson clover and hairy vetch provided 62% and 58% Palmer amaranth control 14 d before application, respectively. POST herbicide treatments of glyphosate + S-metolachlor + mesotrione + atrazine, thiencarbazone-methyl + tembotrione + atrazine, and glyphosate + atrazine were applied when Palmer amaranth reached 15 cm tall. The herbicide treatments provided greater than 95% control of Palmer amaranth 28 d after application. In addition to Palmer amaranth suppression, corn was taller at V5 and V7 following a hairy vetch cover crop. Hairy vetch and crimson clover residues provided early season weed suppression because of biomass accumulation. Palmer amaranth in the nontreated control plots reached 15 cm 4 and 3 d ahead of the cover-treated plots in 2013 and 2014, respectively. This could potentially increase POST herbicide-application flexibility for producers. Results of this trial also suggest that cover crops alone are not a means of season-long control of GR Palmer amaranth. From a herbicide resistance-management perspective, the integration of cover crops with herbicide mixtures that incorporate multiple sites of action should aid in mitigating the further selection of herbicide resistance in Palmer amaranth.

Because of the increasing number of glyphosate-resistant weeds, alternate herbicide-resistant crops and herbicides with different modes of action are required to protect crop yield. Glufosinate is a broad-spectrum POST herbicide for weed control in glufosinate-resistant crops, including soybean. The objective of this study was to compare herbicide programs with glufosinate applied singly at late-POST (LPOST) or sequentially at early POST (EPOST) followed by (fb) LPOST applications and PRE herbicides fb EPOST/LPOST glufosinate alone or tank-mixed with acetochlor, pyroxasulfone, or S-metolachlor in glufosinate-resistant soybean. A field experiment was conducted at the South Central Agriculture Laboratory in Clay Center, NE, in 2012 and 2013. Glufosinate applied in a single LPOST or sequential EPOST fb LPOST application controlled common lambsquarters, common waterhemp, eastern black nightshade, green foxtail, large crabgrass, and velvetleaf ≤ 82% and resulted in a weed density of 6 to 10 plants m−2 by the end of the season. Flumioxazin-, saflufenacil-, or sulfentrazone-based premixes provided 84 to 99% control of broadleaf and grass weeds tested in this study at 15 d after PRE application and a subsequent LPOST application of glufosinate alone controlled broadleaf and grass weeds 69 to 93% at harvest, depending on the herbicide program and weed species being investigated. The PRE application of sulfentrazone plus metribuzin fb EPOST glufosinate tank-mixed with acetochlor, pyroxasulfone, or S-metolachlor controlled the tested broadleaf and grass weeds ≥ 90%, reduced density to ≤ 2 plants m−2, and reduced weed biomass to ≤ 10 g m−2 and produced soybean yields of ≥ 4,450 and 3,040 kg ha−1 in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Soybean injury was 0 to 20% from PRE or POST herbicides, or both and was inconsistent, but transient, during the 2-yr study, and it did not affect soybean yield. Sulfentrazone plus metribuzin applied PRE fb glufosinate EPOST tank-mixed with acetochlor, pyroxasulfone, or S-metolachlor provided the highest level of weed control throughout the growing season and increased soybean yield compared with a single LPOST or a sequential EPOST fb LPOST glufosinate application. Additionally, these herbicide programs provide four distinct mechanisms of action that constitute an effective weed-resistance management strategy in glufosinate-resistant soybean.

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) volunteer corn is a significant problem weed in soybean grown in rotation with corn in the midwestern United States and eastern Canada. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of glufosinate applied in single or sequential applications compared with acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors applied alone or tank mixed with glufosinate for controlling GR volunteer corn in glufosinate-resistant soybean. At 15 d after early-POST (DAEP), ACCase inhibitors applied alone controlled volunteer corn 76 to 93% compared to 71 to 82% control when tank mixed with glufosinate. The expected volunteer corn control achieved by tank mixing ACCase inhibitors and glufosinate was greater than the glufosinate alone, indicating that glufosinate antagonized ACCase inhibitors at 15 DAEP, but not at later rating dates. ACCase inhibitors applied alone or tank mixed with glufosinate followed by late-POST glufosinate application controlled volunteer corn and green foxtail ≥ 97% at 30 DAEP. Single early-POST application of glufosinate controlled common waterhemp and volunteer corn 53 to 78%, and green foxtail 72 to 93% at 15 DAEP. Single as well as sequential glufosinate applications controlled green foxtail and volunteer corn greater than or equal to 90%, and common waterhemp greater than 85% at 75 d after late-POST (DALP). Contrast analysis suggested that glufosinate applied sequentially provided greater control of volunteer corn at 15 and 75 DALP compared to a single application. Similar results were reflected in volunteer corn density and biomass at 75 DALP. Volunteer corn interference did not affect soybean yield, partly because of extreme weather conditions (hail and high winds) in both years of this study.

The increasing use of ACCase-inhibiting herbicides has resulted in evolved resistance in key grass weeds infesting cereal cropping systems worldwide. Japanese foxtail is one of the most important grass weed species in wheat in China. Most populations have evolved resistance to fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, which is one of the most common ACCase-inhibiting herbicides in wheat. The seeds of two Japanese foxtail populations were collected from wheat fields where farmers complained that control could not be effectively obtained with fenoxaprop-p-ethyl. Seeds from one susceptible population were collected from an area along a roadside where ACCase inhibitors had not been used to be used for validating cross-resistance and elucidating the mechanism of resistance. The experimental results showed that the two populations, Aloja-JS10-R1 and Aloja-JS10-R2, expressed high resistance to fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, with resistance indexes (RIs) of 29.2 and 27.9. These populations also expressed high cross-resistance to clodinafop-propargyl with RIs of 12.8 and 14.7, and moderate cross-resistance to clethodim and pinoxaden with RIs ranging from 2.6 to 11.4. Comparison of the ACCase carboxyl-transferase (CT) domain sequences of the susceptible and resistant populations with blackgrass revealed that tryptophan at position 2027 of the ACCase gene was substituted by cysteine in population Aloja-JS10-R1, and isoleucine at position 1781 of the ACCase gene was substituted by leucine in populations Aloja-JS10-R2. The study confirmed Japanese foxtail resistance to the ACCase inhibitor fenoxafop-p-ethyl, cross-resistance to other ACCase inhibitors, and the resistance mechanism being conferred by specific ACCase point mutations at amino acid position 1781 and 2027.

Atrazine has been used for control of many weeds, primarily broadleaf weeds, in U.S. corn fields since 1957. Recently, the adoption of glyphosate-resistant corn hybrids have led to glyphosate eclipsing atrazine as the most commonly used herbicide in corn production. However, the evolution and spread of glyphosate-resistant weeds is a major concern. Atrazine use in Wisconsin is prohibited in 102 areas encompassing 0.49 million ha where total chlorinated residues were found in drinking water wells at concentrations > 3 μg L−1. Atrazine has been prohibited in many of those areas for > 10 yr, providing an opportunity to evaluate weed community composition differences due to herbicide regulation. In question, has the abundance of broadleaf weeds increased, coupled with an increased reliance on glyphosate, where atrazine use has been discontinued? To answer this, an online questionnaire was distributed to Wisconsin growers in June and then weeds present in 343 fields in late July through mid-September in 2012 and 2013 were counted. Data were summarized for frequency, uniformity, density, and relative abundance to compare weed community composition in fields with discontinued vs. recent atrazine use. Growers used glyphosate in 70 vs. 54% of fields with discontinued vs. recent atrazine use, respectively (P = 0.021). Moreover, broadleaf weeds were found more frequently, (73 vs. 61%; P = 0.03), they had 50% greater in-field uniformity (P = 0.002), and density was 0.4 vs. 0.19 plants m−2 (i.e., twofold greater; P < 0.0001) in discontinued vs. recent atrazine-use fields. Changes were most evident with troublesome glyphosate-resistant broadleaf weeds such as Amaranthus species and giant ragweed. In conclusion, weed community composition consisted of more broadleaf weeds in fields where atrazine has not been used in the recent decade coupled with greater glyphosate use. These results provide evidence of negative long-term implications for glyphosate resistance where growers increased reliance on glyphosate in place of atrazine.

Atrazine is an important herbicide for broadleaf weed control in corn. Use rates have declined in many corn production systems due to environmental concerns and the availability of other effective herbicides, especially glyphosate in glyphosate-resistant hybrids. However, using multiple effective herbicide modes of action is ever more important because occurrence of herbicide-resistant weeds is increasing. An experiment to compare application timings of reduced rates of atrazine to benefit resistance management in broadleaf weeds while protecting corn yield was conducted in Wisconsin across four site-years in 2012 and 2013. Herbicide treatments consisted of five atrazine rate and timing combinations and three POST base herbicides: glyphosate, glufosinate, and tembotrione. Metolachlor was applied PRE at 2.1 kg ai ha−1 for grass control in all treatments. A linear regression model estimated that atrazine rates ≥ 1.0 kg ai ha−1 applied PRE would prevent exposure of common lambsquarters plants to POST herbicides, but giant ragweed and velvetleaf exposure was not influenced by timing. Corn yield was also not influenced by atrazine rate and timing combinations at the α = 0.05 level; however, at P = 0.06, corn yield was greater for atrazine applied PRE at 1.1 kg ha−1 than for atrazine applied PRE at 0.5 kg ha−1, POST at 1.1 kg ha−1, or not at all. In summary, higher rates of atrazine applied PRE may improve yield, as reported by others, but this study concludes reduced rates of atrazine (i.e., ≤ 1.1 kg ha−1) applied to corn in a POST tank mixture combination provided more consistent control of giant ragweed, velvetleaf, and common lambsquarters compared with atrazine applied PRE. This information should help direct atrazine application timing applied POST when applied at low rates to improve proactive herbicide resistance management.

Chemical control of downy brome has focused on imazapic; however, imazapic efficacy in semiarid climates is unpredictable, possibly because of variable residual soil activity. Our objective was to characterize imazapic activity over 9 mo in rangeland and a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) site following its application in the fall as affected by rate (0, 80, 160, 240 g ai ha−1) and quantity of plant residue (reduced, ambient). Greenhouse bioassays were conducted over two seasons (2010 to 2011 and 2011 to 2012) using soil collected at multiple dates after imazapic application. Quantity of plant residue did not affect downy brome biomass or response to imazapic. Imazapic reduced downy brome biomass (P < 0.05) across all sampling dates in both seasons, and the response to rates was consistent up to 200 d post application. Imazapic activity over time conformed to a biphasic model with activity being consistent, or slightly improving, up to about 160 and 150 d post application, and then dropping rapidly to the final sampling event 287 and 272 d post application in rangeland and at CRP sites, respectively. These results indicate that fall imazapic applications in semiarid climates persist into the spring, thus providing control of both fall-emerging downy brome seedlings and seeds that overwinter and emerge the following spring.

Purple nutsedge is a problematic weed in plasticulture vegetable production due to its ability to penetrate the plastic mulch. Experiments were conducted in the fall 2013 and spring 2014 at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Balm, FL, to evaluate a range of PRE herbicides for ‘Charger' and ‘Florida 47’ tomato cultivars tolerance and herbicide efficacy on nutsedge. Fall-applied herbicides did not stunt nor damage either tomato cultivar. Tank mixes applied in the spring that contained EPTC as well as the fomesafen + S-metolachlor + napropamide tended to stunt Charger. The EPTC + fomesafen, the EPTC + fomesafen + S-metolachlor, and the fomesafen + S-metolachlor + napropamide stunted Florida 47. Crop damage in the spring was consistently higher where tank mixes were applied that contained EPTC. In the fall of 2013, S-metolachlor and fomesafen + S-metolachlor reduced nutsedge density by 84 to 90% compared to the nontreated control; in the fall of 2014, napropamide + S-metolachlor reduced nutsedge density by 88% compared to the nontreated control. In the spring of 2013 halosulfuron and a tank mix of EPTC + S-metolachlor reduced nutsedge density by 25% compared to the nontreated control. None of the herbicide treatments had a consistent effect on yield, although Florida 47 yields tended to be lower where tank mixes containing EPTC were applied.

Annual bluegrass is one of the most diverse plant species in the world and is the most problematic winter annual weed in commercial turfgrass. Continuous application of the same herbicide mechanism of action for annual bluegrass control on golf courses has increased herbicide-resistant populations. The purpose of this research was to simulate six herbicide-use strategies to evaluate the risk of annual bluegrass resistance evolution to glyphosate. In a worst-case scenario of yearly glyphosate applications at dormancy, resistance evolved within 10 yr and was predicted to evolve in > 90% of populations by yr 20. When glyphosate was rotated on alternate years with a unique mechanism of action, resistance was delayed for 12 to 15 yr. Season-long control of annual bluegrass often requires multiple herbicide applications. Therefore, additional strategies were simulated in which glyphosate was applied at dormancy with combinations of PRE and/or POST herbicides at various timings. Resistance was most effectively delayed with a PRE application in late summer, a POST application in fall, and alternating glyphosate with a different POST option at dormancy. This delayed resistance by 25 yr and a 35% risk was predicted after 50 yr. Strategies utilizing three annual herbicide applications with unique mechanisms of action were more effective for controlling population growth compared to other strategies. Resistance was predicted to evolve within 35 yr for each of the strategies simulated. However, these results indicate annual bluegrass herbicide resistance can be managed by using an integrated herbicide program, rotating unique mechanisms of action as frequently as possible.

Hairy fleabane is an important weed in orchards and vineyards of California. Populations of glyphosate-resistant (GR) and glyphosate-paraquat-resistant (GPR) hairy fleabane have been documented in California but very little information is available on the efficacy of other POST herbicides on these populations. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of several POST herbicides registered in almond orchards on GPR, GR, and glyphosate/paraquat-susceptible (GPS) hairy fleabane plants. Plants were treated at the 8- to 12-leaf stage in greenhouse experiments, and at the bolting to flowering stage in field experiments. A sequential application of glyphosate (1,100 g ae ha−1) followed by paraquat (500 g ai ha−1) 14 d later did not control the GPR plants in any of the studies, but was effective in controlling the GR and GPS plants. Glufosinate at 1,050 g ai ha−1 or saflufenacil at 48.8 g ai ha−1 resulted in 90% or greater control of all populations in all studies, whereas glyphosate (1,100 g ae ha−1) + 2,4-D (1,090 g ae ha−1) resulted in inconsistent control (58 to 100%). The GPR population was not resistant to other common POST herbicide modes of action used in California tree nut orchards, and glufosinate and saflufenacil can provide growers effective management options for hairy fleabane in these crops.

A field experiment was conducted in 2009–2010 at Pennsylvania and Maryland locations, and repeated it in 2010–2011 to test the effectiveness of POST-applied herbicides at fall and spring timings on seeded hairy vetch in winter wheat. A total of 16 herbicide treatment combinations was tested that included synthetic auxins, acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors, and a protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor. Spring applications tended to be more effective than fall applications. Among synthetic auxins, clopyralid (105 g ae ha−1) and treatments containing dicamba (140 g ae ha−1) were effective at both timings, resulting in greater than 90% hairy vetch control at wheat harvest. Pyroxsulam and prosulfuron applied at 18 g ai ha−1 provided the most effective hairy vetch control (> 90%) at both application timings among ALS inhibitors. Spring applications of several herbicides provided moderate (> 80%) to high (> 90%) levels of hairy vetch control, including: 2,4-D amine (140 g ae ha−1), mesosulfuron-methyl (15 g ai ha−1), tribenuron-methyl (13 g ai ha−1), and thifensulfuron/tribenuron-methyl treatments (16 and 32 g ai ha−1). Winter wheat injury was evaluated, but symptoms were negligible for most treatments. Winter wheat yields declined with increasing hairy vetch biomass. Fall herbicides may be prioritized to reduce hairy vetch competition during the fall and early spring growing season. Our research has established that several synthetic auxin and ALS-inhibiting herbicides, applied POST in fall or spring, can be safely used in winter wheat to control hairy vetch in an integrated weed management program.

The chlorophyll-lacking holoparasite Egyptian broomrape is a major threat for many field crops in Israel. In carrot, a high-value crop that is grown year round in Israel, heavy infestation with broomrape can cause severe damage and even total yield loss. The objective of this study was to determine, under field conditions, selective herbicides that would effectively control Egyptian broomrape without damaging the carrots. Ten field experiments were performed between the years 2010 and 2013. The acetolactate synthase inhibitor herbicides imazapic and imazamox caused deformation of carrot taproots at low doses, and significantly reduced yield amount and quality. Glyphosate was found to be the safest herbicide for broomrape management in carrot. Carrot selectivity and broomrape control efficacy were examined with three sequential applications of nine glyphosate doses. A nonlinear log-logistic curve described the response of noninfested carrot taproot biomass to glyphosate. No significant reduction in taproot biomass was observed when glyphosate was applied at up to 149 g ae ha−1. When glyphosate was applied in an Egyptian broomrape-infested carrot field, a hormetic effect was observed, perhaps due to Egyptian broomrape control. A two-parameter exponential decay curve described the broomrape response to glyphosate. Three sequential foliar applications of glyphosate, at 108 g ha−1, completely controlled Egyptian broomrape. Our results demonstrate that glyphosate applied sequentially at a low dose on Egyptian broomrape-infested carrot can control this parasitic weed.