It is generally expected that, in the case of multiple herbicide resistance, different resistance mechanisms within a weed will follow Mendel’s law of independent assortment. Research was conducted to investigate anecdotal observations suggesting that target site–based resistances to inhibitors of acetolactate synthase (ALS) and protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) did not follow independent assortment in common waterhemp. Cosegregation of the two resistances was observed in backcross lines (population sensitive to both herbicides as recurrent parent). Specifically, whereas 52% of backcross plants were resistant to a PPO inhibitor, this percentage increased to 92% when the backcross plants were preselected for resistance to an ALS inhibitor. Molecular marker analysis confirmed that the corresponding genes (ALS and PPX2) were genetically linked. When data from all plants analyzed were pooled, the genetic distance between the two genes was calculated to be 7.5 cM. The two genes were found to be about 195 kb apart in the recently published grain amaranth genome, explaining the observed genetic linkage. There is likely enough recombination that occurs between the linked genes to prevent the linkage from having significant implications in terms of resistance evolution. Nevertheless, documentation of the happenstance linkage between target-site genes for resistance to ALS and PPO inhibitors in waterhemp is a reminder that one should not assume distinct resistance mechanism will independently assort.

A biotype of annual bluegrass with suspected resistance to pronamide was collected from a golf course in Georgia. The objectives of this research were to determine the level of resistance to pronamide and the mechanisms associated with resistance. From POST applications, the pronamide rate that reduced shoot biomass 50% from the nontreated bluegrass measured>10 times higher for the resistant (R) biotype as compared with susceptible (S) biotypes. The R biotype was not controlled by PRE applications of dithiopyr or prodiamine, but was controlled >92% by PRE applications of pronamide at 0.56 and 1.68 kg ha−1. Mature plants (3- to 5-tiller) of the R biotype absorbed 32% less [14C]pronamide than the S biotype after 72 h in hydroponic culture and accumulated 39% less radioactivity per gram basis of dry shoot mass. The R biotype metabolized [14C]pronamide similar to the S biotype, averaging 16% of the extracted radioactivity. The resistance to POST pronamide applications in the R biotype is associated with reduced absorption and translocation compared with the S biotype.

Aromatic plants and their volatile compounds affect seed germination and plant growth, and therefore hold potential for agriculture uses as plant growth regulators and bioherbicides. In the present study 17 major monoterpenes were selected, and their mechanisms of plant toxicity were elucidated using transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana at various growth stages. Microtubulin and the plant cell membrane were identified as the focal targets through which phytotoxicity and herbicidal activity acted. Variability in monoterpene mechanisms was observed. Limonene and (+)-citronellal had strong antimicrotubule efficacy, whereas citral, geraniol, (−)-menthone, (+)-carvone, and (−)-citronellal demonstrated moderate antimicrotubule efficacy. Pulegone, (−)-carvone, carvacrol, nerol, geranic acid, (+)/(−)-citronellol, and citronellic acid lacked antimicrotubule capacity. An enantioselective disruption of microtubule assembly was recorded for (+)/(−)-citronellal and (+)/(−)-carvone. The (+) enatiomers were more potent than their (−) counterparts. Citral, limonene, carvacrol, and pulegone were also tested for phytotoxicity and herbicidal activity. Pulegone had no detectable effect on microtubules or membranes. Citral disrupted microtubules but did not cause membrane damage. Carvacrol lacked a detectable effect on microtubules but incited membrane leakage, and limonene disrupted microtubules and membrane leakage. Therefore, only limonene was herbicidal at the tested concentrations. In planta quantification of residues revealed that citral was biotransformed into nerol and geraniol, and limonene was converted into carvacrol, which could explain its dual capacity with respect to microtubules and membrane functionality. The results obtained are an important added value to commercial efforts in selecting appropriate aromatic plants to be sources of bioherbicidal compounds for sustainable weed management with a limited potential for herbicide resistance evolution in weed populations.

Common ragweed is one of the most important weeds in the soybean-producing areas of the United States and Canada. Recently, glyphosate-resistant (GR) biotypes have been reported in 15 states and one Canadian province. Reducing the proliferation of GR common ragweed biotypes is complicated by the high fecundity and complex seed germination behavior exhibited by this species. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of late herbicide applications for reducing seed production, seed weight, and seed viability of a GR common ragweed biotype. Herbicide treatments included: water control, glyphosate, 2,4-D, dicamba, 2,4-D plus glyphosate, and dicamba plus glyphosate. Treatments were applied at the appearance of male flower buds (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and Chemical industry scale [BBCH] 51) or at the early female flowering stage (BBCH 61 to 63). At BBCH 51, 2,4-D or dicamba applied alone or in a tank mix with glyphosate reduced seed production by an average of 80%. Conversely, seed production following these same treatments applied at BBCH 61 to 63 was not significantly different from when glyphosate was applied alone. At this stage of development, all herbicide treatments reduced seed viability relative to the control; however, treatments containing 2,4-D or dicamba resulted in significantly lower viability than when glyphosate was applied alone. These results suggest that the application of tank mixes containing 2,4-D or dicamba have the potential to limit seed production of GR common ragweed when applied on or before BBCH 51. The development of new technologies that facilitate the in-crop application of tank mixes containing 2,4-D or dicamba may therefore be an effective option for limiting population establishment, seedbank replenishment, and future spread of glyphosate-resistant alleles.

A giant ragweed population with putative resistance to cloransulam was identified in a long-term corn–soybean rotation located in southern Wisconsin. The population represented the first potential instance of giant ragweed resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors in the state. Seeds were collected from several plants and pooled for subsequent experiments. Whole-plant dose–response experiments showed a high level of resistance (>500-fold) of the resistant (R) accession to cloransulam compared with a sensitive (S) accession. In vivo ALS bioassays showed that the target enzyme was 10.6- to 13.6-fold less sensitive to cloransulam in R than in S plants. Partial sequence analysis of the ALS gene found a tryptophan-to-leucine substitution at the 574 amino acid position (W574L) in the R phenotype. To better understand the potential fitness costs associated with the target-site substitution, replacement series experiments performed under greenhouse conditions characterized the relative growth, development, and fecundity of the R accession compared with an S accession in the absence of cloransulam. Growth over time did not differ between the R and S accessions for plant height during the vegetative phase (21 to 98 d after planting [DAP]) or for plant leaf area (21 to 80 DAP). At the estimated maximum, proportional shoot dry mass of each accession did not differ from theoretical proportions representing competitive equivalence, indicating no difference in vegetative competitive ability. Fecundity of R plants (430±53 seeds plant−1) did not differ from that of S plants (451±47 seeds plant−1), nor did seed viability (74 to 75% across accessions). This is the first report of equal competitive ability, fecundity, and seed viability between giant ragweed accessions R or S to cloransulam. The results suggest that the cloransulam resistance trait may persist and spread in the giant ragweed field population over time, even in the absence of selection by cloransulam.

In the midwestern United States, biotypes of giant ragweed resistant to multiple herbicide biochemical sites of action have been identified. Weeds with resistance to multiple herbicides reduce the utility of existing herbicides and necessitate the development of alternative weed control strategies. In two experiments in southeastern Minnesota, we determined the effect of six 3 yr crop-rotation systems containing corn, soybean, wheat, and alfalfa on giant ragweed seedbank depletion and emergence patterns. The six crop-rotation systems included continuous corn, soybean–corn–corn, corn–soybean–corn, soybean–wheat–corn, soybean–alfalfa–corn, and alfalfa–alfalfa–corn. The crop-rotation system had no effect on the amount of seedbank depletion when a zero-weed threshold was maintained, with an average of 96% of the giant ragweed seedbank being depleted within 2 yr. Seedbank depletion occurred primarily through seedling emergence in all crop-rotation systems. However, seedling emergence tended to account for more of the seedbank depletion in rotations containing only corn or soybean compared with rotations with wheat or alfalfa. Giant ragweed emerged early across all treatments, with on average 90% emergence occurring by June 4. Duration of emergence was slightly longer in established alfalfa compared with other cropping systems. These results indicate that corn and soybean rotations are more conducive to giant ragweed emergence than rotations including wheat and alfalfa, and that adopting a zero-weed threshold is a viable approach to depleting the weed seedbank in all crop-rotation systems.

Although many pests constrain rice production, weeds are considered to be the major barrier to achieving optimal yields. A predictive model based on naturally occurring mixed-species infestations in the field would enable growers to target the specific weed group that is the greatest contributor to yield loss, but as of now no such models are available. In 2013 and 2014, two empirical hyperbolic models were tested using the relative cover at canopy closure of groups of weed species as independent variables: grasses, sedges, broadleaves, grasses and sedges combined, grasses and broadleaves combined, and all weed species combined. Models were calibrated using data from experiments conducted at the California Rice Experiment Station, in Biggs, CA, and validated across four sites over 2 years, for a total of 7 site-year combinations. Of the three major weed groups, grasses, sedges, and broadleaves, the only groups positively related to yield loss in the multispecies infestation were grasses. At the model calibration site, grasses and sedges combined best predicted yield loss (corrected Akaike information criterion [AICc]=−21.5) in 2013, and grasses alone best predicted yield loss (AICc=−19.0) in 2014. Across the validation sites, the model using grasses and sedges combined was the best predictor in 5 out of 7 site-years. Accuracy of the predicted values at the model validation sites ranged from 6% mean average error to 17% mean average error. No single model and set of parameters accurately predicted losses across all years and locations, but relative cover of grasses and sedges combined at canopy closure was the best estimate over the most sites and years.

The intensification of farming practices has reduced weed infestations, but it has also led to a reduction in weed diversity and changes in species composition. These effects are well described for aboveground flora; however, it is less clear how these effects might be expressed in the soil weed seedbank. We evaluated the effects of different long-term farm management strategies on the weed seedbank abundance, diversity, and community composition in the DOK (bioDynamic, bioOrganic, and Konventionell) field trial established in 1978 at Therwil, Switzerland. The trial compares biodynamic, organic, and conventional farming systems, which mainly differ in fertilization, weed control strategies, and pest control. The species richness and seed abundance of the weed seedbank were higher in the organic and biodynamic systems compared with the conventional ones. The different farming systems favored shifts in species assemblages, because specific management practices, such as herbicide application and type of fertilization, acted as filters that selected against certain species but promoted others that were more adapted.

Determining whether and how to manage an introduced species requires basic ecological and biological knowledge. If a decision is made to actively manage an invader, doing so efficiently and effectively is critical. Basic biological or ecological information can be key in designing effective and cost-efficient management approaches. We used a greenhouse experiment and observational field studies of naturalized populations to study the modes of pollination, fecundity in the field, seed ecology, population dynamics, and demography of the introduced and toxic weed, black henbane. We showed that henbane was able to self-pollinate. Furthermore, outcrossing did not increase number or size of seeds. Plants in the sampled populations produced an estimated average of 25,300±4,004 seeds by the middle of the growing season. We found no difference in the viability of field-collected seeds that were 1 to 4 yr old. The number of flowering plants in a population was best predicted by the number of rosettes at that location in July of the previous year. The probability of rosettes surviving over the winter to reach reproductive maturity increased with precipitation and growing degree days. Total population sizes fluctuated dramatically between years. Henbane populations are ephemeral, but with large seed banks, outbreaks are possible if conditions are right. Given that this weed is toxic to livestock and humans, it is important to identify infestations and manage populations.

Weeds exploit underutilized space, causing economic losses in cropping systems. Weed management tactics alter that underutilized space until the crop can mature and efficiently use that space. One tactic is to reduce the weed propagules (e.g., seeds and tubers) that persist quiescently in the soil, which includes minimizing production and addition of new propagules to the soil. Purple nutsedge is a problematic weed around the globe, persisting between growing seasons as tubers in the soil. Imazapic is a peanut herbicide often used in Georgia for control of purple nutsedge. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of various rates of imazapic on purple nutsedge tuber production. Single presprouted purple nutsedge tubers were transplanted into outdoor microplots and treated after 6 wk of growth with six rates of imazapic (5 to 140 g ai ha−1) POST. A nontreated control was included. All emerged shoots at the time of application were marked with plastic rings; this allowed for classification of tubers at exhumation as (1) tubers attached to shoots that were emerged at time of application, (2) tubers attached to shoots that emerged after application, and (3) tubers without an aerial shoot during the study. At 7 wk after application, the tubers in the microplots were exhumed, classified, and quantified, and their ability to sprout was evaluated. In the nontreated control, there were 544 total tubers, with a log-logistic regression model describing the declining tuber population with increasing imazapic rate. The rate of imazapic that reduced total tuber population 50% (I50) was 36 g ha−1. In the nontreated control, there were 161 tubers attached to shoots that emerged, as when compared with plots that received an imazapic application that had an I50=60 g ha−1. Viability of purple nutsedge tubers was 44% at 70 g ha−1 imazapic, suggesting the action of the herbicide may have rendered the tubers nonviable after new shoots were produced. The final classification of tubers included those that did not have an aerial shoot during the study. These were tubers in which apical dominance suppressed shoot development or were likely the most recent tubers to develop. Of the three classes, the tubers without shoots were the most prevalent in the nontreated control, with 358 tubers and an I50=18 g ha−1. Imazapic controls purple nutsedge foliage but also reduces the number of new tubers produced, and overall tuber viability and is a valuable tool in management of the long-term population density of this weed.

Hound’s-tongue is an invasive, biennial weed that thrives in dry rangelands of British Columbia. Rosette formation in the first year of growth and a deep root system offer this weed a competitive advantage against associated grasses under dry conditions. To study effects of water stress on seedling growth and mycorrhizal colonization in hound’s-tongue, seedlings of this weed were grown in pots in a greenhouse and subjected to four (100, 80, 60, and 40% of field capacity) soil moisture treatments. Effects of soil moisture stress (SMS) on several growth parameters as well as mycorrhizal colonization of roots were studied. The total biomass, shoot and root fresh and dry weights, leaf number, petiole length, leaf area, and specific leaf weight (leaf dry weight per unit leaf area) decreased with increasing SMS; shoot and root water content was not affected. Because of a greater effect of SMS on root compared with the shoot biomass, shoot:root ratio increased as the moisture stress increased. Water stress decreased mycorrhizal colonization and arbuscule and vesicle abundance. A reduction in total biomass, leaf number and leaf area per plant, petiole length, and mycorrhizal colonization may reduce the competitive advantage of hound’s-tongue over its neighbors under drought conditions. The effect on plant size may also influence herbivory, by biocontrol agents and other herbivores, and fecundity of this weed.

Common ragweed is a troublesome allergenic invader and noxious weed of several crops. Despite extensive research to understand the factors affecting its invasion, the role of environmental stresses and soil types on survival and growth is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of drought, salinity, and soil types on survival, growth, and nutrient uptake of ragweed in greenhouse experiments to predict its invasiveness in Turkey. Three separate experiments, with five drought intensities (100, 75, 50, 25, and 12.5% of field capacity [FC]), four levels of salinity (0, 3, 6, and 12 dS m−1), and five soil types varying in sand, silt, and clay content were performed. Severe drought and salinity levels reduced seedling survival, while soil type had no effect. Increasing drought and salinity negatively affected growth and nutrient uptake; the poorest growth was observed under severe drought intensity. Ragweed exhibited intensive tolerance to drought, even severe levels, while it tolerated salinity up to 6 dS m−1 for seedling survival. Growth was negatively affected above 3 dS m−1. The highest and lowest nutrient accumulations were recorded under moderate and extreme drought intensities, respectively. Similarly, the highest Na accumulation was observed under extreme saline conditions, whereas the highest P uptake and K/Na ratio were achieved under nonsaline conditions (0 dS m−1). Variation of soil texture had no effect on growth and nutrient uptake. The highest Ca, Mg, and Na accumulations were recorded on clay soil, while higher P accrued on sandy-loam soil. Increased tolerance of ragweed to severe drought and moderate salinity and its nonselective nature for soil type indicate that semiarid and partially arid regions in Turkey have plenty of vacant niches for ragweed invasion.

Weed diversity, structure, and distribution within and outside agricultural fields affect not only ecological processes but also weed management strategies. We studied how areas managed differently within and outside the field determine weed communities in a sugarcane cropping system in the dry tropics of Costa Rica. A total of 120 weed species were detected, which was similar to surveys conducted in subtropical and temperate conditions. Weed species richness was highest in undisturbed field borders and lowest in rows and furrows. The area where tractors turn within the field (turn area) had similar richness compared with the borders, despite being one of the most disturbed management areas studied. The most predominant weed species were divided between generalists and species that exhibited clear preferences for management area or soil texture. Soil texture was more important for determining weed community structure than management area when considering weed species affecting weed control decisions. The results indicated that disturbance in the management area and, especially, weed control practices are critical factors affecting weed diversity, but availability of resources for weed growth such as nutrients, soil moisture, and light can mitigate some of the limitations imposed by weed control on weed diversity, especially in the turn area. Differences in weed communities between management areas within fields indicated the existence of conditions that favor key weed species, and this information can be used to anticipate their population growth and help determine when and where more intensive control should be implemented.

Triquetrous murdannia is an annual weed commonly found in rice fields in China. Laboratory and screenhouse experiments were carried out to determine the effect of light, temperature, osmotic and salt stress, seed burial depth, amount of rice residue, and depth of flooding on seed germination and seedling emergence of triquetrous murdannia and to evaluate the response of this weed to commonly available POST herbicides in China. Germination was greater than 93% under a wide day/night temperature range of 20/10 to 30/20 C in the light/dark regime. The time to onset of germination decreased as temperature increased. Germination was slightly stimulated when seeds were placed in light/dark conditions compared with seeds placed in the dark. The osmotic potential and NaCl concentration required for 50% inhibition of maximum germination were −0.5 MPa and 122 mM, respectively. The highest germination (68%) was observed from seeds sown on the soil surface, but decreased with increasing burial depth. Only 7% of seedlings emerged from a depth of 4 cm, and no seedlings emerged from seeds buried deeper than 6 cm. Seedling emergence decreased from 93 to 35% with increasing quantity of rice residue (1 to 6 103 kg ha−1) applied on the soil surface. Seedling emergence was reduced by 40, 48, 64, and 70% at flooding depths of 1, 2, 4, and 6 cm, respectively, for the seeds sown on the soil surface. Fluroxypyr and MCPA herbicides provided 100% control of triquetrous murdannia at the 2- to 6-leaf stages; however, to achieve 100% control with bispyribac-sodium, MCPA+bentazone or MCPA+fluroxypyr, herbicides had to be applied by the 4-leaf stage. The results of this study could help in developing more sustainable and effective integrated weed management strategies for the control of triquetrous murdannia in rice fields in China.

The objectives of this research were to evaluate temporal and spatial variability in the impact of strip tillage and oat cover crop residue on Powell amaranth emergence and to determine the role of rainfall in mediating these effects. In field experiments conducted in 2010, 2011, and 2012, Powell amaranth seeds were sown in a fully factorial combination of two tillage types (strip tillage [ST] vs. full-width tillage [FWT]) and cover crop residue (oats vs. none) at either 0 d after tillage (DAT) or 7 to 13 DAT to monitor emergence at two timings. In ST plots, seeds were sown both in the tilled zone (“in-row,” IR), and between these tilled zones (“between-row,” BR). In 2011 and 2012, three levels of rainfall were simulated in subplots by either excluding rainfall, allowing natural rainfall, or supplementing rainfall with irrigation. In most cases, ST and oats residue either had no effect on or suppressed emergence of Powell amaranth sown at the early planting date. In contrast, the emergence response to ST and residue at the later planting date was generally smaller and more variable, with increases in emergence observed in several cases. Differences between tillage systems in emergence were most pronounced in the BR zone but also occurred IR in some cases, suggesting that interzonal effects on biotic or abiotic factors influenced emergence. Oat residue effects—but rarely tillage effects—were often mediated by simulated rainfall, with increases in emergence occurring mostly in dry conditions and decreases occurring more commonly in wetter conditions. These results demonstrate that the suppressive effects of cover crops and ST on weed emergence are inconsistent, temporally and spatially variable, and dependent on complex interactions with factors including rainfall.

Traditional breeding has been used to develop grain sorghum germplasm that is tolerant to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides (Inzen Technology, DuPont). Inzen sorghum carries a double mutation in the ALS gene (Val560Ile and Trp574Leu), which confers high level of tolerance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides. Overreliance on ALS-inhibiting herbicides for weed control during the 1990s resulted in the evolution of ALS inhibitor–resistant shattercane populations in Nebraska. According to a survey conducted in 2013, ALS inhibitor–resistant weedy Sorghum populations persist in Nebraska. The objectives of this research were to determine whether the ALS mutations present in Inzen sorghum were present in the ALS inhibitor–resistant shattercane and johnsongrass populations detected in Nebraska and northern Kansas, and whether these populations evolved ALS resistance independently. Primers specific to the Val560 and Trp574 region of the ALS gene were used to screen the populations with PCR. The Trp574Leu mutation was present in one ALS inhibitor–resistant johnsongrass population. The Val560Ile was detected in three ALS inhibitor–resistant shattercane, one susceptible shattercane, one ALS inhibitor–resistant johnsongrass, and one susceptible johnsongrass population. Moreover, Val560Ile was present in resistant and/or susceptible individuals within johnsongrass and shattercane populations that were segregating for ALS resistance, indicating that by itself the Val560Ile mutation does not confer resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides. None of the populations presented both mutations simultaneously, as does Inzen sorghum. A shattercane population containing the Ser653Thr mutation was also detected. This research indicates that the ALS mutations present in Inzen sorghum already exist individually in weedy sorghum populations. Moreover, our results present strong evidence that ALS resistance in these populations evolved independently. Thus, widespread overreliance on ALS-inhibiting herbicides prior to adoption of glyphosate-tolerant crops in the 1990s exerted sufficient selective pressure on shattercane and johnsongrass populations for resistance to evolve multiple times in the Midwest. Finally, a survey of the 5′ portion of the ALS gene in more diverse wild and weedy Sorghum species was hampered by limited coverage in genomic resequencing surveys, suggesting that refined PCR-based methods will be needed to assess SNP variation in this gene region, which includes the Ala122, Pro197, and Ala205 codons known to confer ALS resistance in other species.

Over the last 10 yr, California has experienced a series of ever-worsening droughts. Rice, traditionally a flooded crop, has come under increasing scrutiny with respect to its water use, leading to proposals to evaluate alternative irrigation systems. For growers, weed competition is one of the most limiting factors to maintaining high yields, so understanding the shifts among species in weed communities under the proposed alternative irrigation systems is vital. A field study was conducted from 2012 to 2014 to compare weed population and growth dynamics with three irrigation systems: (1) a conventional water-seeded control system (WS-Control), with a permanent flood of 10 to 15 cm from planting until 1 mo prior to harvest; (2) a water-seeded alternate wet and dry system (WS-AWD), with the field flooded from planting until canopy closure, after which floodwater was allowed to subside and the field was reflooded when the soil volumetric water content reached 35%; and (3) a drill-seeded alternate wet and dry system (DS-AWD), with rice drill seeded and then flush irrigated to establish the crop, after which the field was flooded until canopy closure and then underwent an alternate wet and dry (AWD) treatment similar to WS-AWD. In the AWD treatments, there were two drying periods, neither of which occurred after the heading stage. The dynamics of major weed species were evaluated using plant density counts (2012) and relative cover and biomass (2013 and 2014). Grasses (sprangletop and watergrass species) dominated the DS-AWD system; sedges, broadleaves, and grasses dominated both WS systems. The WS-AWD system increased smallflower umbrella sedge relative cover at canopy closure, relative dry weight at harvest, and percent frequency when compared with the WS-Control system. Yields did not differ across treatments when weeds were controlled (P>0.05); in the absence of herbicides, yields in the WS-AWD were equivalent to the WS-Control (ranging from 40 to 65% of the herbicide-treated yields) and zero in the DS-AWD due to weed pressure.

Field experiments were conducted at the Montana State University Southern Agricultural Research Center, Huntley, MT, in 2011 through 2013 to determine the effect of nitrogen (N) rate, seeding rate, and weed removal timing on weed interference in barley. A delay in weed removal timing from the 3- to 4-leaf (LF) stage to the 8- to 10-LF stage of barley resulted in up to 3.5-fold increase in total weed biomass and 10% reduction in barley biomass, and this was unaffected by a N rate that ranged from 56 (low) to 168 (high) kg ha−1. The effect of N rate on barley biomass was more pronounced when weed removal was delayed from the 3- to 4-LF stage to the 8- to 10-LF stage of barley and in nontreated plots. Increasing the barley seeding rate from 38 to 152 kg ha−1 increased the barley plant density by 50%, biomass by 13%, and grain yield by 29%, averaged over N rates and weed removal timing. On the basis of 5 and 10% levels of acceptable yield loss, the addition of ≥112 kg N ha−1 delayed the critical timing of weed removal by at least 1.3 wk in barley, compared with the 56 kg N ha−1 rate. A medium or high N rate prevented reduction in barley grain quality (plumpness and test weight) observed when the seeding rate was increased from 38 to 76 or 152 kg ha−1 at the low N rate. In a separate greenhouse study, the effect of N rate on the effectiveness of various herbicides for controlling wild oat, green foxtail, kochia, or Russian thistle was investigated. Results highlighted that wild oat or green foxtail grown under 56 kg N ha−1 (low N) soil required 1.4 to 2.6 times higher doses of clodinafop, fenoxaprop, flucarbazone, glyphosate, glufosinate, pinoxaden, or tralkoxydim for 50% reduction in shoot dry weights (GR50) compared with plants grown under 168 kg N ha−1 (high N). Similarly, a reduced efficacy of thifensulfuron methyl + tribenuron methyl, metsulfuron methyl, or bromoxynil+pyrasulfotole was observed (evident from the GR50 values) for kochia or Russian thistle grown under low- vs. high-N soil. Information gained from this research will aid in developing cost-effective, integrated weed management (IWM) strategies in cereals and in educating growers on the importance of fertilizer N management as a component of IWM programs.