Field experiments conducted in 1991, 1992, and 1993 evaluated Palmer amaranth and devil's-claw control and cotton injury with pyrithiobac applied PPI, PRE, or POST. Pyrithiobac at 36 or 71 g ae/ha applied PPI, PRE, or POST did not injure cotton. Pyrithiobac at 140 g/ha applied PPI or PRE injured cotton 9 to 11% 6 wk after treatment. Cotton recovered and no injury was observed 12 wk after treatment. Pyrithiobac applied PPI and PRE at 71 g/ha controlled Palmer amaranth at least 97% 6 wk after treatment. Palmer amaranth control with pyrithiobac applied POST was more variable and influenced by environmental conditions. Palmer amaranth control with 71 g/ha of pyrithiobac exceeded that with 36 g/ha. Devil's-claw control with pyrithiobac was better with POST applications than PPI or PRE applications. Pyrithiobac applied POST at 140 g/ha controlled devil's-claw 83–97%. These studies indicate that pyrithiobac can effectively control Palmer amaranth and devil's-claw in cotton on the Texas Southern High Plains when applied at appropriate rates and timings.

Effectiveness of the common soil fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum as a biological control for spotted knapweed and its effect on competitive interactions between spotted knapweed and bluebunch wheatgrass were evaluated in a growth chamber study using addition series methods. Total seeding densities ranged from 2000 to 60 000 seeds/m2. Mean bluebunch wheatgrass plant weight was 3.5 times greater than spotted knapweed weight per plant, respectively. Coefficient ratios estimating species interaction showed bluebunch wheatgrass density had a greater influence than spotted knapweed density on both bluebunch wheatgrass and spotted knapweed weights (2.11 and 0.51, respectively) when not under the influence of S. sclerotiorum. Niche differentiation ratios indicated a lack of resource partitioning between species (1.11). S. sclerotiorum reduced spotted knapweed density by 68 to 80% without reducing bluebunch wheatgrass density. Spotted knapweed weight per plant also was reduced by the addition of 5. sclerotiorum (1.4 to 1.2 mg) but there was not a corresponding increase in bluebunch wheatgrass weight. S. sclerotiorum decreased competition between spotted knapweed and bluebunch wheatgrass. This study provides evidence that establishment of bluebunch wheatgrass on spotted knapweed infested rangeland may be improved by combining S. sclerotiorum with high grass seeding rates.

This study was conducted to gain insight into the soil seedbank dynamics of Venice mallow in two irrigated Colorado soils. Venice mallow plants produced an average of 3100 seeds per plant under noncompetitive irrigated conditions. Venice mallow seeds collected from three regions of Colorado and stored at 25 C averaged 95% dormancy and less than 4% nonviable seeds 6 mo after harvesting. Percent nonviable seeds in soil remained relatively constant over 2 yr. Most seeds germinated within the first 3 mo after burial in the first crop production year. Seed dormancy decreased to an average of 40% after 3 mo of burial in cultivated soil at Fruita and Rocky Ford, and thereafter remained relatively constant for 21 mo. Fruita seeds underwent less in situ germination than seeds from Greeley or Rocky Ford. Innate seed dormancy was lower at Fruita (27%) than at Rocky Ford (39%). Enforced dormancy remained constant over a 21-mo period and was similar for both locations (32%). Seeds buried for 2 yr at Fruita underwent greater in situ germination (42%) than at Rocky Ford (27%). At Fruita, the level of enforced dormancy was higher and the level of innate dormancy lower at the 20-cm than the 2-cm depths. Venice mallow seed dormancy likely is due to an impermeable hard seed coat.

Field studies were conducted to determine response of ‘Atlantic’ and ‘Fontenot’ potato varieties and eight weed species to rimsulfuron and metribuzin. Rimsulfuron was applied at 9, 18, 27, 35 and 70 g ai/ha and metribuzin at 69, 140, 210, 280 and 560 g ai/ha. Each herbicide was applied PRE or POST alone or in 1:8 combinations of rimsulfuron to metribuzin. Yield of either variety was not reduced by any treatment. Rimsulfuron applied PRE or POST at the suggested field use rate of 35 g/ha controlled smooth pigweed, redroot pigweed, ivyleaf morningglory, and common cocklebur 100%, common lambsquarters 90%, and jimsonweed 60%. Large crabgrass and fall panicum were controlled 92% by rimsulfuron at 35 g/ha. Reduced rates of 9 g/ha rimsulfuron plus 69 g/ha metribuzin, applied PRE or POST, controlled all weeds 100% except jimsonweed, fall panicum, and large crabgrass. For complete control of these weeds, rimsulfuron at 35 g/ha plus metribuzin at 280 g/ha was required.

A soil sampler, elutriator, and associated sample flushing device were designed and constructed for an intensive study of weed seedbanks. This equipment was used in 1993 to collect and process 4980 soil samples. The sampler was durable, core size was consistent, and sampling was efficient. Cores were approximately 200 cm3 and two people could take 120 cores/h. The elutriator separated weed seeds from 36 of these cores at a time. Washing required 60 to 75 min depending on soil texture. Seeds as small as 0.3 mm in diam were recovered and almost 100% of the seeds were recovered from samples spiked with barnyardgrass, redroot pigweed, velvetleaf, and witchgrass. The flushing device was used to transfer sample contents from strainers of the elutriator to propyltex bags for drying and storing. Equipment like this, plus improved technology for identifying and counting seeds, is needed to make weed seedbank studies more feasible.

Experiments were conducted to determine the productivity and the competitive ability of a large crabgrass accession (PW2) resistant to acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors relative to a susceptible accession (A310). Under noncompetitive conditions in the field, shoot dry biomass and plant height over time were similar for the two accessions. Leaf area was slightly greater for A310 than for PW2. The instantaneous relative growth rate was similar for the accessions. The instantaneous net assimilation rate was slightly greater for A310 than for PW2; however, the instantaneous leaf area ratio was slightly greater for PW2 than for A310. At maturity, the seed yield was similar for the accessions. The inter-accession competitive ability of PW2 and A310 plants in the field was similar, based on shoot dry biomass or seed yield. In the greenhouse, interspecific competitive ability of the accessions with corn was similar, based on shoot dry biomass or seed yield. These results suggest that resistance to ACCase inhibitors is not associated with reduced fitness of the PW2 accession.

Transplanted cabbage was grown in conventional-tillage (100% cultivated) and strip-tillage (25% cultivated and 75% residue) production systems with various herbicide treatments to evaluate weed control and cabbage yield. DCPA at 9 kg ai/ha, napropamide at 1.1 kg ai/ha, oxyfluorfen at 0.3 kg ai/ha, and oxyfluorfen at 0.2 kg ai/ha plus napropamide at 1.1 kg ai/ha provided commercially acceptable (> 80%) control of carpetweed, swinecress, large crabgrass, redroot pigweed, and common lambsquarters under both tillage systems. However, only oxyfluorfen plus napropamide provided control of eclipta. At a second location, all herbicides controlled common purslane and barnyardgrass and all but DCPA controlled hairy galinsoga. Overall, cabbage yields were the same between conventional and strip-tillage systems, and among herbicide treatments when average cabbage head weights across tillage method were pooled.

We compared applications of trifluralin or ethalfluralin granules incorporated with a sweep plow or pendimethalin (ec) applied without incorporation to incorporating trifluralin (ec) by tandem-disk harrowing for sunflower production. The study was established in winter wheat stubble at three sites in the northern and central Great Plains. Crop residues on the soil surface following sunflower planting was greater than 30% (level required to protect soil from erosion) with all conservation-tillage strategies, but not with disk incorporation. Weed control and sunflower seed yield with conservation-tillage strategies were similar to the disk incorporation practice, demonstrating that producers can use these strategies for sunflower production and to protect soil from erosion.

Success of postemergence weed management often depends upon application timing and weed seedling size. To develop a predictive tool for estimating green foxtail development and optimizing timing of management operations, seedling growth was monitored in fields for two years, as well as in a single greenhouse experiment, and compared with elapsed thermal time (growing degree days, GDD, base 10 C). The relationship between seedling height (mm) and GDD was similar both years and could be described by the following equation: Height = (-0.27 + 0.033 * GDD)2. A comparable equation described seedling growth in a greenhouse. Leaf number was linearly related to GDD. Green foxtail in corn was controlled with nicosulfuron applied at seven intervals between 100 and 450 GDD after corn planting in 1993 and 1994. In 1993 corn yield losses due to green foxtail interference were least when nicosulfuron was applied 200 to 300 GDD after planting, at which time green foxtail height was 50 to 100 mm. In 1994 corn yield losses were minimized if nicosulfuron was applied any time before 300 GDD.

Preplant control of mannagrass was greater than 90% with clethodim, glyphosate, sethoxydim, and sulfosate. Glyphosate at 0.5 to 1.0 kg ai/ha controlled mannagrass greater than 97%, and was not increased with any adjuvant. Fenoxaprop applied POST controlled mannagrass 97% but injured rice 33%. Except for fenoxaprop-ethyl, all POST treatments increased rice yields at least 1560 kg/ha more than the non-treated check. Southern watergrass was controlled 79 and 89% with 1.0 kg ai/ha glyphosate and 4.5 kg ai/ha sulfosate, respectively, while control was less than 55% with other herbicides.

Research was conducted at the Brandon Research Centre to determine the effect of spray solution pH or adjuvants on the efficacy of two cyclohexanedione (CHD) herbicides, clethodim and tralkoxydim, and two aryloxyphenoxypropionate (APP) herbicides, fenoxaprop-P and quizalofop, and if ultraviolet light is a factor influencing their activity. CHD herbicide efficacy decreased as spray solution pH increased above 7. APP herbicide efficacy was not affected by spray solution pH, probably due to their formulation as proherbicide esters. The choice of adjuvant affected CHD herbicide efficacy but not APP herbicide efficacy. Amigo®, Canplus-411® plus ammonium sulfate, and Merge® were usually the most effective adjuvants with the two CHD herbicides. Physical removal of ultraviolet light did not improve APP herbicide efficacy but did improve CHD herbicide efficacy.

Field studies were conducted in 1993 and 1994 to evaluate sicklepod control with combinations of imazaquin + metribuzin at lower than normal use rates. Soybean was seeded in late-May to early-June each year and imazaquin and metribuzin were applied PPI alone at 0.75 and 1x and 0.5, 0.75, and 1x their registered rates, respectively, and in factorial combinations of their 0.5 and 0.75x rates. The registered (1x) rates for imazaquin and metribuzin on this soil type are 0.14 and 0.43 kg/ha, respectively. Several standard sequential treatments and flumetsulam + trifluralin PPI at 0.06 + 0.70 and 0.07 + 0.95 kg/ha were included for comparison. Sicklepod control and soybean seed yield responses differed between 1993 and 1994. In 1993, the combinations of imazaquin + metribuzin averaged 90% control 6 wk after planting (WAP) and soybean seed yield increased 75% compared to the untreated check. Imazaquin + metribuzin at their respective 0.5x rate was as effective as any treatment evaluated. In 1994, sicklepod control was generally lower with all treatments. Soybean seed yield was reduced due to sicklepod interference with soil-applied treatments alone. However, imazaquin + metribuzin at their respective 0.75x rate provided sicklepod control levels and reductions in weed biomass similar to those observed with flumetsulam + trifluralin at 0.07 + 0.95 kg/ha and the sequential treatments, and increased soybean seed yield 19% compared to the untreated check.

A seed bioassay was developed and tested for the rapid identification of aryloxyphenoxypropionate (APP) and cyclohexanedione (CHD) resistance in wild oat. Two susceptible (S) genotypes, UM5 and Dumont, were treated with fenoxaprop-P and sethoxydim over a range of dosages on filter paper and agar. The former is a wild oat line and the latter a tame oat cultivar. Within 5 d, shoot and root development of both genotypes were completely inhibited by 10 μM fenoxaprop-P and 5 μM sethoxydim. These dosages were then tested to determine if they were suitable for distinguishing between resistant (R) and susceptible (S) plants. Agar medium was preferred over filter paper because of the ease of preparation and maintenance. Four known R wild oat populations were included in the tests. Those with high levels of resistance produced significantly longer coleoptiles and roots than S genotypes, but those with moderate or low levels of resistance could not be separated statistically from S biotypes based on quantitative measurements. However, after exposing the germinating, treated seeds to light for 24 to 48 h, all the R populations produced green coleoptiles and initiated a first leaf, unlike the S genotypes which did not turn green or produce any new growth. This procedure proved useful in discriminating between R and S genotypes and in ranking populations in terms of relative levels of resistance.

Field studies were conducted over four years to determine sugarcane response to clomazone applied POST at 1.1 and 2.2 kg ai/ha. Sugarcane leaves present when clomazone was applied were chlorotic 2 WAT. Injury 4 WAT ranged from 0 to 38% following single applications in March and April. Chlorosis 4 wk after the May application of a March plus May sequential treatment was only greater than for the single March application in 1992. The number of harvestable sugarcane stalks following treatments with clomazone was intermediate between those produced with standard applications of either metribuzin at 2.6 kg ai/ha (least injurious) or terbacil as a single treatment at 1.8 kg ai/ha in March and April or as a 1.8 plus 0.9 kg/ha March plus May sequential treatment. Sugar recovery as an average of all herbicide treatments was lower for the sequential applications than for the single applications. Averaged over single and sequential treatments, theoretically recoverable sugar levels with clomazone at both rates was intermediate between the recoveries obtained with standard applications of metribuzin (highest) and terbacil. Gross cane and sugar yields following all applications of clomazone at 1.1 kg/ha and following single applications of clomazone at 2.2 kg/ha in March and April were similar to the metribuzin standard. Sugar yields following the sequential treatment of clomazone at 2.2 kg/ha, although lower than the metribuzin standard, were similar to the standard terbacil sequential treatment.

Yellow nutsedge is a common and troublesome weed in the nursery industry. A selective postemergence herbicide is not available for yellow nutsedge control in most nursery crops. The effectiveness of MON 12000 for PRE and POST control of yellow nutsedge was evaluated in selected field-grown nursery crops. Preemergence control of yellow nutsedge 4 weeks after treatment (WAT) increased from 68% to 95% as MON 12000 rate increased from 0.03 to 0.28 kg ai/ha. At 9 WAT, control ranged from 16 to 73%. MON 12000 at 0.14 kg/ha provided similar PRE control of yellow nutsedge as metolachlor at 2.2 kg/ha. Four WAT, MON 12000 applied POST at 0.03 kg/ha controlled 73% and controlled 86% with the 0.28 kg/ha rate. MON 12000 at 0.14 and 0.28 kg/ha applied POST controlled yellow nutsedge better than bentazon at 1.12, chlorimuron at 0.01, imazaquin at 0.14, or glyphosate at 3.33 kg/ha. MON 12000 injured the foliage of azalea, crape myrtle, cotoneaster, and Japanese holly. Injury was most severe to cotoneaster. MON 12000 reduced azalea, cotoneaster, and crape myrtle shoot fresh weight compared to hand-weeded plots in at least one study. Metolachlor at 2.2 and 4.5 kg/ha caused little injury to the nursery species tested.

The effect of imazethapyr and imazamethabenz on following crops was tested in southern Alberta, on Dark Brown and Brown Chernozemic soils, to assess the potential restrictions placed on cropping sequences by the use of these herbicides. Imazamethabenz reduced the yield of sugarbeet seeded one year after application. After imazethapyr application there is risk of yield loss with flax, corn, meadow bromegrass, mustard, sunflower, timothy, and wheat seeded one year later; canola seeded up to two years later; and sugarbeet and potato seeded up to three years later. Legume crops and intermediate wheatgrass may be seeded the year after application with little risk of yield loss. The required recropping intervals limit the use of imazethapyr for weed control in pea, alfalfa, or dry bean in cropping sequences that include sugarbeet, canola, or potato.

Full-season interference and critical duration of early-season ivyleaf morningglory interference with cotton were measured in experiments at two Oklahoma locations. Densities ranging from 0 to 64 weeds/10 m of row were evaluated for their effects on cotton lint yield, fiber quality, and harvest efficiency. Analyses using linear-linear regression proved superior to linear, curvilinear, and linear-plateau models. Lint yield reductions of 36.9 kg/ha (or 5.9%) were recorded at Perkins for each weed/10 m up to 8.7. At densities greater than 8.7/10 m, yield was reduced an additional 3.0 kg/ha (0.5%) for each additional weed. At Chickasha, lint yield was reduced 29.7 kg/ha (or 3.9%) for each weed/10 m up to 9.0 with an additional lint loss of 3.6 kg/ha (0.7%) for each weed above the density of 9.0/10 m. Yield losses were over 80% before fiber length was also reduced. Mechanical harvest was not possible at densities above 8 weeds/10 m at Chickasha and above 16 weeds/10 m at Perkins. In critical duration experiments conducted at Perkins, lint yield was reduced 52.9 kg/ha (or 11.2%) for each week weed removal was delayed up to 9.5 wk. An additional 1.0 kg/ha (0.2%) was lost for each week of interference after 9.5 wk. At Chickasha, lint yield was reduced 49.0 kg/ha (or 7.8%) for each week of interference up to 11.0 wk with an additional loss of 1.2 kg/ha (0.2%) for each week thereafter.

The results of two experiments involving the effects of safeners on chloroacetanilide and dicamba injury in corn are reported here. The first experiment was conducted to determine whether MON-4660, CGA-154281, dichlormid, and MON-13900 would increase corn tolerance to alachlor, metolachlor, and acetochlor, respectively, over a range of soil temperatures (12 to 37 C). All three herbicides, particularly acetochlor, reduced corn shoot lengths at temperatures less than 32 C. The safeners effectively increased corn tolerance to their respective chloroacetanilide herbicide at all soil temperatures. However, acetochlor injury was not completely overcome by dichlormid or MON-13900 when temperatures were less than 27 C. The second experiment was conducted to determine whether these safeners would alleviate injury caused by chloroacetanilides applied with dicamba in sensitive (Pioneer 3320) and tolerant (Cargill 7567) corn hybrids at soil temperatures ranging from 17 to 27 C. Chloroacetanilides (4.5 kg ai/ha) plus dicamba (0.6 kg ae/ha) reduced shoot lengths in both hybrids, with acetochlor/dicamba combinations causing the greatest reductions. All four safeners increased corn tolerance to chloroacetanilide/dicamba tank-mixtures equally.