A field study was conducted in 2009, 2010, and 2011 on a grower's field with a known population of glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed to determine potential control options utilizing a WideStrike® cotton variety. Glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed control and cotton response to herbicide applications were both assessed. Few herbicide treatments provided greater than 80% control. Glufosinate followed by glufosinate was the only treatment that provided greater than 90% control at each assessment timing. Other effective treatments were glufosinate alone, glufosinate plus glyphosate, glyphosate plus pyrithiobac, and glufosinate plus fluometuron. Results from this study indicate that few of the studied herbicide treatments provide effective control of glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed without reducing yield in WideStrike cotton. Treatments that had the highest level of giant ragweed control at all ratings and also had the highest yield included glufosinate followed by glufosinate, glufosinate plus pyrithiobac, and glufosinate plus fluometuron at either rate. However, glufosinate followed by glufosinate was the only treatment that resulted in greater than 90% control of giant ragweed without reducing crop yield.

Field studies were conducted from 2007 to 2009 in East Lansing, MI to evaluate three residual herbicide programs, three POST herbicide application timings, and two POST herbicides in glyphosate- and glufosinate-resistant corn. Herbicide programs included a residual PRE-applied herbicide followed by (fb) POST application (residual fb POST), a residual herbicide tank-mixed with a POST herbicide (residual + POST), and a nonresidual POST. Three POST herbicide application timings included early POST (EP), mid-POST (MP), and late POST (LP) at an average corn growth stage of V3/V4, V4/V5, and V5/V6, respectively. The two POST herbicides evaluated were glyphosate and glufosinate. Control of common lambsquarters and giant foxtail was evaluated 28 d after the LP application. Glyphosate often provided greater weed control than glufosinate. The LP application resulted in greater giant foxtail control compared with the EP application timing, which may be attributed to control of late-emerging weeds. The EP application timing improved common lambsquarters control compared with the LP application timing. The residual + POST program resulted in greater weed control compared with the residual fb POST program in all years. The effect of residual herbicide program, POST herbicide, and POST application timing on corn grain yield varied by year. In 2007, the use of glyphosate resulted in higher grain yield compared with glufosinate. In 2008, corn grain yield was the highest in the PRE fb POST program and with POST applications at EP and MP. To provide the most consistent weed control and minimize the likelihood of grain yield reductions, a PRE fb POST program applied at EP or MP is recommended.

Palmer amaranth is one of the most troublesome weeds in the southeast. Significant reductions in cotton yield because of Palmer amaranth competition warrant intense control efforts consisting of both PRE and POST herbicides. Flumioxazin is a soil-active, protoporphyrinogen oxidase-inhibiting herbicide that is labeled for use in cotton 14 to 21 d before planting; however, shorter preplant application intervals could increase the duration of control from this herbicide. Flumioxazin was applied at 3 rates (0.03 and 0.06 kg ai ha−1 in 2009 and an additional rate of 0.09 kg ai ha−1 in 2010 and 2011) and 6 application timings (30, 20, 15, 10, 5, and 0 d before planting cotton). Cotton emergence, height, and yield were documented. In 2009, at the Jay and Citra, FL, sites, cotton emergence, plant height, and yield were not affected by any herbicide rate or timing. At Dawson, GA, in the same year, significant reduction in cotton stand counts were observed with application timings < 10 d before planting. Cotton height was reduced similarly at Dawson, GA, but recovered to levels equal to the control by 45 d after planting (DAP). It is believed that rainfall during cotton emergence resulted in this significant level of injury at Dawson, GA. In 2010 and 2011, at Citra, FL, cotton emergence was only reduced when 0.06 and 0.09 kg ha−1 were applied at planting. Cotton height showed a similar pattern with additional reductions in height at 0.03 kg ha−1 applied at planting and 0.09 kg ha−1 applied 5 d before planting. In 2010 and 2011, at Citra, FL, yield was reduced when 0.09 kg ha−1 flumioxazin was applied 5 d before planting and when 0.06 and 0.09 kg ha−1 were applied at planting. These results indicate that flumioxazin application intervals can be shortened with little crop impact likely to be seen at lower use rates. However, rainfall at crop emergence has the potential to significantly injure cotton and reduce yield.

Studies were conducted in a screenhouse to determine the interaction of rice residue as mulch (0, 3, and 6 t ha−1) and herbicides (nontreated, oxadiazon at 0.5 and 1.0 kg ai ha−1, and pendimethalin at 1.0 and 2.0 kg ai ha−1) on seedling emergence and biomass of barnyardgrass, crowfootgrass, junglerice, and rice flatsedge. Regardless of the residue amount, crowfootgrass and junglerice were effectively controlled by all herbicide treatments. No seedlings of these weed species escaped the herbicides when applied in the presence of residue cover. There was no survival of barnyardgrass seedlings when both herbicides were applied on bare soil (without residue cover); however, some seedlings survived oxadiazon and pendimethalin when applied in the presence of residue cover. For rice flatsedge, the herbicide applications in the presence of residue cover resulted in lower weed control than in the absence of residue. These results suggest that some weed species can escape the application of PRE herbicides in conservation agriculture systems in which residue can bind soil-applied herbicides and result in lower efficacy.

Pendimethalin and sulfentrazone are applied PRE in sunflower to control many grasses and broadleaf weeds. These herbicides have quite different physicochemical properties. Pendimethalin has a high carbon-referenced sediment partition coefficient (Koc)(17,200 L kg−1), with a low leaching potential, whereas sulfentrazone has a low Koc (43 L kg−1), with a high leaching potential. A 2-yr study was conducted to determine the dissipation of these two herbicides applied to a loamy sand soil. Pendimethalin dissipated in two phases, an initial rapid loss between application and 3 to 5 d after application (DAT) and then a slower rate of dissipation. The first, rapid phase was likely due to volatilization of the herbicide from the soil surface. Pendimethalin dissipated at a similar rate for the slower phase in 2008 and 2010 (time to 50% dissipation [DT50] was 43 d and 39 d, respectively). The dissipation of sulfentrazone, unlike pendimethalin, was not biphasic. The DT50 for sulfentrazone was different between the 2 yr (30 d and 14 d in 2008 and 2010, respectively). Pendimethalin remained primarily in the top 7.5 cm of the soil column, whereas sulfentrazone leached to at least 30 cm. The leaching of sulfentrazone depended on the timing of irrigation or precipitation after application. The more rapid loss of sulfentrazone in the top 30 cm of the soil column in 2010 could have been partially due to the herbicide leaching below the 30 cm depth that was sampled.

With the forthcoming release of the 2,4-D- and dicamba-resistance traits stacked with either glyphosate or glufosinate resistance, the use of 2,4-D or dicamba alone or in tank mix with glyphosate or glufosinate likely will increase the control of glyphosate-resistant weeds in soybean. There also is an increasing trend among soybean growers to apply POST herbicides in combination with fungicides, insecticides, and fertilizers to reduce trips over the field. Greenhouse experiments were conducted during 2011 and 2012 to evaluate glyphosate or glufosinate applications with growth regulator herbicides and other agrochemicals for the control of glyphosate-resistant horseweed and glyphosate-resistant common lambsquarters. In most cases, glyphosate or glufosinate application with 2,4-D or dicamba provided 80% or more control of glyphosate-resistant horseweed and glyphosate-resistant common lambsquarters. These studies demonstrate that performance of glufosinate alone and with agrochemicals was poor on glyphosate-resistant common lambsquarters. However, no differences in glyphosate-resistant common lambsquarters biomass were noted among treatments including glufosinate alone, glufosinate plus growth regulator herbicides, and glufosinate plus growth regulator herbicides plus agrochemicals. The agrochemicals lambda-cyhalothrin, manganese, and pyraclostrobin did not affect weed control by glyphosate or glufosinate combinations with growth regulator herbicides. Visible soybean injury was noted at 1 wk after treatment (WAT) only when glufosinate was applied with lambda-cyhalothrin or pyraclostrobin but no differences in visible injury were seen with these combinations at 3 WAT.

Field studies were conducted to evaluate Italian ryegrass control and winter wheat tolerance to applications of diclofop, mesosulfuron plus methylated seed oil (MSO) alone or with 30% urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), mesosulfuron plus thifensulfuron plus tribenuron plus MSO, mesosulfuron plus MCPA plus MSO, or flufenacet plus metribuzin. Treatments were applied to wheat PRE, two- to three-leaf wheat (2–3 LF) at Feekes stage 1.0 or to one- to two-tiller wheat (TILL) at Feekes stage 3.0, depending on label recommendations. Studies were conducted in Williamson, GA, and Plains, GA, from autumn 2003 to spring 2005. Italian ryegrass control was variable, depending on location and year. Maximum and most-consistent Italian ryegrass control (> 90%) occurred with mesosulfuron plus MSO and UAN. Without UAN, control of Italian ryegrass with mesosulfuron varied from 44 to 97%. That variability was partially attributed to unfavorable environmental conditions associated with cold night time temperatures at or below 0 C, following applications. Wheat injury observed in response to herbicide treatments was minimal (< 15%) and transient; wheat recovered with no differences in yield.

At the field scale, weeds generally appear aggregated rather than randomly distributed, and this aggregation is linked to the spatial heterogeneity of biotic and abiotic factors. Crop management practices shape the spatial pattern of weed infestations by modifying certain factors having an impact on weed emergence and growth. Although crop seeding is often the last in-field disturbance before crop and weed emergence, its effect on the distribution of weeds has received little attention in the literature. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the planting operation on weed cover and presence in corn fields using digital images to investigate the possibility of sensing the interrow to infer the presence or absence of weeds on the corn row. A total of 18 site-years under conventional tillage treated with a single POST application of herbicide were selected across seven locations. Image analysis, at the V2 to V4 growth stage of corn, was used to compare the weed cover in three zones: the undisturbed interrows, the corn rows, and the interrows compacted by tractor wheel traffic. For 61% of site-years, there was no significant difference among the zones. When there was a significant difference compared with the other two zones, the undisturbed interrow was usually less infested. Point-to-point comparisons of weed presence or absence (based on a threshold of five pixels) between the interrow and the corn row revealed 70 or 73% correspondence, depending on the type of interrow (undisturbed or tracked). However the error of inference of the corn row weed cover generated by sensing only adjacent interrows may be too high for efficient commercial weed control.

The introduction of 2,4-D-resistant crops stacked with glyphosate resistance will enable the use of 2,4-D and glyphosate for weed control in corn, cotton, and soybean. Because there is little reported on the effectiveness of 2,4-D plus glyphosate on summer annual weed control, the objective was to evaluate 2,4-D and glyphosate tank mixtures on summer annual weed control. Six rates of 2,4-D (0, 280, 420, 560, 840, and 1,120 g ae ha−1) and three rates of glyphosate (0, 840, and 1,120 g ae ha−1) were applied to common lambsquarters, common waterhemp, giant ragweed, giant foxtail, and velvetleaf. Glyphosate at 840 g ha−1 controlled all weeds 94 to 100%. Giant ragweed was controlled 99 to 100% by 2,4-D alone when rates were 280 g ha−1 or higher. Common lambsquarters, common waterhemp, and velvetleaf control increased as 2,4-D rates increased, with 1,120 g ha−1 providing 90 to 94% control.

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of herbicide placement on POST smooth crabgrass and annual bluegrass control. Soil-plus-foliar, soil-only, and foliar-only applications of indaziflam (52.5 g ai ha−1), dithiopyr (560 ai g ha−1), or quinclorac (840 g ai ha−1) were made to one-tiller smooth crabgrass plants. Similarly, indaziflam (52.5 g ha−1), foramsulfuron (29 g ai ha−1), or prodiamine (840 g ai ha−1) were applied to nontillering annual bluegrass plants in an identical manner. No differences in smooth crabgrass control were detected between soil-plus-foliar and soil-only applied indaziflam from 21 to 35 d after treatment (DAT). By 28 DAT, smooth crabgrass control and biomass reductions with these indaziflam treatments were ≥ 90% and not different than quinclorac. Comparatively, smooth crabgrass control with foliar-only applications of indaziflam never exceeded 28%. Responses on annual bluegrass were similar as soil-plus-foliar and soil-only applied indaziflam exhibited greater efficacy than indaziflam applied foliar-only. By 28 DAT, annual bluegrass control and aboveground biomass reductions with soil-plus-foliar and soil-only treatments were ≥ 86% and not different from foramsulfuron. Comparatively, foliar-only applications of indaziflam controlled annual bluegrass ≤ 2%. These results indicate that root absorption is required for POST control of smooth crabgrass and annual bluegrass with indaziflam. Further research is needed to determine if techniques to enhance indaziflam contact with soil will enhance POST smooth crabgrass and annual bluegrass control in the field.

Field experiments were conducted in 2006 and 2007 to evaluate the herbicidal activity of phenyl isothiocyanate (ITC) on yellow nutsedge, Palmer amaranth, and large crabgrass in tomato grown on two polyethylene-mulched types. Treatments included two mulch types (low density polyethylene [LDPE] mulch and virtually impermeable film [VIF] mulch) and phenyl ITC at 0, 15, 75, 150, 750, and 1,500 kg ha−1. A standard rate of methyl bromide/chloropicrin (67 : 33%) at 390 kg ha−1 under LDPE mulch was included for comparison. Regardless of mulch type, phenyl ITC at 1,452 (±133) and 1,719 (±426) kg ha−1 was required for broad-spectrum weed control equivalent to methyl bromide in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Tomato injury was ≥ 44% at the highest phenyl ITC rate of 1,500 kg ha−1 at 2 wk after transplanting (WATP) both years, irrespective of mulch type. Greater crop injury was observed from 750 kg ha−1 of phenyl ITC in 2006 (≥ 27%) than in 2007 (≤ 10%). The greater injury in 2006 was attributed to a higher phenyl ITC concentration because holes in the plastic mulch for transplanting were punched at the time of transplanting in 2006; whereas, in 2007 holes were punched 2 d before transplanting, allowing 2 d of aeration before transplanting. Tomato marketable yield at all rates of phenyl ITC was lower than with methyl bromide in 2006. However, in 2007, marketable yield in plots treated with phenyl ITC at 750 kg ha−1 was equivalent to methyl bromide. Overall, VIF mulch was no more effective than LDPE mulch at increasing weed control or improving the marketable yield of tomato either year.

Flucarbazone controls certain grassy weeds in wheat and may have potential for controlling perennial ryegrass in tall fescue turf. The objective of these experiments was to investigate perennial ryegrass and tall fescue tolerance to flucarbazone at two application timings. In field experiments, flucarbazone applications in May were more injurious to both species than in February and March. Single applications of flucarbazone from 30 to 60 g ai ha−1 in May injured both species 35 to 50% and sequential treatments increased injury approximately twofold. Two applications of flucarbazone at 60 g ha−1 in May injured both grasses > 90%, similar to sequential applications of trifloxysulfuron at 29 g ai ha−1. In growth chamber experiments, injury from flucarbazone on both grasses increased as temperature increased from 10 to 30 C. Flucarbazone reduced total shoot biomass of both grasses at all temperatures after 4 wk. Overall, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue are tolerant to flucarbazone at moderate temperatures (10 to 20 C). However, injury increased substantially under warmer conditions (30 C), suggesting flucarbazone could control perennial ryegrass and tall fescue during late spring and early summer.

Flumioxazin is used in nursery production and landscape maintenance industries. In these situations, weed control provided by flumioxazin often lasts longer than that reported in soil. Our objective was to quantify flumioxazin longevity under conditions found in nursery production. Pots were filled with 6 : 1 (v/v) pine bark : sand mixture. This nonsoil media is typical of what is used for nursery crop production. Pots were treated with flumioxazin at either 0.28 or 0.42 kg ai ha−1, and subsequently sown with either hairy bittercress (two winter experiments) or spotted spurge (two summer experiments) at weekly intervals. Weed seed germination, emergence, and seedling establishment in the treated pots was compared with nontreated control and used as a proxy for herbicide activity. Flumioxazin provided approximately 7 wk of complete (100%) hairy bittercress control regardless of rate. However, a rate effect was evident in only one of the two experiments conducted with hairy bittercress. In both experiments with hairy bittercress, marginal and highly variable activity was still evident at 18 wk after treatment. Flumioxazin at 0.28 and 0.42 kg ha−1 provided 2- and 4-wk complete spotted spurge control, respectively. No spotted spurge control was evident after about 8 wk. Subjecting this less-variable data to nonlinear regression revealed that the time required for 50% reduction in flumioxazin activity was approximately 5.5 and 6.6 wk for the two rates, respectively. A column leaching study revealed that flumioxazin activity remained localized near the surface (0 to 4 cm). Therefore the dissipation observed was likely the result of in situ degradation and not displacement. The high organic matter content of the nonsoil media contributes to the observed persistence of flumioxazin activity.

Greenhouse and field studies were conducted to determine tolerance of tomato to halosulfuron, imazosulfuron, and trifloxysulfuron herbicides applied through drip irrigation. In greenhouse studies, PRE- and POST-applied trifloxysulfuron caused greater tomato injury (14 and 54% injury, respectively) than PRE- and POST-applied halosulfuron (5 and 26% injury, respectively) or imazosulfuron (5 and 23% injury, respectively). All herbicide treatments in the greenhouse studies caused greater injury to tomato than the nontreated. Greater tomato injury was observed in the greenhouse from herbicides applied POST than when soil applied. Tomato injury from POST-applied halosulfuron, imazosulfuron, or trifloxysulfuron followed a linear relationship, with tomato injury increasing with increasing herbicide rate. Tomato photosynthetic rate did not differ among the herbicide treatments (32.7 to 55.0 μmol m−2 s−1) and the nontreated (38.0 to 55.0 μmol m−2 s−1). At 5 to 16 days after treatment (DAT), tomato treated with imazosulfuron POST (0.26 to 0.46 cm s−1) or trifloxysulfuron POST (0.27 to 0.51 cm s−1) had lower stomatal conductance compared to the stomatal conductance of the nontreated tomato (0.65 to 0.76 cm s−1). Chlorophyll content did not differ among treatments at 0 to 6 DAT. At 7 to 12 DAT, tomato treated with imazosulfuron POST (34.0 to 40.1 SPAD) and trifloxysulfuron POST (35.0 to 41.6 SPAD) had lower chlorophyll content compared to the nontreated (39.1 to 48.1 SPAD). In 2008 and 2009 field studies, no tomato injury was observed. Herbicide, herbicide application method, and herbicide rate had no effect on tomato height (73 to 77 cm 14 DAT, 79 to 84 cm 21 DAT) and total fruit yield (62,722 to 80,328 kg ha−1).

Elephantgrass has been proposed as a potential feedstock for biofuel production in south Florida. To limit future invasion of escapes in sugarcane and vegetables, the response of newly established elephantgrass to glyphosate, clethodim, sethoxydim, asulam, and trifloxysulfuron was determined using dose–response curves. Log-logistic models were used to determine the herbicide dose required to produce 90% growth reduction (GR90). The GR90 values for shoot biomass at 21 d after treatment (DAT) were 477 g ae ha−1 of glyphosate, 262 g ai ha−1 of clethodim, 381 g ai ha−1 of sethoxydim, 12 kg ai ha−1 of asulam, and 94 g ai ha−1 of trifloxysulfuron. The GR90 values for root biomass at 35 DAT were 570 g ae ha−1 of glyphosate, 257 g ai ha−1 of clethodim, 432 g ai ha−1 of sethoxydim, 17 kg ai ha−1 of asulam, and 183 g ai ha−1 of trifloxysulfuron. Elephantgrass was predicted to exhibit 97, 98, 75, 1, and 5% mortality after application of glyphosate, clethodim, sethoxydim, asulam, and trifloxysulfuron, respectively, at the label use rates 35 DAT. Results suggest that glyphosate and clethodim will provide control of newly established elephantgrass at label use rates for spot treatments and in vegetables, respectively. Rates higher than the label use rate of sethoxydim will be required to provide acceptable control of newly established elephantgrass in vegetables. However, newly established elephantgrass was not controlled by asulam and trifloxysulfuron at label use rates, implying that control of escapes will be difficult in sugarcane.

Weed control by heat or flaming typically uses flames to burn small weeds, directed away from desired crops. This research studied an enclosed flaming system for weed control before turfgrass establishment. Field research trials were conducted to explore the efficacy of a PL-8750 flame sanitizer at two application timings. Treatments included various application methods of PL-8750 flame sanitizer and common thermal and chemical weed control methods. Data were weed control relative to the control treatment. Species evaluated included carpetweed, Virginia buttonweed, spotted spurge, large crabgrass, goosegrass, old world diamond-flower, cocks-comb kyllinga, and yellow nutsedge. Turfgrass establishment was not successful in summer but was successful in fall. Fall-application timing trials resulted in > 60% tall fescue establishment at 6 wk after seeding (WAS) for all treatments. Summer-application timing trials resulted in unacceptable turfgrass establishment (≤ 18%) for all evaluated turfgrass species at 6 WAS. Broadleaf and grassy weeds were better controlled compared with sedge weeds. Overall, solarization; covered, emerged-weed flaming; and double applications of covered, emerged-weed flaming were the most successful treatments. Solarization controlled carpetweed, Virginia buttonweed, spotted spurge, large crabgrass, and goosegrass > 80% at 6 WAS. Weed control across thermal treatments were equal to or greater than the comparison chemical treatment (dazomet at 389 kg ha−1). Results indicate thermal weed control has potential for reducing weed populations before turfgrass establishment.

Options for suppressing zoysiagrass seedheads in managed turfgrass systems are limited. Experiments were conducted in 2010 and 2011 evaluating the use of imazamox (26, 52, and 70 g ai ha−1) or imazapic (52 g ai ha−1) for ‘Zenith' and ‘Meyer' zoysiagrass seedhead suppression. Imazamox and imazapic at ≥ 52 g ai ha−1 suppressed Zenith zoysiagrass seedheads ≥ 95% at 2 to 6 wk after initial treatment (WAIT) each year. Slight injury (< 10%) was observed with these treatments; however, effective seedhead suppression resulted in increased (i.e., darker) green color from 8 to 15 WAIT each year. Relative chlorophyll index values for imazamox- and imazapic-treated plots ranged from 100 to 147% of the nontreated control in 2010 and 89 to 125% of the nontreated in 2011. On Meyer zoysiagrass, imazamox and imazapic at ≥ 52 g ha−1 reduced seedhead counts greater than 90% in both Tennessee and Indiana. However, significant (> 25%) injury was reported with these treatments at one experimental location. Although imazamox and imazapic have efficacy for zoysiagrass seedhead suppression, additional studies are needed to determine factors affecting zoysiagrass injury potential from imazamox and imazapic applications.

Weed management in green onion continues to be a challenge for vegetable growers in Ohio. Field experiments were conducted from 2005 to 2009 to evaluate oxyfluorfen efficacy on common purslane and prostrate pigweed and green onion tolerance when applied POST at 0, 30, 70, 105, and 290 g ai ha−1 approximately 3 wk after planting. No crop injury was observed from any of the herbicide rates, except in 2009 when 209 g ha−1 oxyfluorfen resulted in 10% injury at 7 d after treatment. The transient injury did not reduce green onion yield. Green onion yield ranged from 1.8 to 2.2 kg plot−1 in 2006 and 1.3 to 1.5 kg plot−1 in 2009. In 2007 yield increased linearly from 1.9 to 3.0 kg plot−1 with oxyfluorfen rates of 0 to 105 g ha−1. Common purslane control increased as the rate of oxyfluorfen increased. Application of oxyfluorfen at 70 to 105 g ha−1 provided the best control of common purslane, ranging from 61 to 95% across the years. Similar control results were observed for prostrate pigweed. Prostrate pigweed control with 70 to 105 g ha−1 ranged from 40 to 93% from 2005 to 2009. These results suggest that green onion tolerates oxyfluorfen rates of 70 to 105 g ha−1, and these rates provide common purslane and prostrate pigweed control that growers would find acceptable. Registration of the water-based formulation of oxyfluorfen would provide growers an opportunity to control weeds and reduce the need for hand labor.

Cultivation is a proven means of weed control in organic peanut. However, weeds present in-row often escape control. Research trials were conducted in Ty Ty, GA to modify cultural practices to help suppress weed emergence in-row. Modified cultural practices were three row pattern/seeding rate combinations; twin rows (four rows on a seedbed) seeded at the recommended (1X) seeding rate that produced 13 seed m−1 in each row, twin rows seeded at the 2X seeding rate that produced 23 seed m−1 in each row, and wide rows (two rows on seedbed) seeded at the recommended seeding rate that produced 23 seed m−1. Four cultivation regimes were evaluated; cultivation with a tine weeder at weekly intervals for 6 wk, cultivation with a tine weeder at weekly intervals for 8 wk, scouring with a brush hoe at vegetative emergence followed by the tine weeder for 6 wk, and a noncultivated control. There were no interactions between row pattern/seeding rates and cultivation regimes for any parameter measured. There was inconsistent response of weed control and peanut yield to row pattern/seeding rates. Weed control and peanut yields were similar with tine weeding for 6 wk, 8 wk, or with the brush hoe followed by the tine weeder. Weed management in organic peanut was not improved by altering peanut cultural practices that facilitate quicker canopy closure, and the use of narrow row patterns should not be based on attempts to improve weed control in organic peanut. Narrow row patterns provide other benefits to organic peanut production and those attributes should influence decisions on the choice of row pattern, not weed control.

Aminocyclopyrachlor (AMCP) is a herbicide with an auxin-mimic mode of action. AMCP is registered for use in the United States on right-of-way and other noncropland sites, causing concern for potential off-target spray drift. The objectives of this study were to evaluate cantaloupe and eggplant response to simulated AMCP spray drift in the field and cotton response in the greenhouse. Cantaloupe and eggplant responded with little to no injury from drift rates up to 10 g AMCP ha−1, roughly 3.2% of the maximum labeled use rate for right-of-way weed control. Slight yield reductions occurred but were not consistent between 2008 and 2009. Therefore, eggplant and cantaloupe injury and yield-reduction potential from AMCP spray drift is low. Cotton response to AMCP drift was compared to similar spray drift rates of 2,4-D and aminopyralid. Cotton responded with injury and reductions in height and dry mass from all three herbicides. Responses were greatest from AMCP, indicating AMCP is potentially more damaging to cotton than 2,4-D or aminopyralid if spray drift occurs, when comparing percentages of labeled rates.