Field studies were conducted in 1988 and 1989 to examine the interrelations of cultivation and herbicide band width in controlling pitted morningglory and sicklepod in soybean. Alachlor + imazaquin PRE followed by imazaquin + surfactant POST were not applied or were applied on bands 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 cm wide or were broadcast. Plots were cultivated zero, one, two, or three times. Without cultivation, at least a 60-cm wide band was needed to achieve maximum soybean seed yields. A slight linear increase in soybean seed yield in response to increasing band width was observed with one cultivation. With two cultivations, soybean seed yields were similar with and without herbicides, but a 15-cm wide herbicide band was needed to achieve maximum production with three cultivations. Greatest gross returns exclusive of weed management costs were realized with two or three cultivations and a 15-cm wide band.

The influence of temperature and relative humidity on the activity of acifluorfen, fomesafen, lactofen, and acifluorfen plus bentazon on prickly sida, pitted and entireleaf morningglory, and common cocklebur was evaluated in a growth chamber. Reduced control of all species was observed at 50% relative humidity as compared to 85% relative humidity when temperatures were higher (32/55 C day/night). Similar response to relative humidity was observed at the lower temperature (25/15 C) when treatments were applied 14 days after emergence (DAE). Changes in temperature at the same relative humidity did not alter herbicidal activity. Delaying application timing from 7 to 14 DAE decreased control by all herbicides except lactofen applied at high relative humidity, which controlled prickly sida at both 7 and 14 DAE.

Herbicide systems consisting of PRE, early POST, and late POST options arranged factorially were compared for control of sicklepod in narrow-row soybean with modified acetolactate synthase (ALS) (E.C.4.1.3.18). Other weeds present included common cocklebur and mixed infestations of entireleaf, ivyleaf, pitted, and tall morningglories. PRE options were alachlor or alachlor plus metribuzin plus chlorimuron. Early POST options included chlorimuron, chlorimuron plus thifensulfuron, and no herbicide applied 3 wk after planting. Late POST options were chlorimuron and no herbicide applied 5 wk after planting. POST herbicides were more effective than PRE herbicides on all weeds. Chlorimuron and chlorimuron plus thifensulfuron applied early POST were equally effective on these weeds and usually more effective than chlorimuron applied late POST. There was no advantage of two POST applications compared with a single early POST application. Greatest net returns were obtained in systems using only early POST herbicides. There was no economic advantage from using metribuzin plus chlorimuron PRE in systems that included an early POST herbicide.

Field studies were conducted from 1992 through 1994 to evaluate application timing of seven postemergence (POST) broadleaf herbicides alone and in mixtures for control of eclipta and pitted morningglory. Imazethapyr and 2,4-DB did not control eclipta while AC 263,222 applied early postemergence (EPOST) at 0.07 kg/ha provided greater than 90% control in 2 of 3 yr. EPOST applications of bentazon, acifluorfen + bentazon, and pyridate controlled eclipta at least 92% all 3 yr. Lactofen applied EPOST at 0.28 kg/ha provided similar levels of eclipta control in 2 of 3 yr. Imazethapyr controlled pitted morningglory > 70% when applied EPOST. AC 263,222 controlled pitted morningglory a minimum of 83% when applied EPOST at 0.04 or 0.07 kg/ha. Pitted morningglory control was at least 85% with 2,4-DB applied alone or in a mixture with AC 263,222, acifluorfen, imazethapyr, lactofen, or pyridate. Effective weed control increased peanut yields up to 98% over the untreated check.

Field experiments were established in 1991 and 1992 on silty clay and sandy loam soils to evaluate various split rates of early PPI and PRE (to soybean) selective herbicides with and without paraquat for sicklepod and pitted morningglory control in stale seedbed soybean. Metribuzin at 360 g ai/ha plus 60 g ai/ha chlorimuron tank-mixed with 700 g ai/ha paraquat controlled sicklepod and pitted morningglory 83 and 91%, respectively, 4 wk after planting. Without paraquat, sicklepod and pitted morningglory control was only 65% and 67%, respectively. Imazaquin at 140 g/ha PRE tank-mixed with paraquat controlled sicklepod 78% and pitted morningglory 92%. Without paraquat, control was 38% and 84%, respectively. Early PPI applications of metribuzin plus chlorimuron or imazaquin at the full rate alone or followed by paraquat at planting resulted in poor control. With sequential treatments (PPI followed by PRE) the addition of paraquat at planting did not usually improve control, and either imazaquin or metribuzin plus chlorimuron provided equivalent control when compared with the full rate of either herbicide applied PRE. Season-long weed control was not obtained with any treatment in any experiment, and the crop was not harvestable.

Postemergence treatments utilizing various combinations of fluazifop-P, paraquat, and 2,4-DB were compared to a preplant-incorporated (PPI) application of benefin followed by a ground-cracking application of alachlor and dinoseb plus naptalam and a postemergence application of 2,4-DB for weed control, peanut yield, and net economic return to land, overhead, and management. The greatest peanut yields (3-yr average of 4510 kg/ha) and net returns (3-yr average of $521/ha) were provided by a postemergence system that utilized one ground-cracking and one postemergence application of paraquat and one postemergence application of fluazifop-P and 2,4-DB. Seven postemergence systems provided equivalent or greater yield and net returns than the PPI and dinoseb plus naptalam system. Fresh weight reductions of Texas panicum, sicklepod, Florida beggarweed, and pitted morningglory from postemergence weed control systems were equivalent to reductions obtained from the PPI and dinoseb plus naptalam system. The addition of paraquat and 2,4-DB to the PPI and dinoseb plus naptalam system improved the 3-yr average peanut yield and net economic return by 510 kg/ha and $136/ha, respectively, compared to the same system without paraquat and 2,4-DB.

Cultivation timings and postemergence applications of AC 263,222 were evaluated for sicklepod and pitted morningglory control in soybean. Cultivation alone controlled each less than 35% season-long. A cultivation made 7 d after POST applications of AC 263,222 more consistently improved sicklepod and pitted morningglory control than a cultivation made 3 d before, immediately after, or 3 d after the POST application. Imazaquin PRE followed by 18 g ai/ha AC 263,222 controlled sicklepod 88% or more and pitted morningglory 83% or more two of three years. A cultivation made immediately after AC 263,222 POST resulted in reduced soybean yields in several instances compared to the same treatment without cultivation. A cultivation made 7 d after application of AC 263,222 increased soybean yields the most in several instances compared to all other timings.

Field experiments were established to observe the effects of adjuvants and time of application on weed control and ‘Terra-Vig 515’ soybean tolerance with POST applications of AC 263,222. A nonionic surfactant or a crop oil concentrate increased sicklepod control with AC 263,222 applied at either V2 or V6 soybean growth stages. Sicklepod control increased as AC 263,222 was increased from 35 to 70 g ai ha–1 only when applied without an adjuvant. Late in the season, there was no difference in sicklepod control between V2 and V6 applications. Adjuvants and application timing within herbicide treatments had no effect on pitted morningglory control, and, though adjuvants increased common cocklebur control, all treatments controlled more than 85% of both species. AC 263,222 with adjuvants at all rates and timings injured and stunted soybean more 2 wk after treatment compared to AC 263,222 alone. AC 263,222 at 35 or 70 g ha–1 with crop oil concentrate reduced yields more than AC 263,222, with either a surfactant or no adjuvant when applied to V2 soybeans.

Cloransulam postemergence (POST), diclosulam preemergence (PRE), and flumetsulam preplant incorporated (PPI) and POST were evaluated in six trials at two locations for control of sicklepod and pitted morningglory in soybean. Sicklepod control with cloransulam plus flumetsulam POST was equivalent to chlorimuron POST in seven of eight comparisons both 3 and 6 wk after treatment. Sicklepod control with cloransulam POST was equivalent to chlorimuron in only three of eight comparisons 3 wk after treatment, but late-season control was equivalent in five of six comparisons. Pitted morningglory control with cloransulam alone or in tank-mixture with flumetsulam POST was equivalent to chlorimuron in all comparisons. Control of sicklepod and pitted morningglory was greater in most comparisons when a POST application followed flumetsulam plus trifluralin PPI compared to only trifluralin PPI. In a total PRE stale seedbed system, where all treatments were tank-mixed with pendimethalin plus glyphosate, sicklepod control with all rates of flumetsulam and 26 or 35 g ai/ha diclosulam was equivalent to the standard treatment of imazaquin or metribuzin plus chlorimuron. None of the total PRE programs controlled sicklepod as well as when glyphosate was applied sequentially POST. Pitted morningglory was controlled 83 to 93% with 26 or 35 g/ha diclosulam, equivalent to imazaquin, metribuzin plus chlorimuron, or sequential glyphosate applications 8 wk after the PRE application. Increasing flumetsulam rate increased pitted morningglory control early season, but flumetsulam was not as effective as the other herbicides.

Field experiments were conducted from 1993 to 1995 to compare weed control by the isopropylamine salt of glyphosate at 0.21, 0.42, 0.63, and 0.84 kg ae/ha applied at three stages of weed growth. Weed control by glyphosate applied at these rates alone or with ammonium sulfate at 2.8 kg/ha was also evaluated. In other experiments, potential interactions between glyphosate and acifluorfen, chlorimuron, and 2,4-DB were evaluated. Velvetleaf, prickly sida, sicklepod, pitted morningglory, entireleaf morningglory, palmleaf morningglory, and hemp sesbania were controlled more easily when weeds had one to three leaves compared with control when weeds had four or more leaves. Glyphosate controlled redroot pigweed, velvetleaf, prickly sida, sicklepod, and barnyardgrass more effectively than pitted morningglory, entireleaf morningglory, palmleaf morningglory, or hemp sesbania. Increasing the rate of glyphosate increased control, especially when glyphosate was applied to larger weeds. Greater variation in control was noted for pitted morningglory, palmleaf morningglory, prickly sida, and velvetleaf than for redroot pigweed, sicklepod, entireleaf morningglory, or hemp sesbania. Ammonium sulfate increased prickly sida and entireleaf morningglory control but did not influence sicklepod, hemp sesbania, or barnyardgrass control. Acifluorfen applied 3 d before glyphosate or in a mixture with glyphosate reduced barnyardgrass control compared with glyphosate applied alone. Chlorimuron did not reduce efficacy. Mixtures of glyphosate and 2,4-DB controlled sicklepod, entireleaf morningglory, and barnyardgrass similar to glyphosate alone.

Thiazopyr at 0.14, 0.28, and 0.42 kg ai/ha and pendimethalin at 1.1 kg ai/ha applied preemergence (PRE) were compared as components in weed management systems for no-till cotton. Mid- and late-season control of mixtures of large crabgrass, goosegrass, and fall panicum by thiazopyr at 0.28 kg/ha was 89 to 97% and 11 to 50%, respectively, compared with 11 to 38% midseason and 0 to 5% late-season control by pendimethalin. Thiazopyr at 0.42 kg/ha and pendimethalin controlled broadleaf signalgrass 44 and 0%, respectively, late in the season. Adding fluometuron PRE at 1.7 kg ai/ha had little to no effect on large crabgrass, goosegrass, and fall panicum control but increased broadleaf signalgrass control 47 to 79 percentage points compared with thiazopyr or pendimethalin alone. Late-season control of annual grasses by thiazopyr or pendimethalin plus fluometuron PRE followed by methazole plus MSMA early postemergence (POST)-directed and cyanazine plus MSMA late POST-directed was at least 95% at two locations and 80% at the third location. Common lambsquarters was controlled 54 and 95% in systems without and with fluometuron PRE, respectively. Acceptable control of ivyleaf, pitted, and tall morningglories at all locations and smooth pigweed at two of three locations was achieved only in systems with POST-directed herbicides. Adding POST-directed herbicides to systems with thiazopyr or pendimethalin plus fluometuron PRE increased cotton yield at two of three locations. Treatments had no effect on fiber quality.

Field studies were conducted from 1988 to 1990 on a Sharkey clay to evaluate residual weed control in rice with quinclorac applied PPI, PRE to dry soil, and PRE to moist soil. Quinclorac applied at 0.4 or 0.6 kg ai ha−1 PPI or PRE to dry or moist soil controlled more than 80% of barnyardgrass, pitted morningglory, and hemp sesbania without rice injury. Quinclorac applied at 0.3 kg ha−1 controlled these three weed species substantially but inconsistently. No rice injury was observed from any quinclorac treatment. Except for one of three years when irrigation was delayed for 7 d after PRE application to dry soil, application timing did not consistently affect weed control or rice yield.

The effects of 1.24 kg ha-1 ammonium sulfate, 5 g ae ha-1 of the isopropylamine salt of imazapyr, and air temperature of 18, 27, and 35 C at 40 and 100% relative humidity on the phytotoxicity of 35 g ae ha-1 of the ammonium salt of imazethapyr applied postemergence to pitted morningglory were evaluated. Both ammonium sulfate and imazapyr increased imazethapyr phytotoxicity to pitted morningglory. Ammonium sulfate enhanced imazethapyr phytotoxicity the most at 40% whereas imazapyr was most effective at 100% relative humidity. Imazethapyr phytotoxicity was enhanced more by the combination of ammonium sulfate and imazapyr than with either alone regardless of relative humidity. Variations in temperature had little effect on phytotoxicity.

Field experiments were conducted over a 3-yr period at three locations to evaluate lactofen at rates of 110 to 220 g ai ha−1 applied POST in combination with chlorimuron at 9 g ae ha−1 for weed control in soybean. At St. Joseph in 1989 and Baton Rouge in 1990, lactofen at 110, 150, and 170 g ha−1 in combination with chlorimuron controlled prickly sida (3 to 5 cm) and entireleaf and pitted morningglory (5 to 13 cm) comparable with the full rate of lactofen at 220 g ha−1 plus chlorimuron and the standard treatment of acifluorfen at 280 g ae ha−1 plus bentazon at 560 g ae ha−1. Entireleaf morningglory and sicklepod control at Alexandria with lactofen at 110 to 170 g ha−1 plus chlorimuron was comparable with that from the full rate of lactofen plus chlorimuron and better than with acifluorfen plus bentazon. Weed control was reduced when soil moisture was deficient at treatment time or when prickly sida height was more than 5 cm and entireleaf morningglory, pitted morningglory, and sicklepod more than 15 cm. In related studies at St. Joseph, a reduced rate of lactofen (170 g ha−1) in combination with chlorimuron controlled prickly sida 98%, pitted morningglory 93%, and entireleaf morningglory 90% in 1988, which was comparable with the control from the full rate of lactofen plus chlorimuron and with acifluorfen plus bentazon.

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

In 12 trials in Louisiana, sicklepod, entireleaf morningglory, pitted morningglory, and hemp sesbania control 4 wk after planting was greater with trifluralin applied PPI followed by chlorimuron plus metribuzin applied PRE than with trifluralin plus flumetsulam applied PPI. Sicklepod control with these herbicides was similar 6 wk after application. No differences in soybean yield were noted. Chlorimuron applied POST following trifluralin applied PPI and metribuzin applied PRE or trifluralin plus flumetsulam applied PPI improved weed control and soybean yield compared with soil-applied herbicides alone. Excellent barnyardgrass control was obtained with all herbicide programs.

Research was conducted to determine an effective morningglory control system for cotton grown in central Texas, Prometryn applied PRE or directed-POST applications of methazole or methazole + MSMA did not always adequately control ivyleaf, entireleaf, and seedling sharppod morningglories. However, adequate control of the above species plus pitted morningglory was achieved with a management system that used a dinitroaniline applied PPI or PRE, prometryn applied PRE (0.9 kg ai ha−1), followed by methazole (0.56 kg ha−1) or methazole + MSMA (0.56 + 1.80 kg ha−1) directed POST to cotton 10 to 15 cm high.

Field experiments were established in 1989 and 1990 on silty clay and sandy loam soils to evaluate selective herbicides in combination with non-selective weed control measures in conventional and stale seedbed soybean production. Metribuzin PRE followed by chlorimuron POST controlled sicklepod better with paraquat than with glyphosate. A POST application of imazaquin increased sicklepod and pitted morningglory control by imazaquin PRE alone in a stale seedbed or tillage program. Pitted morningglory control with imazaquin PRE was lower with tillage than with glyphosate or paraquat combinations in a stale seedbed program. All metribuzin plus chlorimuron PRE treatments, whether conventional tillage or stale seedbed, controlled pitted morningglory more than 75%. Hemp sesbania control was above 80% with all metribuzin followed by chlorimuron or metribuzin plus chlorimuron PRE combinations, and less than 70% with all treatments containing imazaquin. Selective herbicides increased yield in stale seedbed when glyphosate or paraquat was added. Imazaquin PRE, imazaquin PRE followed by imazaquin POST, and metribuzin PRE followed by chlorimuron POST tank mixed with glyphosate or paraquat in a stale seedbed program increased yield compared with the same treatments used with tillage.

Field experiments were conducted in 1989 and 1990 on silty clay and sandy loam soils to evaluate weed control and soybean yield with early-April preplant incorporation of selective herbicides in stale seedbed soybean followed by non-selective weed control measures at planting. Metribuzin applied PPI early followed by chlorimuron POST coupled with either glyphosate or paraquat PRE controlled sicklepod, pitted morningglory, and hemp sesbania to the same extent of that treatment applied PPI at planting. All stale seedbed treatments with POST applications and glyphosate, paraquat, or tillage at planting controlled pitted morningglory over 70%. However, imazaquin or metribuzin applied PPI early without a POST treatment controlled sicklepod and pitted morningglory poorly. Frequently, applying PPI herbicides at planting increased control compared with early PPI applications, but this was overcome by POST treatments. Early stale seedbed applications of metribuzin did not result in more than 60% control of hemp sesbania, whereas metribuzin applied PPI at planting controlled over 85%. However, metribuzin plus chlorimuron controlled hemp sesbania at least 74%, regardless of application timing or tillage method, whereas no imazaquin treatment achieved over 65% control. All stale seedbed herbicide treatments increased soybean yield compared with the untreated stale seedbed check. Selective herbicide treatments with either non-selective herbicide in a stale seedbed program resulted in equivalent yield to PPI at planting treatments most often, except with metribuzin.

Soil-applied herbicides alone or followed by postemergence (POST) applications of CGA-277476 were evaluated for season-long weed control in soybean. Common cocklebur, hemp sesbania, and pitted morningglory control was not consistently improved with a soil-applied herbicide followed by a POST application of 79 g ai/ha CGA-277476. However, in locations with heavy weed pressure, a tank-mix of chlorimuron + metribuzin + trifluralin or imazaquin + pendimethalin followed by CGA-277476 improved common cocklebur, hemp sesbania, and pitted morningglory over CGA-277476 alone. Sequential application of CGA-277476 following SAN 582 improved weed control over SAN 582 alone. When weed pressure was not severe, there were no differences in control from CGA-277476 alone or following soil-applied herbicides. A POST application of CGA-277476 following soil-applied herbicides did not consistently improve soybean yield over CGA-277476 alone. Yield from soybean treated with SAN 582 was improved when CGA-277476 was applied. In contrast, when chlorimuron + metribuzin + trifluralin or imazaquin + pendimethalin were applied at planting, yield was similar with or without POST application of CGA-277476.