Field research was conducted in 1988 and 1989 to compare effects of clethodim, fenoxaprop, haloxyfop, and sethoxydim each applied singly and sequentially at full (1X) and reduced (0.5X) rates on barnyardgrass, bearded sprangletop, and rice. A tank-mixture of propanil plus thiobencarb (2.2 + 2.2 kg ha–1) applied sequentially was included as a standard treatment. Control of barnyardgrass and bearded sprangletop was equal to that of the standard treatment both years with 1X rates of clethodim and fenoxaprop, and with 0.5X rates of clethodim, fenoxaprop, and sethoxydim each applied after propanil; rice so treated produced high grain yields. In 1988, severe rice injury occurred after the second application of clethodim at the 0.5X rate, but rice recovered. Grass control costs were reduced 57% with a single application of fenoxaprop at the 1X rate compared with the standard treatment, but net returns were not different.

Field experiments were conducted to compare efficacy of BAS 514, bromoxynil, fenoxaprop, sethoxydim, and triclopyr with standard herbicides for barnyardgrass and bearded sprangletop control in rice at four locations. Sequential applications of BAS 514 and fenoxaprop, or propanil and sethoxydim consistently controlled barnyardgrass and bearded sprangletop as well as or better than standard treatments of propanil, thiobencarb, or pendimethalin alone or combined; and rice so treated produced high yields. BAS 514 applied postemergence alone, BAS 514 applied sequentially with sethoxydim, or BAS 514 tank mixed with propanil controlled barnyardgrass but not bearded sprangletop. Bromoxynil or triclopyr tank mixed with fenoxaprop or sethoxydim antagonized activity on barnyardgrass and bearded sprangletop. Combinations of fenoxaprop with BAS 514 or propanil consistently provided barnyardgrass and bearded sprangletop control and high yields.

Herbicide treatments of tank mixtures or sequential applications were applied at different growth stages and compared with standard treatments for control of barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. ♯ ECHCM], bearded sprangletop [Leptochloa fascicularis (Lam.) Gray ♯ LEFFA], and aquatic weeds in rice (Oryza sativa L. ‘Starbonnet’). Some herbicides injured rice more than the propanil (3’,4’-dichloropropionanilide) or molinate (S-ethyl hexahydro-1H-azepine-1-carbothioate) standards, but injury for all treatments was inconsequential. Postemergence tank mixture treatments that controlled barnyardgrass (two- to four-leaf stages), bearded sprangletop (two-leaf to tillering stages), and aquatic weeds better than standard treatments were propanil plus butachlor [N-(butoxymethyl)-2-chloro-2’,6,-diethylacetanilide], oxadiazon [2-tert-butyl-4(2,4-dichloro-5-isopropoxyphenyl)-δ2-1,3,4-oxadiazolin-5-one] thiobencarb {S-[(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]diethylcarbamothioate}, or pendimethalin [N-(1-ethylpropyl)-3,4-dimethyl-2,6-dinitrobenzenamine].

Herbicides were applied as single, sequential, or tank mixture treatments at different growth stages and rates and were compared with standard treatments for control of barnyardgrass, bearded sprangletop, elipta, spreading dayflower, and aquatic weeds in water- or dry-seeded rice. In water-seeded rice, thiobencarb granules applied alone or sequentially selectively controlled bearded sprangletop and aquatic weeds in the 1- to 4-leaf stages better than standards of propanil alone or mixed with bentazon. Fenoxaprop plus bentazon selectively controlled 1- to 4-leaf bearded sprangletop but failed to control 1- to 4-leaf aquatic weeds. In dry-seeded rice, treatments of fenoxaprop applied to tillering rice after earlier applications of preemergence thiobencarb or postemergence applications of propanil selectively controlled barnyardgrass, bearded sprangletop, eclipta, or spreading dayflower better than standards of propanil alone or mixed with thiobencarb. Fenoxaprop alone or in tank mixtures with other herbicides applied early postemergence either injured rice or failed to control weeds. Esprocarb applied preemergence controlled weeds but injured rice while early postemergence treatments of propanil plus esprocarb performed better than standard herbicide treatments.

Effects of bearded sprangletop interference durations on Lemont and Newbonnet rice cultivars were studied. Interference durations of 63, 70, and 130 d after rice emergence reduced Lemont grain yields 11, 21, and 50%, respectively, and lowered Newbonnet grain yields 11, 13, and 37%, respectively. Interference durations of 21 to 56 d after emergence did not reduce grain yields of either cultivar. Bearded sprangletop grown in Lemont rice produced more biomass than that in Newbonnet. Season-long interference reduced plant height and straw dry weight of Lemont more than that of Newbonnet.

Field and greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate selected PRE-applied herbicides for sprangletop control. In greenhouse studies, oxadiazon and dithiopyr provided excellent (> 89%) red sprangletop (L. filiformis) control. Pendimethalin and metolachlor + atrazine provided good (80–89%) to excellent control for 6 mo and 2 mo during studies 1 and 2, respectively. Isoxaben and atrazine provided poor (< 70%) control during both greenhouse studies. In field studies, good to excellent bearded sprangletop (L. fascicularis) control followed dithiopyr, pendimethalin, metolachlor, and metolachlor + atrazine treatments. Dithiopyr at 0.8 kg ai/ha provided best (> 95%) sprangletop control throughout the 6-mo testing period. Under field conditions, control was inconsistent following oxadiazon with good to excellent control during one study and poor control in another study. Better or equal control than metolachlor + atrazine followed dithiopyr, pendimethalin, and metolachlor alone treatments. Oxadiazon also provided similar or better control than metolachlor+atrazine in three of four studies. Over all studies, dithiopyr provided best sprangletop control, followed by metolachlor, metolachlor + atrazine, pendimethalin, and oxadiazon. Isoxaben and atrazine treatments provided poorest or inconsistent sprangletop control.

Barnyardgrass and bearded sprangletop are severe weed pests in rice in the southern United States. These weeds are controlled with standard herbicide programs of propanil alone or propanil combined with pendimethalin or thiobencarb. However, new herbicides, such as fenoxaprop, may be effective alternatives for grass weed control in rice. Fenoxaprop at 0.17 kg ai/ha applied postemergence in programs with propanil, thiobencarb, or pendimethalin controlled barnyardgrass and bearded sprangletop in rice and performed as well as or better than standard treatments of propanil with thiobencarb or pendimethalin. Rice yielded well, and grain was of high quality.