Retention, absorption, translocation, and metabolism of propanil (3′,4′-dichloropropionanilide) in tolerant wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ‘Era’) and susceptible green foxtail [Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. ♯3 SETVI] were studied to determine the basis of selectivity. Green foxtail retained 7.7 times more spray on a mg/g fresh weight basis than did wheat. Absorption of 14C-propanil by green foxtail was greater than by wheat during most of the 48-h uptake period, but differences in absorption were not large enough for absorption to be a major selectivity factor. Translocation of foliar-applied 14C-propanil was limited in both species; after 48 h, 96.7% of absorbed 14C remained in the treated wheat leaf and 99.7% remained in the treated green foxtail leaf. Limited metabolism of 14C-propanil occurred in green foxtail, with only 6.4% of extractable 14C-propanil metabolized to dichlorolactanilide and unknown 14C-compounds during a 72-h period. Wheat metabolized 65.8% of the extractable 14C-propanil to dichloroaniline and unknown 14C compounds by 72 h after treatment. The results of this research indicate that spray retention and propanil metabolism are the major factors involved in wheat tolerance and green foxtail susceptibility to propanil.

The relative sensitivity of various crops and weeds to celery root residue incorporated into soil was determined in greenhouse experiments. A range of concentrations was used to determine the percentage of celery residue needed to cause a 50% reduction in plant growth (I50). The most sensitive weed was spiny amaranth and the least sensitive was common purslane. The most sensitive crop was radish and the least sensitive was celery. Selectivity was calculated as crop I50/weed I50 and varied from a maximum of 13 for celery and spiny amaranth to a low of 0.4 for radish and common purslane. Selective weed suppression might be obtained when celery residue is present.

Field experiments were conducted to determine the effect of CGA184927 rate, weed growth stage, and tank mixes with various broadleaf herbicides on the control of green foxtail and wild oat in spring wheat. CGA 184927 controlled green foxtail and wild oat equally well when applied at the 2- to 3- or 4- to 5-leaf stages. Green foxtail and wild oat were controlled at similar rates of CGA 184927 but the application rate giving > 90% control ranged from 22 to 90 g/ha over locations and years, indicating that CGA 184927 efficacy is sensitive to environmental conditions. CGA 184927 in tank mixtures was compatible with bromoxynil, clopyralid, and 2,4-D ester. However, tank mixing with metsulfuron or dicamba reduced activity on green foxtail and wild oat. Broadleaf herbicide activity on kochia and redroot pigweed was not reduced when such herbicides were tank-mixed with CGA 184927. Spring wheat tolerated 120 g/ha of CGA 184927. CGA 184927 provides growers with another herbicide option to control green foxtail and wild oat in wheat.

Dinitroaniline herbicides are major herbicides used to control annual grass weeds in cool-season turfgrasses. At least three herbicides, benefin, pendimethalin, and trifluralin are labeled preemergence to control weeds in established turfgrass. Prodiamine could be a competitive product. Benefin at 2.2 to 3.4 kg ai/ha, pendimethalin at 1.7 to 3.4 kg ai/ha, prodiamine at 0.6 to 1.7 kg ai/ ha, and benefin plus trifluralin at 1.1 plus 0.6 to 2.3 plus 1.1 kg ai/ha effectively control many annual grass weeds, including large and smooth crabgrass, yellow and green foxtail, barnyardgrass, goosegrass, fall panicum, and annual bluegrass. Most dinitroaniline herbicides provide residual preemergence weed control for the entire growing season. In general, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, red fescue, and other cool-season turfgrasses tolerate most of these herbicides, although higher-than-normal rates of any dinitroaniline herbicide could restrict root growth and cause stand thinning in turfgrass species.

Although drought-stressing green foxtail before and up to 1 d after herbicide application did not reduce control with fluazifop-P in growth chamber trials, extending the drought stress for 2 to 4 d after herbicide application reduced control of green foxtail with fluazifop-P by 40 and 57%, respectively. Absorption and translocation of 14C-fluazifop-P 1, 4, and 10 d after herbicide application were similar between nonstressed and drought-stressed plants. Drought-stressed green foxtail converted slightly more of the parent acid of fluazifop-P to polar conjugates 4 d after herbicide application than did nonstressed plants, but these differences in metabolism were probably not adequate to explain large differences in efficacy.

Green and yellow foxtail [Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. #3 SETVI and S. glauca (L.) Beauv. #SETLU] seed germination after 14 days were similar at 15, 20, and 25 C. However, at 10, 30, and 35 C, green foxtail seed germination was higher than that of yellow foxtail, indicating that temperature extremes influenced green foxtail seed germination less than that of yellow foxtail. Seed germination of both species was initiated at about the same time; however, green foxtail seed germinated 1 to 2 days faster than yellow foxtail at all temperatures. After 72 h in −4 bars osmotic potential solution at 25 C, green foxtail seed germination was 70% compared to 12% for yellow foxtail, suggesting that green foxtail seed may germinate more rapidly than yellow foxtail seed in soils with limited moisture.

Experiments were conducted in 1982, 1983, and 1984 to determine whether herbicides can effectively control weeds in annual statice (Limonium sinuatum Mill.) without reducing the marketability of the crop. A greenhouse evaluation of chlorpropham (1-methylethyl 3-chlorophenylcarbamate), napropamide [N,N-diethyl-2-(1-naphthalenyloxy)propanamide], EPTC (S-ethyl dipropyl carbamothioate), oxadiazon {3-[2,4-dichloro-5-(1-methylethoxy)phenyl]-5-(1,1-dimethylethyi)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-(3H)-one}, and trifluralin [2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenamine] indicated that preemergence applications of the latter three herbicides resulted in the most effective weed control and least statice injury. Oxadiazon was the most effective for broadleaf and grass ed control in field-grown statice. Yield and quality were greatest in oxadiazon-treated plots and exceeded those of the handweeded controls. Annual statice was most sensitive to trifluralin.

Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted at the Lacombe Research Station to evaluate mixtures of sethoxydim and fluazifop on green foxtail, wild oat, wheat, and barley in canola. In both environments the two herbicides interacted on the grass species in a synergistic manner. Many of the observed responses to mixtures of sethoxydim and fluazifop were 100% greater than those expected assuming an additive interaction between the herbicides. Mixtures with at least 80 g ha-1 of sethoxydim and 80 g ha-1 of fluazifop controlled more than 90% of green foxtail, wild oat, wheat, and barley under field conditions. These experiments indicate that the sethoxydim/fluazifop mixture is both complementary and synergistic. The mixture may allow reduced herbicide application rates and therefore reduced herbicide costs and less potential for negative environmental impact.

Fresnel lenses are used to concentrate solar radiation to a line or point. A linear Fresnel lens (0.91 by 1.52 m, 0.74-m focal length, 0.01- by 1.52-m line focus) was investigated as a method for weed control. Field experiments were conducted to assess the effect of Fresnel lens concentrated solar radiation at various exposure times, stages of plant growth, and soil surface moisture conditions. On a dry soil surface exposure times of 1 to 10 s at 290 C resulted in control of redroot pigweed from 100% for a 1-s exposure at the cotyledon stage to 89% for a 10-s exposure at the 10-leaf stage. Redroot pigweed and kochia control was similar at exposures of 3 to 10 s, but less for kochia at 1 and 2 s. Green foxtail control was less than that of kochia and redroot pigweed. Control was reduced on a moist compared to a dry soil surface. Concentrated solar radiation holds the greatest potential for control of small dicot weeds on a dry soil surface.

Greenhouse and field studies were conducted to examine the interaction of sethoxydim or fluazifop-P tank mixed with chlorsulfuron or thiameturon for selective weed control in safflower. Under greenhouse conditions, the addition of chlorsulfuron to sethoxydim or fluazifop-P slightly improved the control of green foxtail above that achieved with either herbicide alone. Control of wild oat and wild mustard was similar with the tank mixes and each herbicide alone. In the field, control of wild oat with sethoxydim or fluazifop-P was not altered by adding chlorsulfuron or thiameturon in tank mixes. Similarly, control of common lambsquarters and wild mustard with chlorsulfuron or thiameturon was not affected by adding either sethoxydim or fluazifop-P in tank mixes. Plant height, date of flowering, seed yield, and quality data indicated that safflower tolerated these herbicides applied alone or in combination. Sethoxydim or fluazifop-P tank mixed with chlorsulfuron or thiameturon provide a postemergent alternative for selective control of grass and broadleaf weeds in safflower.

Field experiments were conducted for 3 yr to determine the effect of various biological and physical factors on the operation of the weed-sensing Detectspray system. Plant detection is achieved by sensors measuring differential reflectance of red and near-infrared wavelengths of light from green plants, crop residues, and soil. Weed detection was greatly reduced 70 to 80 min after sunrise and before sunset when operated at lat 50°N because of reduced solar irradiance. Tall, dense-standing crop stubble limited detection of small weeds at the soil surface. Weed detection varied with plant species. Canola with three to four leaves consistently was detected, but wheat or green foxtail usually required five to six leaves to be detected. Small weeds were detected if present at densities greater than 70 plants m−2. Growers and commercial applicators need to be aware of the limitations of the Detectspray system to use it effectively to control weeds with concurrent reductions in herbicide use.

Two field experiments were conducted between 1990 and 1992 under sprinkler irrigation at the Research and Extension Center, Torrington, WY to determine the influence of mixed densities and durations of kochia and green foxtail interference in sugarbeet. Sugarbeet root yield and top weight generally decreased as densities of green foxtail and kochia increased whether alone or in combination. Reductions in sugarbeet root yield and above ground biomass from mixed densities of kochia and green foxtail were additive at the low and intermediate density but less than additive at the high density of either species. Sugarbeet root yield decreased as the duration of interference after sugarbeet emergence from a mixed density of kochia and green foxtail increased. Since sugarbeet plants were irrigated to avoid water stress and adequate nutrients were applied, it appears that kochia and green foxtail interfered with sugarbeet primarily for light, based on light and height measurements. Season-long as well as duration of interference did not show any significant effect on sucrose content. Based on regression analysis the lowest densities of kochia and green foxtail required to reduce root yield were approximately 0.3 and 0.06 plants/m of row, respectively. The minimum duration of time that 0.5 kochia and 3.0 green foxtail plants/m of row can interfere with sugarbeets before root yield is economically reduced was approximately 3.5 wk after sugarbeet emergence.

Intensive surveys were conducted in 2 fields in eastern Nebraska to determine the spatial stability of common sunflower, velvetleaf, green and yellow foxtail, and hemp dogbane over 4 yr (1992 to 1995). The 1st field was planted to soybean in 1992 and corn in 1993, 1994, and 1995. The 2nd field was planted to corn in 1992 and 1994 and soybean in 1993 and 1995. Weed density was sampled prior to postemergence herbicide application at approximately 800 locations per year in each field on a regular 7 m grid. The same locations were sampled every year. Weed density at locations between the sample sites was determined by linear triangulation interpolation. Weed seedling distribution was significantly aggregated, with large weed-free areas in both fields. Common sunflower, velvetleaf, and hemp dogbane patches were very persistent in diameter in the east-west and north-south directions and in location and area over 4 yr in the 1st field. Foxtail distribution and density continuously increased in each of the 4 yr in the first field and decreased in the 2nd field. A geographic information system was used to overlay maps from each year for a species. This showed that 36% of the sampled area was continuously free of common sunflower, 62.5% was free of hemp dogbane, and 11.5% was free of velvetleaf in the 1st field, but only 1% was free of velvetleaf in the 2nd field. The persistence of broadleaf weed patches suggests that weed seedling distributions mapped in one year are good predictors of future seedling distributions. Improved and more efficient sampling methods are needed.

Experiments were conducted to determine the influence of nitrogen (N) fertility and winter wheat cultivars on weed infestations in a winter wheat-ecofallow sorghum-fallow rotation near North Platte, NE. Centurk 78 and Lancota winter wheat suppressed density and growth of barnyardgrass and green foxtail significantly more than Eagle winter wheat before and after wheat harvest. Increasing N rates applied to winter wheat decreased annual grass weed population and weed yields. However, 67 and 101 kg N ha−1 reduced winter wheat grain yields compared to 34 kg N ha−1. Plots treated at 2.8 plus 0.3 kg ai ha−1 of atrazine plus paraquat 31 d after wheat harvest had more barnyardgrass before grain sorghum planting in 1983 than plots treated 17 d after wheat harvest but the reverse was true for green foxtail after grain sorghum emergence in 1984. Increasing N rates from 34 kg ha−1 to 67 and 101 kg ha−1 in the previous wheat crop decreased weed density before and after grain sorghum planting. There was no advantage in weed control in the grain sorghum from applying N to winter wheat in the fall vs. spring.

The effect of tillage systems on depth of emergence and densities of giant and green foxtail under different environmental and cropping conditions were evaluated from 1985 to 1987 at Arlington, Hancock, and Janesville, WI. Mean emergence depths in no-till were the shallowest, followed by chisel plow and conventional tillage at each location. At least 40% of the giant and green foxtail plants emerged from the upper 1 cm of soil in no-till compared to about 25% in chisel plow and less than 15% in conventional tillage. As many as 25% of the plants emerged from greater than 4 cm in conventional tillage compared to about 10% in chisel plow and less than 5% in no-till. Seedlings emerged from greater depths in a loamy sand than in a silt loam soil regardless of tillage system. At Arlington, green foxtail was the dominant species in conventional tillage, while giant foxtail dominated in chisel plow and no-till. Foxtail densities were greater in chisel plow and no-till than in conventional tillage at all three locations.

Experiments were conducted in 1991 and 1992 to evaluate annual grass and broadleaf weed control with bromoxynil applied alone and with graminicides. Bromoxynil controlled velvetleaf better than entireleaf morningglory and controlled both species better than sicklepod. Mixing bromoxynil with fluazifop-P, quizalofop-P, and sethoxydim reduced control of barnyardgrass, green foxtail, large crabgrass, and shattercane. Control of broadleaf signalgrass with quizalofop-P was reduced by bromoxynil. Annual grass control with clethodim was not affected by bromoxynil.

The ability of Medicago sativa to suppress weed growth may provide a viable alternative to chemical weed control and allow crop producers to reduce herbicide inputs. Quantitative information regarding the suppressive effect of M. sativa on weed populations in current cropping systems is lacking. A survey was conducted in Manitoba, Canada, in 1993 and 1994 to investigate weed populations in commercial cereal fields that had been preceded by either M. sativa hay or cereal grain crops. A total of 117 fields were surveyed; approximately half from each field type. Principle component analysis indicated that the inclusion of M. sativa in crop rotations resulted in weed communities different from those of continuous cereal fields. Naturally occurring populations of Avena fatua, Cirsium arvense, Brassica kaber, and Galium aparine were lower in cereal fields that had previously contained M. sativa than in cereal fields that had been preceded by a cereal crop. Lower field uniformity values for C. arvense and Avena fatua indicated that these weeds were also more patchy in the M. sativa rotations. Population differences between field types were nonsignificant for Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album, and Polygonum convolvulus, and although populations of Taraxacum officinale and Thlaspi arvense were greater in M. sativa/cereal fields than in continuous cereal crops. No consistent effect of field type on Setaria viridis populations was observed. These results show that M. sativa effectively suppressed some, but not all, of the weeds found in the study area. Including M. sativa hay crops in crop rotations can be part of an integrated weed management strategy for weeds such as A. fatua, B. kaber, and C. arvense.

The dynamics of buried weed seeds in ridge-tilled corn (Zea mays L.) and soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] were studied in Minnesota. Soils subjected to continuous corn production harbored at least twice as many buried weed seeds as soils under corn/soybean rotations. Truncation of ridges at the time of crop sowing removed 31 to 37% of the buried weed seeds from ridges of continuous corn, and 80 to 100% of those from ridges of the corn/soybean rotations. From 14 to 36% of weed seeds originally in ridges were lost through germination either on the ridge or in the furrow. Ridging soil at layby stimulated germination of numerous weed seeds. The resulting population of small weeds eventually produced up to 1000 seeds/m2 in continuous corn but only about 100 seeds/m2 in corn/soybean rotations, thoroughly replenishing the soil seed reserve in both cropping systems. After 7 to 8 yr of good to excellent weed control with herbicides, crop yield losses in the absence of herbicides were 10 to 27% in continuous corn, and 0% for corn and 6 to 10% for soybeans in corn/soybean rotations.

Studies were conducted to determine the usefulness of HOE-39866 (HOE-00661) in chemical fallow systems on the Canadian prairies. HOE-39866 at 0.5 to 1.0 kg ai/ha controlled Russian thistle, kochia, green foxtail, wild oats, and wheat comparable to paraquat, glyphosate, and glyphosate plus the isopropylamine salt of 2,4-D. However, control of barley with HOE-39866 was unacceptable. HOE-39866 was compatible in tank mixtures with ammonium sulfate, paraquat, chlorsulfuron, and metsulfuron. Ammonium sulfate improved weed control when HOE-39866 was applied at 0.25 kg/ha but not at 0.75 kg/ha. Adding paraquat at 0.07 to 0.21 kg ai/ha to HOE-39866 improved control of grass species over HOE-39866 alone. Adding chlorsulfuron and metsulfuron to HOE-39866 provided greater initial control of certain species as well as residual control of many weeds. HOE-39866 alone or in conjunction with other herbicides is an alternative to the herbicides used in chemical fallow systems.

Imidazolinone-resistant and -tolerant corn hybrids give growers a new weed control option. Field experiments were conducted in 1993 and 1994 to evaluate imazethapyr for controlling weeds in no-till corn planted into winter wheat stubble in a winter wheat–ecofallow corn rotation. Imidazolinone-tolerant (IT) and imidazolinone-resistant (IR) corn were protected genetically from injury by imazethapyr that was applied preplant, preemergence, or postemergence to ‘Pioneer Brand 3417,’ ‘Pioneer Brand 3417 IR,’ ‘ICI Seeds 8532,’ and ‘ICI Seeds 8532 IT’ hybrids. No difference in corn injury occurred between IR and IT corn. Imazethapyr applied to resistant or tolerant corn hybrids could be used to control weeds in ecofallow corn. Imazethapyr at 35 or 70 g ai/ha controlled triazine-resistant kochia better than the standard herbicide treatment of metolachlor plus cyanazine.