The relative effectiveness of eight acetanilide herbicides for controlling annual weeds in processing peas (Pisum sativum L.) was evaluated in field studies and the susceptibility of peas to injury from these herbicides was studied in both the field and greenhouse. Alachlor [2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)acetanilide] was the most phytotoxic to peas grown in washed silica sand in the greenhouse when the herbicides were applied at concentrations of 2 and 8 mg/L. Field trials conducted over a 2-yr period and simulated rainfall experiments in the greenhouse demonstrated that the phytotoxicity to peas by acetanilide herbicides applied preemergence at 2.2 and 4.5 kg/ha was greatly influenced by subsequent rainfall. When 2.5 cm of simulated rainfall were applied immediately after herbicide application, pea injury increased. Injury to peas was avoided in the field by delaying alachlor application at 2.2 kg/ha until peas began to emerge. This treatment also gave excellent control of annual grass weeds. Greenhouse studies demonstrated that injury to peas by all eight acetanilide herbicides at 2.2 and 4.5 kg/ha could be avoided by delaying application until pea emergence. Alachlor, propachlor (2-chloro-N-isopropylacetanilide), and metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] gave slightly superior weed control than butachlor [N-(butoxymethyl)diethylacetanilide] and H 22234 [N-chloroacetyl-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-glycine ethyl ester].

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of three organosilicone surfactants (Silwet L-77®, Silwet® 408, and Sylgard® 309) and two blends of organosilicone surfactants with conventional adjuvants (Dyne-Amic® and Kinetic®) on the rainfastness of primisulfuron in velvetleaf. Four conventional adjuvants, Rigo Oil Concentrate, Agri-Dex®, methylated soybean oil, and X-77® were selected for comparison. Primisulfuron at 40 g ai/ha was applied alone or with the organosilicones, blends, or X-77 at 0.25% (v/v); the other adjuvants were tested at 1% (v/v). Simulated rainfall (1.25 cm/0.5 h) was applied at 0.25, 0.5, 1, or 2 h after treatment. Control ratings were made at 5-d intervals and shoot fresh weights were recorded 20 DAT. The organosilicone surfactants significantly increased the rainfastness of primisulfuron, even when simulated rainfall was applied at 0.25 or 0.5 h after treatment. Rigo Oil Concentrate and Kinetic also increased rainfastness when rainfall was applied 1 h after treatment. Differences among adjuvants were not as apparent when rainfall was applied 2 h after treatment. Regardless of the timing of simulated rainfall after treatment, there were significant differences between treatments and nontreated check; however, control was not acceptable in several instances.

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of a 2.5-cm simulated rainfall 0.05, 0.25, 0.5,1, 3, 6, and 24 h after POST applications of AC 263,222 to sicklepod. Fresh weight reductions were directly related to increasing AC 263,222 rates and rain-free intervals. Fresh weight reductions with 9, 18, 36, 54, and 72 g ai/ha AC 263,222 were 32, 47, 55, 59, and 67%, respectively, with the rain-free treatment. A simulated rainfall 0.05 h after POST application lowered fresh weight reductions with 9, 18, 36, 54, and 72 g/ha AC 263,222 to 5, 7, 19, 23, and 28%, respectively, of the untreated control. As AC 263,222 rates increased, a simulated rainfall shortly after POST application was less detrimental. At 18 g/ha of AC 263,222, a 3-h rain-free interval was necessary for fresh weight reductions equivalent to the rain-free control. As the rate of AC 263,222 increased to 54 g/ha, the rain-free interval for fresh weight reductions equivalent to the rain-free control was reduced to 1 h. Radiolabeled studies indicated that at 3 h after application an equivalent amount of 14C was accumulated in the plant as compared with the rain-free control. The correlation coefficients for fresh weight reductions and 14C in the plant were r = 0.53, 0.75, 0.68, 0.74, and 0.70 at rates of 9, 18, 36, 54, and 72 g/ha AC 263,222, respectively.

Experiments in controlled-environment chambers indicated that high temperature, 30 C, increased the phytotoxicity of bromoxynil (3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile) to wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L. # SINAR) and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L. # AMARE) compared to low temperature, 10 C, during and after treatment. Bromoxynil phytotoxicity generally was higher at relative humidities of 90 to 95% compared to 40 to 60%, but relative humidity had less influence on bromoxynil phytotoxicity than did temperature. A simulated rain immediately after bromoxynil treatment reduced control of both species, but the reduction was of no practical importance for wild mustard. The data indicate that wild mustard and redroot pigweed control would be reduced by bromoxynil application during a period of low temperatures or to plants in advanced growth stages.

Foliar absorption of imazaquin {ammonium salt of 2-[4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid} following postemergence application was not necessary for control of sicklepod (Cassia obtusifolia L. # CASOB). Application of imazaquin to the soil resulted in control similar to application to the soil plus foliage. A 0.6-cm simulated rainfall 0.05 h after postemergence application of 140, 280, or 560 g ae/ha of imazaquin did not reduce sicklepod control. Foliar absorption was necessary for control with postemergence application of DPX-F6025 {ethyl ester of 2-[[[[(4-chloro-6-methoxypyrimidin-2-yl)amino]-carbonyl] amino] sulfonyl] benzoate}. Application of DPX-F6025 to the foliage resulted in control similar to application to the soil plus foliage. Sicklepod control resulting from postemergence application of 18 g ae/ha of DPX-F6025 was reduced when 0.6 cm of simulated rainfall was received 1 h after application but not when received 4 h after application. With application of 9 g/ha of DPX-F6025, simulated rainfall 24 h after application reduced control. Sicklepod control resulting from postemergence application of sublethal rates of imazaquin and DPX-F6025 was greater when plants were exposed to 3 or more days of 24/18 C day/night temperature than when grown at a continuous 32/24 C temperature. Exposure to low temperature for 3 days immediately before imazaquin application resulted in greater enhancement of control than did exposure for 3 days immediately after application. The reverse was found with DPX-F6025. Control obtained with both imazaquin and DPX-F6025 increased as the number of days of exposure to low temperature increased from 3 to 6. Enhancement of control with low temperature diminished as the herbicide application rate increased.

Alternaria cassiae and Colletotrichum truncatum are bioherbicidal pathogens of sicklepod, and hemp sesbania, respectively. The effects of simulated rainfall followed by 12 h simulated dew application, immediately or delayed by 1 to 4 h, on disease severity and weed control were studied for each pathogen on its weed host under greenhouse conditions. After each simulated rainfall event, treated plants were placed in a dew chamber for 12 h. Regardless of rainfall amount and/or timing, only slight differences occurred on A. cassiae disease severity and sicklepod control (85 to 100% for both parameters). However, when similar tests were imposed on C. truncatum, disease severity and hemp sesbania control were highly variable, ranging from 5 to 100%. Regardless of rainfall amount, disease development and control of hemp sesbania were greatly reduced (60%) when dew application was delayed by only 1 h following inoculation, regardless of rainfall treatment. Rainfall at 1.27 and 2.58 cm had little effect on disease development and control in hemp sesbania, but the effect of transfer time to dew application exhibited a greater role on these parameters. Thus the time between bioherbicide application and dew application was more important for C. truncatum than for A. cassiae. These results indicate that rainfall amounts and the timing of dew application caused differential effects on disease severity and weed control after application of these bioherbicides to their target weeds.

The effects of time of precipitation and soil type on runoff losses of cyanazine and metolachlor were studied using a tilted-bed, microplot system. Two silt loam soils, Bosket and Dubbs, and a Sharkey silty clay were evaluated. Rainfall (22 mm h−1) was simulated at 0, 2, and 14 days after treatment (DAT). Time of precipitation did not impact herbicide losses or any of the runoff parameters evaluated in this study. Water runoff occurred sooner and in greater quantities from the surfaces of Bosket and Dubbs silt loam soils than from the surface of Sharkey silty clay. Runoff losses of cyanazine did not vary by soil type. Soil drying produced large cracks in Sharkey silty clay, which greatly reduced runoff in this soil. Combined runoff and leachate losses were highest from Dubbs silt loam. Runoff losses of metolachlor were not affected by soil type. However, regression analyses indicated that time of precipitation and soil type interacted to affect initial metolachlor concentration. At 14 DAT, initial metolachlor concentration was highest in runoff from Sharkey soil. Time of precipitation ranked with respect to initial metolachlor concentration in runoff from Bosket and Dubbs silt loam soils were 0 > 2 > 14 DAT and 0 = 2 > 14 DAT, respectively.

Although the effectiveness of vegetative filter strips (VFS) for reducing herbicide runoff is well documented, a comprehensive review of the literature does not exist. The objectives of this article are to denote the methods developed for evaluating herbicide retention in VFS; ascertain the efficacy of VFS regarding abating herbicide runoff; identify parameters that affect herbicide retention in VFS; review the environmental fate of herbicides retained by VFS; and identify future research needs. The retention of herbicide runoff by VFS has been evaluated in natural rainfall, simulated rainfall, and simulated run-on experiments. Parameters affecting herbicide retention in VFS include width of VFS, area ratio, species established in the VFS, time after establishment of the VFS, antecedent moisture content, nominal herbicide inflow concentration, and herbicide properties. Generally, subsequent transport of herbicides retained by VFS is reduced relative to adjacent cultivated soil because of enhanced sorption and degradation in the former.