Speleothem fluorescence can provide insights into past vegetation dynamics and stalagmite chronology. However, its origin and especially the formation of fluorescent laminations in stalagmites are poorly understood. We conducted a year-long monthly monitoring of drip water fluorescence in La Vallina Cave (northern Iberian Peninsula) and compared the results to drip water chemistry and active speleothems from the same sites. Drip waters were analyzed using fluorescence spectroscopy and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). The resulting five-component model indicates contributions from vegetation, microbial activity, and bedrock. Intra-site fluorescence variability is mainly influenced by changes in overlying vegetation, water reservoir time, and respiration rates. Contrary to prevailing views, we find no systematic increase in drip water fluorescence during rainy conditions across drip sites and seasonal variations in drip water fluorescence are absent at a location where present-day speleothem layers form. Our findings challenge the notion of a higher abundance of humic-like fluorescence during the rainy season as the primary cause for layer formation and suggest additional controls on drip water fluorescence, such as bedrock interaction and microbial reprocessing. We also propose that growth rate may control the dilation of the fluorescence signal in stalagmites, indicating other potential mechanisms for fluorescent layer formation.

Banded sphalerite from Bleiberg, Austria, contains ubiquitous relics of Fe-thiosulphates and Fesulphites up to 50 μm in size. Zn, Pb, Ni and As form admixtures ranging from a few to 12 wt.% in these compounds. It is suggested that banded sphalerite is formed by a replacement of banded thiosulphate and thiosulphite precursors. This suggestion is supported by a significant admixture of Fe 0.41-8.20 wt.%) and the presence of goethite inclusions in banded sphalerite. In contrast, crystalline ZnS intergrown with the banded variety is Ni-free and contains only 0.06-0.14 wt.% Fe.

Banded pyrite contains inclusions of Fe-thiosulphate up to 200 μm in size. These thiosulphates contain (wt.%): 0.09-1.92 Zn, and 2.67−4.02 Pb. Pyrite formed by replacement (breakdown) of Fethiosulphate precursors contains 3.69-3.83 wt.% Pb.

It is suggested that banded sulphides precipitate from solutions carrying sulphur with mixed valances, and crystalline sulphides grow from solutions where the dominant dissolved sulphur is in the form of sulphidic anions.

Weeds are often more competitive with crops at higher soil nutrient levels. This can result in increased dependency on herbicides and tillage to maintain adequate weed control. A number of studies have shown weeds accumulate higher concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium than crops, thus depleting soil nutrient levels more quickly and reducing crop yield. Understanding basic mechanisms and timing of nutrient uptake in weeds and crops can lead to fertilization strategies which will enhance the competitive ability of crops while reducing interference from weeds. Such strategies can include deep band application of fertilizers to the crop row, as opposed to broadcast applications. Banding techniques also reduce the potential for nitrate contamination of surface or groundwater. The addition of nitrification inhibitors or increasing the proportion of nitrogen as ammonium or urea in fertilizer mixtures can restrict growth of ammonium- or urea-sensitive weeds. The timing of fertilizer applications can take advantage of maximal rates of nutrient uptake into crop roots at specific developmental stages. In addition, nutrient use efficiency can be enhanced by choosing appropriate crop cultivars, maintaining effective weed control practices, or altering row spacing or seeding rate to increase accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in crops.

The fate of field-applied herbicides, including losses in surface runoff with water and sediment, is highly dependent on herbicide properties. The two most important properties are soil adsorption and persistence. Adsorption affects the potential for a herbicide to be lost primarily with sediment, runoff water, or possibly leaching water. Solubility, often though not always inversely correlated with adsorption, is of secondary importance, although low solubility can limit transport with water. Persistence affects the time available to be lost in runoff. Studies have shown that for soil-applied herbicides; extraction into runoff water or movement with sediment takes place from a thin soil layer at the surface. In addition, for herbicides studied, there is little interaction between surface crop residue and applied herbicides, and washoff from the residue readily occurs with small amounts of rainfall. Runoff loss equals the volume of carrier (water or sediment) times the concentration in that carrier; therefore, practices that reduce either, or both, can reduce losses. Rate of application has been directly related to concentration and therefore loss. Reducing rate, such as by banding, soil incorporation, and avoidance of application to crop residue reduce losses. The choice of herbicide and herbicide formulation, in conjunction with application technology, as they affect properties, rate, and placement, play a large role in determining runoff loss. Runoff losses of herbicides that are strongly adsorbed and therefore transported mainly with sediment can be reduced by erosion control; runoff volume reduction can reduce losses with water of moderately to weakly adsorbed herbicides. Conservation tillage has potential to reduce both runoff and erosion. Timing of application relative to expected intense storms, both in the short and long term, can reduce the potential for runoff. If possible to determine thresholds, herbicide use could be avoided if weed infestation is below the economic effect level. Buffer or filter strips have the potential to reduce transport of herbicides lost from fields to surface water resources.

The effect of season-long interference by bands of weeds growing only between rows (BR) on field corn yields has not been reported before or compared with weedy and weed-free (i.e., weeded) plots or bands of weeds growing only in row (IR). The null hypothesis of this research was that field corn yields would be ranked as weed-free > BR weedy only > IR weedy only > weedy (IR + BR weedy) in response to season-long weed interference by these four treatments. Weeds growing as bands closest to field corn were expected to reduce field corn yields more than those growing as bands further away between field corn rows. Field corn yield response to these four weed interference treatments was studied in Missouri for 4 yr. In late summer, most weed ground cover consisted of giant foxtail, the chief weed present, and common waterhemp, a lesser weed. Observed field corn yields averaged for 4 yr were ranked as weed-free > IR weedy only > BR weedy only > weedy. Field corn yields of the IR weedy only, BR weedy only, and weedy treatments averaged 76, 63, and 41%, respectively, of the weed-free treatment (=7,820 kg/ha). In two of the 4 yr, field corn yield of the IR weedy treatment exceeded that of the BR weedy treatment, whereas these treatments could not be statistically distinguished from one another in the other 2 yr. These research results refute the null hypothesis and demonstrate that it may be more critical to control BR than IR weeds, although controlling both BR and IR weeds maximized field corn yields.

Reduced-rate zone herbicide application (ZHA) consists of banding reduced herbicide rates between crop rows (≤ full broadcast registered rate, 1×) and banding much reduced herbicide rates over crop rows (≪ 1×). The objective of this research was to compare the mechanically complicated dual-boom ZHA sprayer with a much simpler, single-boom ZHA sprayer for controlling giant foxtail and common waterhemp in field corn in 2003 and 2004 in Missouri. The dual-boom ZHA sprayer employed two different herbicide solutions, which were propelled through two booms on separate sprayer systems to apply different herbicide rates over in-row and between-row areas while maintaining similar carrier volumes and coverage through two booms. In contrast, the single-boom ZHA sprayer is a mechanically simpler system in which both herbicide rates and carrier volumes were varied across one boom over in-row (IR) and between-row (BR) areas. In single-boom ZHA, two different nozzle tips were alternated on one boom over in-row and between-row areas, the number of nozzles per boom was doubled, and the distance between nozzles was halved compared with a conventional sprayer boom. In a 2-yr study, these different ZHA sprayers were used to apply preemergence atrazine + S-metolachlor between and over crop rows at various reduced rates (1× = 2,240 + 1,750 g ai/ha, respectively). Among all single- and dual-boom ZHA sprayer treatments and the weed-free checks, corn yields and in-row total weed cover were statistically indistinguishable for both years and for between-row total weed cover in 1 of 2 yr. In both years, a single-boom ZHA system prevented yield loss from competing weeds as effectively as the dual-boom ZHA system. The new single-boom ZHA system is a mechanically simple, inexpensive, generic alternative for reducing herbicide rates and lowering input costs.

In previous research, use of PRE soil residual herbicides was reduced 50% in no-till corn and soybean by banding herbicides over crop rows followed by mowing weeds growing between rows two times. The research goals were (1) to determine whether such between-row mowing systems adequately controlled weeds and prevented grain yield loss in other competitive field crops, such as no-till grain sorghum, and (2) to compare broadcast herbicide treatments with between-row mowing systems. PRE atrazine plus dimethenamid at relative rates of 0.75× and 1× (where 1× = 1.7 plus 1.3 kg ai/ha, respectively) were band-applied over rows shortly after planting followed by two between-row mowings close to the soil surface. In 2 of 3 yr in Missouri, this system controlled giant foxtail and common waterhemp as well as broadcast herbicides in no-till sorghum. In 2 of 3 yr, between-row mowing systems also prevented yield loss in no-till sorghum as well as both broadcast herbicides at the same rates and the weed-free check.

In previous research, summer annual weeds were successfully controlled in no-till corn with between-row mowing systems that consisted of soil-residual preemergence herbicides banded over corn rows followed by mowing weeds close to the soil surface one or two times later during the growing season. The objective of this research was to determine whether between-row mowing systems could successfully control both winter annual and summer annual weeds as well as broadcast herbicides perform in no-till corn. In two of three years in Missouri, between-row mowing systems controlled and reduced both winter annual and summer annual weed cover and prevented weeds from reducing corn yields. Corn yields for the following no-till weed management systems equaled the weed-free check: winter annual weed control with between-row mowing plus preplant, banded, postemergence-applied glyphosate at 1.1 kg ae/ha and later summer annual weed control with postplant, banded, preemergence-applied atrazine plus S-metolachlor at 2.2 plus 1.8 kg ai/ha followed by between-row mowing. Winter annual weeds growing between rows were controlled with one mowing, and later summer annual weeds were controlled with either one late or “middle” mowing or two mowings (i.e., early and late). Total herbicide use was reduced 50% (i.e., 25 and 25%, respectively) in no-till corn. Commercially acceptable corn stands were needed for between-row mowing systems to adequately control weeds. In one of three years when corn stands were half of those of the other two years, broadcast herbicides performed better than between-row mowing systems in no-till corn.

Five weed management systems utilizing combinations of cover crops, herbicides, and cultivation were tested in potato in 1994 and 1995 in central Washington. A standard herbicide treatment of metribuzin applied preemergence (PRE) at 0.4 kg ai/ha (standard herbicide weed management system [STD]) was compared with (1) fall-planted winter rye followed by metribuzin at 0.4 kg/ha applied in a band in the potato hill, followed by reservoir tillage (rye cover crop with herbicide-banded and reservoir-tilled weed management system [RYESTD]); (2) cultivation with tine-tooth harrow followed by hilling with shovels and rolling cultivators (total-cultivation weed management system [CULT]); (3) fall-planted rapeseed followed by reservoir tillage (rapeseed cover crop and reservoir-tilled weed management system [RPSD]); and (4) reservoir tillage alone (reservoir-tilled weed management system [RESTIL]). In both years, early-season weed density and final weed biomass were lower in the STD, RYESTD, and CULT systems than in RPSD and RESTIL. Total tuber yield and yield of U.S. #2 or better were greatest in the RYESTD and STD systems in both years. The CULT system reduced early-season weed densities, but tuber yield was reduced 15% in 1994, and yield of U.S. #2 or better was reduced 25% in 1995 compared with the STD system. The RPSD system reduced early-season in-row weed density from 60 to 70% and final weed biomass from 29 to 40% compared with a nontreated check, i.e., a no–cover crop, no-cultivation, no-herbicide weed management system, but tuber yield was 27 to 30% lower than in the STD system. The RYESTD system was an effective alternative weed management strategy that controlled weeds, decreased PRE-applied herbicide inputs 66%, and maintained tuber yield.

Research was conducted to determine the minimum number of between-row mowings necessary to control annual weeds, chiefly giant foxtail and common waterhemp, without corn yield loss. Over 2 yr in Missouri, the between-row mowing systems that were evaluated consisted of a 38-cm band of PRE atrazine plus metolachlor at 2.2 plus 2.2 kg ai/ha applied over corn grown in 76-cm rows shortly after planting followed by one, two, or three between-row mowings close to the soil surface. Based on rated total weed control, between-row total weed cover, and corn yield, the weed-free check was statistically indistinguishable from a treatment in which banded PRE herbicide was followed by only one between-row mowing, late, when weeds were relatively large. When mowed once at 52 to 64 days after planting (DAP), giant foxtail and common waterhemp were greater than 85 cm tall. The yield was not increased by mowing earlier or more than once.

The presence of row crops, such as field corn, improves herbicidal control of weeds, but the impact of crop row position on herbicide dose–response relationships for weeds is unknown. At midseason at three site-years in Missouri, total weed cover (WC) was reduced by increasing soil residual herbicide rate in a dose-dependent response and was as much as 20% lower in-row (IR) than between-row (BR). Preemergence atrazine + S-metolachlor + clopyralid + flumetsulam at different rates (0×, 0.25×, 0.5×, 0.75×, and 1×, where 1× rate was 2,240 + 1,750 + 210 + 67 g ai/ha, respectively) were applied at planting in field corn to control giant foxtail, the chief weed present, and annual broadleaf weeds, largely common waterhemp. Lower herbicide rates were required to reduce IR WC to the same extent as BR WC, but these rates varied between site-years. At all three site-years, a least squares regression equation adequately described data variability relating corn yield to IR or BR WC (or both) (i.e., Y = a + bBR2, where Y is corn yield in kg/ha, BR is BR WC [%], and a and b are coefficients).