Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L. # PANMI) was controlled in corn (Zea mays L. ‘Pioneer 3747’) with postemergence-directed herbicides applied following a standard preplant-incorporated application of butylate [S-ethylbis(2-methylpropyl)carbamothioate] plus dichlormid (2,2-dichloro-N,N-di-2-propenylacetamide) plus cyanazine {2-[[4-chloro-6-(ethylamino)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2-methylpropanenitrile}. Postemergence-directed applications of ametryn [N-ethyl-N′-(1-methylethyl)-6-(methylthio)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine], cloproxydim {(E,E)-2-[1-[[(3-chloro-2-propenyl)oxy]imino]butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one}, butyl ester of fluazifop {(±)-2-[4-[[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy] propanoic acid}, butyl ester of fluazifop-p {(R)-2-[4-[[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy] propanoic acid}, glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine], methyl ester of haloxyfop {2-[4-[[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy]propanoic acid}, and sethoxydim {2-[1-(ethoxyimino)butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one} in 40-cm-tall corn gave greater than 90% control of 5- to 15-cm-tall proso millet while causing little or no corn injury at selected rates. Season-long proso millet control was obtained with sethoxydim at rates as low as 56 g ai/ha with no visible corn injury. Unacceptable injury to 40-cm-tall corn occurred with all but the lowest rate of sethoxydim (56 g ai/ha) when a crop oil concentrate was used. Sethoxydim applied as a directed spray at rates up to 110 g ai/ha plus 1.25% (v/v) crop oil concentrate did not injure 60-cm-tall corn.

Research was conducted from 1983 through 1985 in east central Texas to determine the effect of grass-specific herbicides, herbicide rates, and weed height on johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. #3 SORHA] control and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. 'Stoneville 825’) yield. Seven herbicides were applied to johnsongrass less than 30 cm tall with 2 to 5 leaves approximately 4 weeks after cotton emergence. Good-to-excellent johnsongrass control was observed for each herbicide except cloproxydim {(E,E)-2-[l-[[(3-chloro-2-propenyl)oxy]imino] butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one} at 0.56 kg ai/ha and sethoxydim {2-[1-(ethoxyimino)butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one} at 0.28 kg ai/ha. Few significant differences were found in seed cotton yields even though johnsongrass control ranged from 43 to 99% 26 days after treatment (DAT). These data suggest that johnsongrass regrowth and/or reinfestation following initial control of 75% or higher during the first 4 to 6 weeks after cotton emergence has a minimum negative effect on cotton yield. Johnsongrass control was highest when either fluazifop-P {(R)-2-[4-[[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy]propanoic acid} or haloxyfop {2-[4-[[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy] propanoic acid} was applied to 15 to 30 cm tall johnsongrass.

Control of seedling and rhizome johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. # SORHA] with five herbicides was evaluated after postemergence application in various diluents and spray volumes using one to three types of applicators from 1983 to 1985. The rate of each herbicide required to control seedling johnsongrass using paraffinic oil as the diluent in applications with an external- or internal-mixing air-assist sprayer at a spray volume of 9.4 L/ha was one-half the rate required when water plus 1.25% (v/v) paraffinic oil concentrate (POC) or water plus 1.25% (v/v) soybean oil concentrate (SOC) were the diluents in applications with a conventional sprayer equipped with fan jet spray nozzles at a spray volume of 187 L/ha. Rates were also reduced when once-refined soybean oil was the diluent at a spray volume of 9.4 L/ha, except for the ethyl ester of quizalofop {(±)-2-[4-[(6-chloro-2-quinoxalinyl)oxy] phenoxy] propanoic acid}. Sethoxydim {2-[1-(ethoxyimino)butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one} was equally effective on seedling johnsongrass growing in soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘DPL 105’] when applied at 224 g ai/ha with an internal-mixing air-assist sprayer or a controlled-droplet applicator (CDA) at a spray volume of 9.4 L/ha and a conventional sprayer at a spray volume of 187 L/ha, regardless of diluent. Conventional application required the use of 1.25% (v/v) SOC or POC as part of the diluent to be effective. For three of the five herbicides evaluated on rhizome johnsongrass, paraffinic oil at a spray volume of 9.4 L/ha was the only diluent that resulted in season-long control. Rhizome johnsongrass control with this diluent also resulted in significantly higher soybean yields than all other diluent-spray volume treatments.

The effects of rainfall on the efficacy of 11 foliar-applied herbicides were evaluated for their control of seedling johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. # SORHA] in greenhouse experiments during 1984 and 1985 at Stoneville, MS. Time intervals between herbicide application and rainfall (at 1.27 cm in 10 ± 0.5 min) ranged from 5 to 60 and 30 to 240 min depending on herbicide classification. In general, the phosphonic acid herbicides glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] and SC-0224 (trimethylsulfonium carboxymethylaminomethylphosphonate) at 0.99 kg ai/ha required rain-free periods ≥240 min to control seedling johnsongrass effectively. The selective postemergence grass herbicides generally required ≥60 min to control seedling johnsongrass effectively when control without rainfall was ≥85%. Among the selective herbicides tested, haloxyfop {2-[4-[[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy] phenoxy] propanoic acid} and DPX-Y6202 {ethyl[2-[4-(6-chloro-2-quinoxalinyl)oxy] phenoxy] propionic acid} at 0.06 kg ae/ha required the shortest time between herbicide application and rainfall to be effective. As herbicide rates were reduced, the effects of rainfall increased.

A rainfall simulator was used to evaluate the effects of washoff on 10 foliar-applied herbicides on johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. # SORHA] in greenhouse experiments during 1983 and 1984 at Stoneville, MS. Time intervals between herbicide application and rainfall ranged from 20 to 240 min. Johnsongrass topgrowth control was equivalent to rain-free treatments using DPX-Y6202 {ethyl [2-[4-(6-chloro-2-quinozalinyl)oxy] phenoxy] propionate} at 0.03 and 0.06 kg/ha at time periods of 90 and 40 min between herbicide application and rainfall, respectively, at 28 days after treatment (DAT). A period of 120 min was required for johnsongrass control equivalent to rain-free treatments using sethoxydim {2-[1-(ethoxyimino)butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one} at 0.06 kg/ha, haloxyfop {2-[4-[[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy] phenoxy] propanoic acid} at 0.03 and 0.06 kg/ha, and cloproxydim {(E,E-2-[1-[[(3-chloro-2-propenyl)oxy] imino] butyl]-5-[2-ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one} at 28 DAT. Neither glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] and SC-0224 (trimethylsulfoniumcarboxy methylaminomethylphosphonate) at 0.45 and 0.99 kg/ha nor other selective herbicides at 0.03 and 0.06 kg/ha gave equivalent johnsongrass topgrowth control to rain-free treatments when rainfall occurred within 240 and 120 min, respectively.

Paraffinic oil applied at 2.3, 4.7, and 9.3 L/ha to the surface of johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. # SORHA] leaves spread to provide complete coverage of the leaf surface. Soybean oil applied at the same volumes provided only 30 to 50% coverage of leaf surfaces. Water at 187 L/ha that contained 1.25% paraffinic oil adjuvant provided only about 30% coverage because spray droplets did not spread appreciably. Spread coefficients obtained when five different oil-soluble herbicides were applied to leaf surfaces in paraffinic oil were more than 100 times greater than when applied in water alone. Higher spread coefficients were obtained when paraffinic oil contained herbicides than when paraffinic oil was applied alone. Spread coefficients were also much greater for paraffinic oil alone than for soybean oil with or without herbicides. Stomata on johnsongrass leaves were distorted by paraffinic oil, suggesting that leaf surface wax was dissolved and this might be a mode of entry of herbicide into johnsongrass when applied in paraffinic oil. Stomata were unaffected by soybean oil or by water sprays that contained 1.25% soybean oil adjuvant or paraffinic oil adjuvant.

Selective postemergence herbicides were applied broadcast to control wild-proso millet in soybeans early postemergence (early post), postemergence (post), and late postemergence (late post) when wild-proso millet was 2 to 8 cm tall, 3 to 15 cm tall, and 3 to 31 cm tall, respectively. CGA-82725, fluazifop, haloxyfop, and sethoxydim applied early post controlled 75% or less late-season wild-proso millet. Interrow cultivation following early post fluazifop applications improved wild-proso millet control and soybean yields. Higher rates of CGA-82725, haloxyfop, and sethoxydim applied post controlled 91 to 98% late-season millet, but resulting soybean yields were less than the hand-weeded check. Fenoxaprop, fluazifop, fluazifop-P, haloxyfop, quizalofop, and sethoxydim applied late post provided 93 to 99% late-season millet control and soybean yields equal to hand-weeded checks. Wild-proso millet emerging after early post or post herbicide applications contributed to reduced effectiveness from those treatments. However, most wild-proso millet emerged before late post applications and were controlled. Other herbicides including BAS-51702, clethodim, cloproxydim, and SC-1084 applied late post also controlled wild-proso millet in soybeans.

Field experiments were conducted during 1982 to 1988 in Virginia to evaluate BAS 517, CGA 82725, clethodim, cloproxydim, fenoxaprop, fluazifop, fluazifop-P, haloxyfop, paraquat, quizalofop, SC-1084, sethoxydim, sethoxydim plus thifensulfuron, and terbacil for control of annual grasses in alfalfa. Herbicides were applied to alfalfa and grasses 2 to 30 cm in height after the first and/or second cuttings. Overall, the herbicides were highly effective in controlling fall panicum, giant foxtail, barnyardgrass, and large crabgrass. Alfalfa yields were not increased with herbicide treatments in several experiments. Only paraquat, applied later than recommended after cutting in one experiment, and sethoxydim plus thifensulfuron at one location reduced alfalfa yields.

A growth cabinet study was conducted to evaluate the effect of temperature on the distribution of several herbicides in quackgrass. Uniformly labeled 14C-sucrose and the radiolabeled herbicides glyphosate, sethoxydim, cloproxydim, the butyl ester of fluazifop, the methyl ester of haloxyfop, and the ethyl ester of quizalofop were applied to quackgrass grown at three day / night temperature regimes (10/5, 20/15, and 30/25 C). Seven days after treatment the plants were harvested, lyophilized, and later sectioned, mapped, and oxidized in preparation for 14C quantification. Quackgrass rhizome growth was more vigorous at 20/15 than 30/25 or 10/5 C. of the herbicides tested, haloxyfop was the most inhibitory to rhizome growth. Temperature increases from 10/5 to 20/15 or from 20/15 to 30/25 C resulted in more translocation to shoots. Increasing temperature had various effects on translocation to rhizomes depending on the chemical applied. At all three temperature regimes, more 14C was recovered from distal than basal buds in plants treated with 14C-sethoxydim. In contrast, at all three temperature regimes, similar amounts of 14C were recovered from the distal and basal buds of plants treated with 14-C-sucrose.

Five herbicides (cloproxydim, fluazifop, haloxyfop, quizalofop, and sethoxydim) were compared from 1984 to 1988 at 250 and 400 g ha−1 for controlling quackgrass within different crop competition and tillage conditions at the Lacombe Research Station. Crop competition usually augmented quackgrass control with the herbicides in conventional-tillage plots although direct statistical comparisons were not made. Without crop competition, haloxyfop and quizalofop at 250 g ha−1 were more effective than the other herbicides in conventional tillage 1 mo after treatment (MAT). In a conventional-tillage situation on a unit active ingredient basis, the herbicides ranked in order of decreasing activity as follows: quizalofop ≥ haloxyfop > fluazifop > cloproxydim > sethoxydim. In a zero-tillage situation, none of the herbicides reduced quackgrass shoot weights by 50% 3 MAT. However, haloxyfop and quizalofop were more effective in suppressing quackgrass shoot weight than the other herbicides in the zero-tillage experiments 3 MAT.