Synergistic interaction between the insecticide terbufos and the herbicide nicosulfuron may result in severe injury to corn. Greenhouse and laboratory experiments were conducted to determine if using the imidazolinone-resistant corn ‘Pioneer-3343 IR’ (P-3343 IR) or coating corn seeds with naphthalic anhydride (NA) would reduce herbicidal injury imposed by the nicosulfuron-terbufos interaction. Greenhouse experiments showed nicosulfuron-terbufos interactions resulting in herbicidal injury in both P-3343 IR and ‘DeKalb 689’ (D-689) corn varieties, but the D-689 was more sensitive than the P-3343 IR corn. The greenhouse experiments also demonstrated protection against the nicosulfuron-terbufos interaction by NA seed treatments. Studies with radiolabeled nicosulfuron showed that terbufos inhibited the metabolism of nicosulfuron, but pretreatment of D-689 and P-3343 IR corn seed with NA decreased the inhibition in excised corn leaves. The differences in sensitivity to nicosulfuron in the two corn varieties resulted in part from the differential metabolism and primarily from the differential sensitivity of the target enzyme, acetolactate synthase, to the herbicide.

Pendimethalin plus atrazine (1,120 + 2,240 g ai/ha) or metolachlor plus atrazine (2,170 + 1,790 g ai/ha) applied PRE over 2 yr controlled broadleaf signalgrass and itchgrass 78 to 88% 30 d after treatment (DAT). The imazethapyr plus imazapyr prepackaged mixture (PREMIX) applied PRE at 47 + 16 g ai/ha controlled these weeds no more than 35%. With pendimethalin, metolachlor plus atrazine, or atrazine PRE followed by (fb) imazethapyr plus imazapyr POST, broadleaf signalgrass was controlled 89 to 98% and itchgrass 76 to 83% 28 d after POST application. When only imazethapyr plus imazapyr was applied POST, broadleaf signalgrass control was 88% the first year, but only 64% the second year. Itchgrass was controlled 71% when imazethapyr plus imazapyr was applied alone POST, but control was nearly 86% when pendimethalin or nicosulfuron was applied POST with imazethapyr plus imazapyr. Consistently high corn yields were obtained when pendimethalin was applied POST with imazethapyr plus imazapyr, and these corn yields were greater than those following POST-only applications of imazethapyr plus imazapyr in 1 of 2 yr. When imazethapyr plus imazapyr was applied alone POST, corn yield was at least 1.3 times that when imazethapyr plus imazapyr was applied alone PRE. Weed control with imazethapyr plus imazapyr POST at 47 + 16 g/ha was not improved when ammonium sulfate was added with nonionionic surfactant or when methylated seed oil with or without ammonium sulfate or organosilicone adjuvants were used in the spray solution compared with using only nonionic surfactant in the spray solution. When imazethapyr plus imazapyr plus the various adjuvants was applied to weeds 5 to 8 cm tall, broadleaf signalgrass was controlled 93%, itchgrass 74 and 88%, and pitted morningglory 87 and 93% 28 DAT over 2 yr.

Field studies were conducted in 1992 and 1993 to evaluate imazapic alone and in postemergence (POST) mixtures with atrazine or bentazon for weed control in imidazolinone-resistant corn treated with carbofuran. Nicosulfuron and nicosulfuron plus atrazine also were evaluated. Imazapic at 36 and 72 g ai/ha controlled large crabgrass 85 and 92%, respectively, which was equivalent to control obtained with nicosulfuron plus atrazine. Imazapic at the higher rate controlled large crabgrass better than nicosulfuron alone. Imazapic at 36 and 72 g/ha controlled Texas panicum 88 and 99%, respectively, and at the higher rate control was equivalent to that obtained with nicosulfuron alone or in mixture with atrazine. Imazapic plus bentazon POST controlled Texas panicum less than imazapic at the lower rate applied alone. Redroot pigweed was controlled 100% with all herbicide treatments. Imazapic at either rate alone or in tank mixture with bentazon or atrazine controlled prickly sida >99%, which was superior to control obtained with nicosulfuron or nicosulfuron plus atrazine. Smallflower, entireleaf, ivyleaf, pitted, and tall morningglories were controlled 96% or greater with all herbicide treatments except nicosulfuron alone. Sicklepod control was >88% with all imazapic treatments, whereas control from nicosulfuron alone was 72%. Corn yields were improved by the addition of POST herbicides with no differences among POST herbicide treatments.

Field studies were conducted in 1999 and 2000 at Belleville, IL, to compare herbicide efficacy and economic return on investment (EROI) for various herbicide systems in conventional, imidazolinone-resistant, glufosinate-resistant, and glyphosate-resistant corn hybrids. Corn injury 14 d after RPA 201772 preemergence (PRE) treatments ranged from 0 to 10%. Treatments with nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron + atrazine injured corn 5 to 24% at 7 d after treatment (DAT); however, no injury was visible at 14 DAT. Corn injury by all herbicide treatments dissipated by 28 DAT. All treatments controlled giant foxtail at least 88%. Common waterhemp was controlled at least 94% with all treatments, except for imazethapyr + imazapyr postemergence (POST), which did not control common waterhemp. All treatments controlled at least 92% of common cocklebur, giant ragweed, and ivyleaf morningglory, with the exception of the total PRE herbicide system of S-metolachlor + atrazine in 2000. Average grain yield ranged from 7,290 to 9,180 kg/ha in 1999, with the yield of the glyphosate-resistant hybrid lower than that of all other hybrids. In 2000, average grain yield ranged from 8,440 to 11,520 kg/ha, with the grain yield of the glyphosate-resistant hybrid greater than that of all other hybrids. There were no differences in economic return in 1999 because of the treatment, the herbicide system, or the hybrid. In 2000 EROI was greater with the glyphosate-resistant hybrid than with the other hybrids. EROI was influenced more by the grain yield of the corn hybrid than by the associated weed control costs. It has been demonstrated by this research that effective and economical weed control can be achieved in all hybrids, with minimal injury.