Greenhouse and growth chamber experiments were conducted to determine the reasons for stunted growth and yield suppression of corn noticed sometimes in nicosulfuron-treated corn fields infested with heavy population of johnsongrass. Results indicated that in the absence of johnsongrass, nicosulfuron applied broadcast POST at 35 g ai ha−1 had no effect on corn. However, growth reduction of corn occurred when nicosulfuron-treated johnsongrass and corn were allowed to share the same rooting medium with their root systems intermingled. The reduction in growth was even greater when corn foliage or the soil surface were also treated with johnsongrass. The extent of growth reduction of corn growing with nicosulfuron-killed johnsongrass depended on weed density and herbicide application rate. Greater growth reductions occurred at four johnsongrass plants per pot compared to two and at a higher application rate of 100 μg nicosulfuron per plant. In general, johnsongrass killed by nicosulfuron appeared to be more phytotoxic to corn than plants killed by paraquat. Nicosulfuron provided excellent control of johnsongrass and improved corn growth by two to three times that of not controlling johnsongrass, but it could not elevate corn growth to the level obtained when johnsongrass was controlled by paraquat or in the absence of interference from johnsongrass.

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the occurrence and significance of release of herbicide through subterranean parts of nicosulfuron-treated johnsongrass. In a bioassay, the rooting medium of johnsongrass treated foliarly with 50 or 100 μg nicosulfuron plant−1 was inhibitory to the radicle elongation of sorghum and corn indicating the increased toxicity of the rooting medium of nicosulfuron-treated johnsongrass. The study with 14C-nicosulfuron indicated a basipetal translocation of foliarly applied nicosulfuron in johnsongrass to its roots/rhizomes and also into the rooting medium. By 30 DAT, around 23% of the 14C-label absorbed by johnsongrass was found exuded into the rooting medium. Radiochromatogram scans of thin layer chromatography plates of rooting medium indicated unmetabolized nicosulfuron as the major 14C-labeled compound (56%). The study also revealed a subsequent uptake of exuded 14C by corn roots sharing the medium. On the whole, the amount of 14C-label recovered from untreated corn amounted to 4.3% of the total applied to johnsongrass. In another experiment, the presence of nicosulfuron in the rooting medium was detrimental to corn growth. Reductions in corn growth occurred at concentrations of 10−8 M nicosulfuron or greater in the rooting medium. The sensitivity of corn to root uptake was attributed to greater accumulation of nicosulfuron at a faster rate in the growing parts.

Field experiments were conducted at two locations in North Carolina during the summer of 1992 to ascertain the reasons for stunted growth of corn noticed occasionally in fields treated POST with nicosulfuron to control dense infestations of johnsongrass. Treatments consisted of nicosulfuron at 35 g ai/ha sprayed POST, either over-top or post-directed only to johnsongrass in a single early application or in sequential applications of 17.5 g/ha. Checks included a hand-weeded, paraquat post-directed to johnsongrass, and non-weeded. Nicosulfuron provided satisfactory control of johnsongrass irrespective of whether applied once or sequentially. Corn yield in nicosulfuron-treated plots was as much as three times greater than in non-treated plots depending on hybrid and location. In the absence of johnsongrass interference, nicosulfuron caused a corn yield reduction of 6 to 9%. However, in the presence of johnsongrass interference, an additional 16 to 26% reduction in yield occurred with a POST application of nicosulfuron. Reductions in corn plant height and dry matter accumulation also were noticed for nicosulfuron treatments compared to post-directed application of paraquat and hand removal of johnsongrass.