Field studies were conducted in 1987 and 1988 to evaluate the control and competitiveness of common lambsquarters in soybeans when present at four densities and when removed at four time intervals. Common lambsquarters were removed by hand or treated with a postemergence herbicide application of bentazon plus acifluorfen. Common lambsquarters could remain 10 weeks following soybean emergence before a 20% soybean yield reduction occurred when weeds were removed by hand. When treatment was attempted with postemergence herbicides, a 20% yield reduction occurred in 1987 if application was not made prior to 5 weeks after emergence. In 1988, all postemergence herbicide applications failed to control lambsquarters due to drought conditions. The postemergence herbicide's degree of control was reflected in the number of remaining lambsquarters plants. Common lambsquarters seed production and germination was not influenced by postemergence herbicide application. There was a strong correlation between dry weight of uncontrolled common lambsquarters plants and seed produced per plant.
