The effectiveness and profitability of weed control with herbicides and cultivation were determined in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L. ‘Florunner′) infested with Texas panicum (Panicum texanum Buckl. # PANTE), sicklepod (Cassia obtusifolia L. # CASOB), and pitted morningglory (Ipomoea lacunosa L. # IPOLA). Highest peanut yield (4260 kg/ha) and net returns were achieved in 2 of 3 yr with benefin [N-butyl-N-ethyl-2,6-dinitro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenamine] applied preplant incorporated followed by alachlor [2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl) acetamide] and dinoseb [2-(1-methylpropyl)-4,6-dinitrophenol] plus naptalam {2-[(1-naphthalenylamino)carbonyl] benzoic acid} applied at ground cracking, with two timely cultivations. Systems utilizing herbicides alone did not provide highest net returns, peanut yield, or weed control.

Foliar-applied herbicides were evaluated in one greenhouse and five field studies for control of silver beardgrass (Andropogon saccharoides Swartz. # ANOSA). In the greenhouse, terbutryn [N-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-N′-ethyl-6-(methylthio)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine] and the isopropylamine salt of glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine] at 3.4 kg ai/ha each consistently controlled silver beardgrass from 7 to 75 days after treatment. Field studies were conducted to investigate silver beardgrass control as influenced by herbicides and timing of herbicide application. Generally, glyphosate at 1.1 and 1.7 kg/ha satisfactorily controlled silver beardgrass with little or no permanent damage to the existing bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. # CYNDA] turf. Decreasing water carrier volume from 374 to 187 L/ha did not affect phytoactivity of terbutryn at 3.4 kg/ha or glyphosate at 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, or 1.1 kg/ha.

Herbicide dissipation was monitored in soils differing in herbicide use histories. Repeated annual applications over 5 yr enhanced biodegradation of butylate [S-ethyl bis(2-methylpropyl)carbamothioate] and EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylcarbamothioate) but not alachlor {2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl)acetamide}, atrazine [6-chloro-N-ethyl-N′-(1-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine], cyanazine {2-[[(4-chloro-6-(ethylamino)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2-methylpropanenitrile}, or metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide]. Prior application of butylate or EPTC enhanced biodegradation of the other thiocarbamate herbicide but not alachlor, atrazine, cyanazine, or metolachlor. Prior application of alachlor, atrazine, cyanazine, metolachlor, or trifluralin [2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenamine] did not enhance biodegradation of butylate or EPTC. Dissipation of EPTC applied with dietholate (O,O-diethyl-O-phenolphosphorothioate) was not enhanced by prior application of alachlor, atrazine, or trifluralin. Prior use of EPTC, EPTC + dietholate, butylate, or cycloate, respectively, enhanced biodegradation of EPTC in 100, 100, 71, and 50% of the experiments, of EPTC applied with dietholate in 57, 100, 60, and 33% of the experiments, of butylate in 33, 40, 100, and 20% of the experiments, and of cycloate in 0, 0, 17, and 0% of the experiments. Prior thiocarbamate herbicide applications usually did not enhance cycloate biodegradation, but soils from two locations without prior pesticide use histories rapidly degraded the herbicide. Storage of soil samples at 25 C for 6 or 12 months before application of EPTC and EPTC + dietholate resulted in less herbicide degradation than storage at 15 C. Differences in prior environmental conditions such as temperature may explain why development of enhanced biodegradation varied between years even in the same field plots.

Preplant incorporation of alachlor [2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl)acetamide] at 3.6 kg ai/ha, metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] at 2.2 kg ai/ha, and tank mixtures of imazaquin {2-[4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid} with either alachlor at 0.14 + 2.2 kg ai/ha or metolachlor at 0.14 + 1.1 kg ai/ha controlled >90% red rice (Oryza sativa L. # ORYSA) in soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Also, FMC-57020 [2-(2-chlorophenyl)methyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone] at 1.7 kg ai/ha applied preplant incorporated controlled > 80% of the red rice. DPX-Y6202 {2-[4-[(6-chloro-2-quinoxalinyl)oxy]-phenoxy]-propionic acid, ethyl ester} was the best and most consistent postemergence herbicide treatment for red rice control when applied once at 0.28 kg ai/ha or sequentially at 0.14 kg ai/ha each time. Haloxyfop {2-[4-[[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy] phenoxy] propanoic acid} applied at 0.16 kg ai/ha followed by another application at 0.14 kg ai/ha gave excellent red rice control in 2 of 3 years. Soybeans were uninjured by the herbicide treatments and yield was higher from treated than untreated soybeans.

The addition of surfactant (trimethylnonylpolyethoxyethanol) at 0.5% (v/v) of the spray solution caused a twofold increase in the deposit of clopyralid (3,6-dichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid) applied at 0.14 or 0.28 kg ae/ha on greenhouse-grown honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr. # PRCJG) and increased transport into the plants compared to clopyralid applied alone. Application of equal rates of benazolin [4-chloro-2-oxo-3(2H)-benzothiazoleacetic acid] with clopyralid at 0.28 + 0.28 kg/ha enhanced transport of clopyralid into honey mesquite. Spray deposit, absorption, and translocation of clopyralid was unaffected by addition of 0.5% (v/v) of d'limonene (4-isopropenyl-1-methyl-cyclohexane). Greater spray deposit of clopyralid on plant surfaces after addition of surfactant was associated with reduced liquid surface tension and greater percentage of spray volume in small droplets (<204-μm diam).

Twenty-two sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] clones with a wide range in metribuzin [4-amino-6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-3-(methylthio)-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-one] tolerance were used to establish narrow sense heritability estimates (h2) using a greenhouse procedure. The heritability estimates were obtained from simple linear regressions (h2 = 2b) of injury rating, shoot fresh weight, and change in shoot fresh weight of offspring against the same responses of parents at metribuzin concentrations of 0, 0.3, and 0.6 ppm in the potting medium and averaged data for the two concentrations. These values ranged from 0.85 to 1.0, indicating that a recurrent mass selection process should be an appropriate approach to developing metribuzin-tolerant cultivars. Several highly tolerant clones were identified.

Huisache [Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd. # ACAFA] and Mexican palo-verde (Parkinsonia aculeata L. # PAKAC) are native woody legumes that often occur together on rangelands of southern Texas and northern Mexico. Huisache produces a profusion of orange-yellow flowers during February or March giving it a conspicuous golden appearance. Mexican palo-verde produces a heavy bloom of yellow flowers in mid-April or early May giving it a yellow-green coloration. Plant canopy light reflectance measurements of flowering huisache showed that its reflectance at the 0.55- and 0.65-μm visible wavelengths was significantly higher than that of Mexican palo-verde in the vegetative stage and four other associated plant species or mixture of species. Conversely, reflectance measurements of flowering Mexican palo-verde showed that its reflectance at the 0.55-μm visible wavelength was significantly higher than that of huisache in the vegetative stage and the same four associated plant species or mixtures of species. Flowering huisache had a golden color on conventional color (0.40-to 0.70-μm) aerial photos that made it distinguishable from other plant species, whereas flowering Mexican palo-verde had a pink image on color-infrared (0.50- to 0.90-μm) aerial photos. However, immature plants of both species cannot be detected using this technique. Computer-based image analyses of conventional color film positive transparencies showed that huisache infestations could be quantified from associated rangeland species. This technique can permit ‘percent land area infested’ estimates of mature huisache on rangelands. These results show that aerial photography may be a useful tool to detect and monitor the spread of huisache and Mexican palo-verde on rangelands, and to delineate areas needing control.

Mobility and sorption of radiolabeled sulfometuron {2-[[[[(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl)amino] carbonyl] amino] sulfonyl] benzoic acid} and imazapyr {(±)-2-[4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid} were evaluated in five soils representative of the major soil types in Alabama. Thin-layer soil chromatography indicated that sulfometuron was slightly more mobile (average Rf = 0.86) than imazapyr (average Rf = 0.79). Sulfometuron was more subject to sorption (average kd = 0.29) than imazapyr (average kd = 0.09) in batch equilibrium experiments. Least sorption of both herbicides occurred on clay soils, and maximum sorption occurred on a sandy clay. Similar results were obtained with a soil solution recovery technique. Sorption of both herbicides was exhanced by temporary reduction in soil water content and by lowering soil pH. The pH response of imazapyr was greater than that of sulfometuron.

Microbial degradation of imazaquin {2-[4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid} was monitored by measuring 14CO2 evolution for 7 months under controlled laboratory conditions. Up to 10% of the 14C chain-labeled imazaquin that was applied to a Crowley silt loam was evolved as 14CO2 in 7 months. Less evolution of 14CO2 occurred on a Sharkey silty clay, a soil with higher clay and organic matter content, than on silt loam soils. The loss of 66 to 100% of the imazaquin applied to a Crowley silt loam incubated for 8 months at 18 C or 35 C, respectively, suggested that metabolic changes in addition to CO2 evolution were occurring. Rapid loss of imazaquin phytotoxicity occurred when soils were held at warm-moist (35 C and −33 kPa) conditions conducive to microbial growth. Imazaquin was more persistent in soils stored under cool, dry (18 C and −100 kPa) conditions. Imazaquin on a soil surface dissipated rapidly when exposed to ultraviolet light or sunlight. Photodecomposition could be a major mode of imazaquin dissipation if this herbicide is allowed to remain on the soil surface.

Twelve 20-ha stands of natural loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.)-mixed hardwoods were harvested and site preparation treatments applied as follows: no site preparation (harvest only); glyphosate [N-(phosphomethyl)glycine] aerially applied at 0.25 kg ai/ha and the site burned 6 weeks later; roller-drum chopped, then burned; sheared and disced in one pass; sheared, then V bladed and disced; sheared, then raked; and sheared, raked, and then disced in three separate passes. Loblolly pine survival was 16% and volume 58% greater after the first two growing seasons on mechanically treated areas than on untreated stands or on areas treated with herbicide and then burned. Total vegetative cover was highest during both growing seasons on sites that had been sprayed and burned, and lowest on sites that were mechanically cleared and tilled. Grass and hardwood cover was negatively correlated with loblolly pine height and seedling volume during both growing seasons.

Twenty-five winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars were sprayed with herbicides when in the tillering stage in April at North Platte, NE. In 1978, ‘Lindon’ and ‘Vona’ stands were reduced and grain yields of ‘Larned′, Lindon, ‘Roughrider′, 'Sage′, 'Scout 66′, 'Sentinel′, ‘Turkey′, and Vona cultivars were reduced by metribuzin [4-amino-6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-3-(methylthio)-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-one] plus pendimethalin [N-(1-ethylpropyl)-3,4-dimethyl-2,6-dinitrobenzenamine] at 0.3 plus 2.8 kg ai/ha. There were no differences among cultivars in response to herbicides in 1979, 1981, and 1982. During 1980, wheat was more tolerant to a mixture of pendimethalin and 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] than metribuzin plus pendimethalin. In 1981 and 1982, combinations of 2,4-D with pendimethalin or metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] did not reduce wheat yields. The mixture of pendimethalin plus 2,4-D performed satisfactorily in 4 yr of use.

A model, based on a rectangular hyperbola, has been developed to describe the relationship between population density and relative time of seedling emergence of wild oat (Avena fatua L. # AVEFA) and yield of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The equation is where yL is percent yield loss, D is weed density, T is relative time of emergence of weed and crop, and a, b, and c are nonlinear regression coefficients. Significant differences in fitted equations were found between years. From the values of regression coefficients it was concluded that barley is a better competitor than wheat and is less affected by late-emerging wild oat. The model was tested on previously published data. It provided only a slightly better description of the data than a multiple-regression model, but avoided a number of undesirable, implausible properties inherent in the more frequently used approach. In particular, the model does not predict a loss in yield when no weeds are present or a yield increase from late-emerging weeds.

Traditional weed control systems based on soil-applied herbicides and cultivations were compared with systems utilizing postemergence grass herbicides for Texas panicum (Panicum texanum Buckle. # PANTE) control in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. ‘Florunner′) production. Maximum net returns ($150/ha) and peanut yield were achieved with traditional systems utilizing benefin [N-butyl-N-ethyl-2,6-dinitro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenamine] applied preplant incorporated plus alachlor [2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl)acetamide] and dinoseb [2-(1-methylpropyl)-4,6-dinitrophenol] applied at ground cracking and two cultivations. The postemergence system using alachlor plus dinoseb applied at ground cracking and sethoxydim {2-[1-(ethoxyimino)butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio) propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one} applied postemergence also provided maximum net returns ($146/ha) and peanut yield.

Research was conducted from 1979 through 1982 in east-central Alabama to determine the effect of various cropping and sicklepod (Cassia obtusifolia L. # CASOB) management systems on yields and total net returns to land and management. Intense weed management inputs resulted in higher levels of sicklepod control than did standard inputs with spring tillage, but sicklepod control was good regardless of management intensity with no spring tillage. Sicklepod control in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] – corn (Zea mays L.) rotations was similar to that in continuous soybeans regardless of planting method. Even though intense management inputs often resulted in increased sicklepod control, total net returns from these systems were often less due to increased herbicide and application costs. Total net returns from summer-fallow systems were generally low since only a winter wheat crop was produced each year.

Copper content and growth of excised hydrilla [Dioecious Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle # HYLLI] apical shoot segments were determined following exposure to copper sulfate (CuSO4), copper-triethanolamine (Cu-TEA), and copper-ethylenediamine (Cu-EDA). For all copper formulations, inhibition of growth was related to the amount of copper associated with the excised shoots. At equal copper exposure, the Cu-EDA formulation produced the greatest inhibition of growth and generally the highest copper levels in the plants. The Cu-EDA formulation inhibited dry weight gain by more than 80% 3 weeks after a 2-h exposure to 2.0 or 4.0 ppmw copper. Under similar conditions, CuSO4 or Cu-TEA produced 60% inhibition. The presence or absence of light during a 2-h exposure had no effect on the efficacy of uptake of copper from any of the formulations. Formulation-dependent differences in the mechanism of copper uptake is suggested because rinsing of exposed shoots with dilute acid (0.01N HNO3) removed copper from shoots treated with CuSO4 or Cu-TEA but not from those treated with Cu-EDA.

A new machine consisting of a detachable hopper of containerized granules with a preselected circular orifice to regulate flow of granules, and a revolving hollow-cone spreader turned by an electric motor, was tested. Flow of herbicide granules at typical use rates was linearly correlated with orifice diameter. Coefficients of determination for flow rates of alachlor [2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl)acetamide], trifluralin [2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenamine], and norflurazon [4-chloro-5-(methylamino)-2-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3 (2H)-pyridazinone] were 0.96 or greater. Based on patterns of distribution of commercial trifluralin granules parallel and perpendicular to a linear path, the machine could be used to apply herbicide granules in row crops. Control of johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. # SORHA] with alachlor plus oryzalin [4-(dipropylamino)-3,5-dinitrobenzenesulfonamide] applied preemergence (pre) as sprays and granules did not differ significantly in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Forrest′]. Trifluralin granules applied preplant incorporated (ppi) at 1.1 kg ai/ha controlled 80 to 95% of the johnsongrass and doubled soybean yield compared to the cultivated control plot. Norflurazon plus alachlor pre at 1.7 to 2.2 plus 2.2 to 3.0 kg ai/ha controlled annual grasses and prickly sida (Sida spinosa L. # SIDSP) equally with sprays and granules.