Dose-response studies are an important tool in weed science. The use of such studies has become especially prevalent following the widespread development of herbicide resistant weeds. In the past, analyses of dose-response studies have utilized various types of transformations and equations which can be validated with several statistical techniques. Most dose-response analysis methods 1) do not accurately describe data at the extremes of doses and 2) do not provide a proper statistical test for the difference(s) between two or more dose-response curves. Consequently, results of dose-response studies are analyzed and reported in a great variety of ways, and comparison of results among various researchers is not possible. The objective of this paper is to review the principles involved in dose-response research and explain the log-logistic analysis of herbicide dose-response relationships. In this paper the log-logistic model is illustrated using a nonlinear computer analysis of experimental data. The log-logistic model is an appropriate method for analyzing most dose-response studies. This model has been used widely and successfully in weed science for many years in Europe. The log-logistic model possesses several clear advantages over other analysis methods and the authors suggest that it should be widely adopted as a standard herbicide dose-response analysis method.

Few postemergence (POST) herbicides provide adequate control of broadleaf weeds in potato. Field experiments were conducted at Lethbridge and Vauxhall, Alberta in 1991 and 1992 to determine the suitability of rimsulfuron and HOE-075032 for selective POST control of weeds in potato. Rimsulfuron applied at 15 to 30 g ai/ha controlled flixweed, kochia, and redroot pigweed and suppressed the growth of redstem filaree. HOE-075032 at 50 to 60 g ai/ha provided comparable control. The potato cultivars, ‘Shepody,’ ‘Norchip,’ ‘Russet Burbank,’ ‘Niska,’ and ‘Ranger Russet,’ tolerated up to 80 g/ha rimsulfuron, but rimsulfuron at 120 g/ha caused fissures in some tubers and reduced marketable and total tuber yields. Tuber quality factors such as specific gravity and chipping ability were not affected by rimsulfuron. HOE-075032 at 15 to 30 g/ha caused fissures in tubers and reduced marketable and total tuber yield of all potato cultivars. Rimsulfuron, but not HOE-075032, provided excellent selective POST broadleaf weed control in potato.

Imazethapyr and bentazon were applied with petroleum oil adjuvant in a factorial arrangement to weed species in greenhouse and field research to determine if postemergence weed control by imazethapyr was antagonized when bentazon was tank-mixed. Tank-mixing 840 g/ha of bentazon with 13 or 27 g/ha of imazethapyr increased redroot pigweed and eastern black nightshade dry weight as compared to Colby's expected values in the greenhouse. However, weed control was not reduced in field studies. Subsequent greenhouse studies indicated that soil interception and resulting root uptake of imazethapyr increased redroot pigweed control. Bentazon decreased foliar absorption of 14C-imazethapyr by 15% and translocation of 14C from the treated leaf by more than 50% compared to l4C-imazethapyr applied alone.

With few exceptions, north temperate North American weeds are native species that have proliferated following site disturbance. Social pressures are rapidly eroding the availability of essential silvicultural tools such as chemical herbicides and prescribed burning. Biological control with microorganisms in forestry is at an early stage of development. An inoculation strategy involving a fungus pathogen (PFC-082: Nectria ditissima Tul./ALDERKILL™), its formulation for biological control of Alnus rubra Bong. in the form of the PFC-MYCOCHARGE™ and a newly devised instrument for bioherbicide delivery into woody stems (PFC-ALDERWAK™) are described. The overall strategy and implements are potentially useful for the delivery of any biological or translocatable material into amenity or orchard trees as well. PFC-082 was the single isolate of N. ditissima tested that produced 100% infection and incited the formation of red alder cankers longer than 0.5 m in 30 mo when inoculated by the method described herein. Natural infections by this pathogen occur on fewer than 1% of red alder stems in the forest.

Jointed goatgrass, downy brome, and horseweed are increasingly troublesome winter annual weeds during fallow periods in conservation-tillage systems in the southern Great Plains. These experiments determined the optimum weed size, vigor, and minimum herbicide rate required for 95% or better control of these weeds on fallow land. Jointed goatgrass and downy brome were controlled best when plants were 10 cm or less tall and growing vigorously at time of treatment. Horseweed was controlled best when plants were 30 cm tall and growing vigorously. Based on local retail and application costs and assuming optimum conditions for control, the two most economical herbicide treatments that controlled each weed 95% or better were: jointed goatgrass, clethodim at 250 g ai/ha and glyphosate + 2,4-D at 249 + 479 g ae/ha; downy brome, quizalofop at 18 g ai/ha and glyphosate + 2,4-D at 582 + 950 g ae/ha; and horseweed, 2,4-D at 560 g ae/ha and metsulfuron at 5 g ai/ha.

Glyphosate and package mixtures of glyphosate plus dicamba or 2,4-D were evaluated for the selective control of jointed goatgrass and downy brome in seeded perennial grasses. Glyphosate at 560, glyphosate plus dicamba at 550 + 220, and glyphosate plus 2,4-D at 420 + 350 and 570 + 470 g ai/ha controlled 90% or more jointed goatgrass in 1988 and 1991. Glyphosate plus 2,4-D at 150 + 120 and 280 + 240 g/ha were the only treatments that controlled less than 90% of jointed goatgrass in 1991. In 1988, glyphosate at 210 g/ha and glyphosate plus dicamba at 210 + 80 g/ha were the only treatments that controlled less than 90% of downy brome. Glyphosate at 210, 280, 420, and 560 g/ha, glyphosate plus dicamba at 210 + 80, 280 + 110, 420 + 170, and 550 + 220 g/ha, and glyphosate plus 2,4-D at 150 + 120, 280 + 240, 420 + 350, and 570 + 470 g/ha controlled 90% or more downy brome in 1990. Pubescent wheatgrass and crested wheatgrass were stunted or killed if they were growing when herbicides were applied.

Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted from 1987 to 1990 at the Lacombe Research Station to determine the influence of ammonium sulfate (AS) on various grass control herbicides. In field studies, AS had slight or no effects on the phytotoxicity of aryloxyphenoxypropanoate (APP) herbicides (fenoxaprop, fluazifop, haloxyfop, and quizalofop). The largest AS-mediated increase in APP herbicide phytotoxicity was 19% (based on fresh weight reduction) for wild oat with haloxyfop at 50 g/ha. AS consistently mediated increases in cyclohexanedione (CHD) herbicide phytotoxicity. With added AS, barley fresh weight was reduced 75% (1988) with BAS 517 at 50 g/ha, and 100% (1990) with clethodim at 25 g/ha. Greenhouse studies confirmed field studies, but differences were less substantial and consistent. It is suggested that APP herbicides are either less susceptible to UV degradation than CHD herbicides, and/or that APP herbicides may penetrate plant cuticles quickly enough to nullify any protection from UV degradation that AS might provide via rapid absorption.

Optimal time of application of the isopropylamine salt of glyphosate for long-term control of foxtail barley was studied near Delta Junction, AK in 1992 and 1993. Applications of either 0.6 or 1.1 kg/ha of glyphosate with 2.2 kg/ha of ammonium sulfate and 0.5% (v/v) nonionic surfactant were made to different foxtail barley plots at approximately 2-wk intervals from May to September. Control was rated in July of the year following application. The 0.6 kg/ha rate produced ≤ 60% control on all application dates. At 1.1 kg/ha, foxtail barley control was best from applications made between early August and mid-September. May and mid-June applications provided up to 80% control in 1993 but ≤ 50% control in 1992. For both rates, applications made from late June through July, during foxtail barley flowering and seed fill, consistently provided little control (< 50%).

Four broadleaf herbicides and combinations were compared for two years with mefluidide, a growth regulator, for effects on ‘Ky 31’ and ‘Fawn’ tall fescue. Seedhead densities averaged 33% of the check with 8.4 g ai/ha of metsulfuron, 17% with 70 g ai/ha of imazethapyr, and 9% with 280 g ai/ha of mefluidide, while forage yields were reduced to about 40% of the check. Forage crude protein (CP) concentrations were increased by mefluidide, imazethapyr, and 8.4 g/ha of metsulfuron. Neutral-detergent fiber (NDF) of Ky 31 but not Fawn forage was reduced by mefluidide, imazethapyr, and metsulfuron at 6.3 and 8.4 g/ha, but Fawn NDF was increased by dicamba plus 2,4-D. In vitro dry matter digestibility was increased by metsulfuron at 6.3 and 8.4 g/ha, mefluidide, and imazethapyr in one of two years. Adding 2,4-D to metsulfuron reduced some effects of metsulfuron. Total CP/ha was no more adversely affected by imazethapyr and metsulfuron than mefluidide. Imazethapyr and metsulfuron can thus be used to control weeds without reducing fescue forage value.

The allelopathic influence of sweet potato cultivar ‘Regal’ on purple nutsedge was compared to the influence on yellow nutsedge under controlled conditions. Purple nutsedge shoot dry weight, total shoot length and tuber numbers were significantly lower than the controls (47, 36, and 19% inhibition, respectively). The influence on the same parameters for yellow nutsedge (35, 21, and 43% inhibition, respectively) were not significantly different from purple nutsedge. Sweet potato shoot dry weight was inhibited by purple and yellow nutsedge by 42% and 45%, respectively. The major allelopathic substance from ‘Regal’ root periderm tissue was isolated and tested in vitro on the two sedges. The I50's for shoot growth, root number, and root length were 118, 62, and 44 μg/ml, respectively, for yellow nutsedge. The I50's for root number and root length were 91 and 85 μg/ml, respectively, for purple nutsedge and the I50 for shoot growth could not be calculated.

Field and greenhouse studies were performed to examine the influence of various surfactants with glyphosate on whole plant efficacy. Relationships were examined between glyphosate phytotoxicity and surfactant properties, including ionic form, degree of ethoxylation, and hydrophobe composition. Cationic tertiary amine surfactants enhanced glyphosate performance in both field and greenhouse studies. Nonionic allinol and octoxynol surfactants were not effective in combination with glyphosate. In field studies, glyphosate efficacy increased with increasing surfactant ethylene oxide (EO) content. Soybean and velvetleaf responded similarly to glyphosate-surfactant spray applications, as both demonstrated significant linear and quadratic relationships between increasing surfactant ethoxylation and phytotoxicity, while common lambsquarters showed a significant linear relationship only. Cationic surfactants were evaluated in the greenhouse and a significant quadratic regression of glyphosate phytotoxicity to common lambsquarters on increasing surfactant ethoxylation indicated an optimum surfactant EO content of about 10 moles. Both tertiary and quaternary ethoxylated fatty amines were effective with glyphosate in decreasing common lambsquarters' fresh weight. Fatty amine hydrophobe composition did not correlate with glyphosate phytotoxicity to common lambsquarters.

Solution pH from 6.0 to 8.0 did not affect the germination of Italian ryegrass, ‘Pensacola bahiagrass,’ or common bermudagrass grown in petri dishes in growth chambers. Seeding intervals following metsulfuron methyl application varied from species to species and between soil types. Greenhouse studies indicated that in an Okolona silty clay, common bermudagrass should not be planted until 12 wk after metsulfuron methyl application. Italian ryegrass showed no metsulfuron methyl injury at the 6-wk sampling date when no lime was added, indicating reseeding was feasible at this time; however, a 12-wk time interval was not sufficient when lime was applied. Pensacola bahiagrass was injured when reseeded at 12 wk, regardless of liming rate. In a Prentiss fine sandy loam soil, common bermudagrass could be reseeded 12 wk after application when no lime was added, but not when lime was added. Italian ryegrass and Pensacola bahiagrass should not be reseeded for at least 12 wk, regardless of lime rate. Field experiments, where metsulfuron methyl was applied to the field and seeding was carried out in the greenhouse, indicated on the Okolona silty clay that common bermudagrass reseeding could occur at all liming rates after 3 wk, and Italian ryegrass and Pensacola bahiagrass after 6 wk. In the Prentiss fine sandy loam, common bermudagrass reseeding could occur at 3 wk, regardless of lime rate. Italian ryegrass emergence was not affected when reseeded immediately after metsulfuron methyl application, but height was reduced for longer periods, and increased lime rate lengthened this interval. Pensacola bahiagrass reseeding was feasible at 3 wk.

In commercial fields of creeping red fescue, spring applications of sethoxydim at 500 g/ha and fluazifop-P at 250 g/ha consistently reduced the heading, and consequently the seed production, of foxtail barley and volunteer bromegrass by ≥90% without affecting crop seed yield, 100-seed wt or germination. The effectiveness of sethoxydim at 500 g/ha and fluazifop-P at 250 g/ha to reduce heading of grass weeds was not affected by tank mixing with metsulfuron at 4.5 g/ha but was reduced when tank mixed with either dicamba plus 2,4-D at 280 plus 560 g/ha or 2,4-D alone at 560 g/ha. Metsulfuron alone, or in tank mixtures with sethoxydim (500 g/ha) or fluazifop-P (250 g/ha), effectively controlled dandelion and volunteer alsike clover (probability of ≥80% control was 0.94 or more). Dicamba plus 2,4-D provided a similar level of volunteer alsike clover control but was less effective on dandelion, while 2,4-D was ineffective on both weeds. Treatments containing dicamba plus 2,4-D reduced crop seed yield and germination, and increased seed weight.

2,4-D has been reported to antagonize glyphosate activity on grass weed species. In addition, sodium bicarbonate antagonized 2,4-D activity on broadleaf species. Experiments were conducted using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technology to evaluate interactions of 2,4-D dimethylamine and 2,4-D butoxyethylester formulations with glyphosate in solution. The 2,4-D dimethylamine formulation associated with glyphosate to form the dimethylamine salt of glyphosate. NMR spectra also showed that the molecular orientation of the glyphosate molecule was affected by the 2,4-D butoxyethylester formulation. The antagonist was not the active 2,4-D butoxyethylester molecule itself, but appeared to be due to an association of glyphosate with organic components in the 2,4-D butoxyethylester formulation. The molecular influence of sodium bicarbonate on technical grade 2,4-D free acid, and dimethylamine and butoxyethylester formulations was also evaluated. Sodium bicarbonate was found to react with the 2,4-D free acid and 2,4-D dimethylamine to form the sodium salt of 2,4-D. The 2,4-D butoxyethylester formulation did not react with sodium bicarbonate.

Weed control was evaluated in no-till planted soybean in both burned and standing wheat stubble for 3 yr. High, intermediate, low, and no weed management following no-till planting of soybean were compared with a tilled treatment with high weed management. Herbicides for the high weed management were metribuzin plus metolachlor PRE followed by POST applications, as needed, of bentazon, acifluorfen, and fluazifop or quizalofop. Intermediate management included all of the above except metolachlor, plus the as-needed use of chlorimuron or lactofen POST. Low management had no PRE herbicide applications but included the above POST herbicides. Glyphosate was used as a preplant foliar applied desiccant in the stubble-planted soybean of all weed management levels. Yield of soybean was not affected by standing, burned, or tilled wheat stubble. Soil organic matter in the 0 to 2.5 cm of soil was not significantly affected at the end of the 3 yr. Yield of wheat was reduced by standing wheat stubble in the first year of the study. Total POST weed control was sufficient for maximum soybean yields in the second and third years of the study. The weed spectrum changed during the experiment for the no-weed-control treatment in soybean and in wheat. The major weeds present in soybean after 3 yr of no-till were southern crabgrass, nodding spurge, redvine, prickly sida, barnyardgrass, and johnsongrass; in wheat they were Italian ryegrass, little barley, mayweed chamomile, and hairy buttercup.

A rainfall simulator was used to deliver the equivalent of 1.3 cm of water in 0.25 h at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after POST applications of asulam to johnsongrass in greenhouse and field studies. Johnsongrass control responses were similar when asulam was applied with either a crop oil concentrate or a commercially blended organosilicone/crop oil concentrate premix. Rainfall 24 h after asulam application reduced johnsongrass control in greenhouse studies. Maximum visual johnsongrass control of 80, 69, and 69% was obtained in field studies when rainfall occurred 20, 14, and 8 h after asulam application, respectively. Based on reductions in johnsongrass dry weight, rainfree periods needed to insure maximum performance with asulam in field studies ranged from 3 to 16 h. Variation in critical rainfree periods was related to plant growth stage when asulam was applied and environmental conditions and is indicative of the inconsistency in johnsongrass control commonly observed with asulam.

Field tests showed that the lawn spray-gun with a 4 gpm lawn tip reduced the percentage of application volume deposited 90 cm to 210 cm downwind from the spray swath edge when compared with XR8004 flat-fan or RA-6 wide angle hollow cone applications at wind speeds between 4.7 and 14.4 km/h. The percentage of applied volume collected at 210 cm downwind from the XR8004 flat-fan applications was 5 and 16 times greater than the percentage from the RA-6 Raindrop nozzle and lawn spray-gun applications, respectively. Visible injury alone with height increases and fresh weights from tomato plants located downwind from the applications concur with spray-drift data for all nozzle types. Triclopyr injury decreased as the distance from the swath edge increased. All tomato plants located downwind up to 210 cm from the XR8004 flat-fan applications were visibly injured (15 to 40%); whereas, only plants less than 150 cm downwind from the RA-6 Raindrop applications and less than 90 cm downwind from the lawn spray-gun applications were injured (2 to 8%).

Field studies were conducted from 1985 through 1987 to evaluate control of wild jujube, a deciduous, thorny shrub that causes complete wheat and other crop loss by preventing harvest operations. Initial herbicide or sweep tillage treatments were applied in late June or July, as plants approached maximum foliar development, to wild jujube regrowth from plants cut at ground level the previous fall. Nearly 1 yr after treatment, over 97% reduction of wild jujube regrowth was achieved with initial treatments of 7.2 and 10.7 g ae/L of the isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, 2.4 and 3.6 g ae/L of the potassium salt of picloram, and mixtures of glyphosate plus picloram at half those concentrations, followed 2 to 3 mo later with a repeat herbicide treatment or sweep tillage. About 60% reduction in wild jujube regrowth was achieved with two sweep tillage operations 25 cm deep. Mixtures of half rates of glyphosate plus picloram were less costly than full rates of glyphosate alone and had less carryover to wheat than full rates of picloram alone.

Field experiments were conducted in 1992 and 1993 to evaluate wirestem muhly control in no-till corn with application of glyphosate, nicosulfuron, and primisulfuron. Glyphosate was applied preplant at 1.1 kg ai/ha. Nicosulfuron and primisulfuron were applied at 0.018, 0.036, and 0.072 kg ai/ha and 0.020, 0.040, and 0.080 kg ai/ha, respectively, at four postemergence timings that included a split application. Similar experiments were conducted with wirestem muhly grown from rhizomes and seed in the greenhouse. Glyphosate was the most effective herbicide in the greenhouse, providing at least 96% control. However, preplant application of glyphosate in the field was ineffective in controlling wirestem muhly. On average, nicosulfuron and primisulfuron never exceeded 72% control of wirestem muhly in the greenhouse or in the field. Nicosulfuron was generally more effective than primisulfuron. Control with split application timings was more uniform over a 12-wk period than single applications and late postemergence applications were often too slow acting to affect wirestem muhly growth. Although neither nicosulfuron nor primisulfuron controls wirestem muhly, both can provide suppression of this weed where other alternatives do not exist.