Three levels of weed control (0, 70, and 100%) were maintained in 1989 during corn production at two sites. Weed control in 1990 with a premix formulation of metolachlor and atrazine was directly related to 1989 control levels. Herbicides generally were more effective in conventional tillage than in no-tillage. In no-tillage, giant foxtail control in 1990 averaged 59% following 100% control in 1989 compared to 15% following 0% weed control. At one location, tillage minimized the impact of the prior year's weed control with herbicides providing greater than 85% control in conventional tillage regardless of prior history. In no-tillage, weed control of 85% or better was obtained only following 100% control the previous year.

Alfalfa seed yield and quackgrass density were measured in seven irrigated fields in southern Alberta to assess the effect of quackgrass on seed yield. Six herbicides were tested to determine their effect on quackgrass growth and accompanying alfalfa seed yield. The effect of quackgrass on seed yield was adequately described by a hyperbolic model. Quackgrass densities of 50 and 100 heads per m2 reduced seed yields by 56 and 74%, respectively. The economic threshold density was 3 quackgrass heads per m2. The most effective herbicide treatments, quizalofop and propaquizafop, resulted in good initial quackgrass suppression and yield increases similar to those predicted by the hyperbolic model.

The uptake, translocation, and metabolism of the ethyl ester of chlorimuron in three soybean cultivars and two morningglory species was investigated. Soybean used included the normal cultivars ‘Vance’ and ‘Essex,’ and the sulfonylurea-resistant cultivar ‘W-20.’ Entireleaf morningglory and pitted morningglory, both moderately tolerant to chlorimuron, were used. Twenty-day-old seedlings of all plant species were exposed to root-applied 14C-labeled chlorimuron for 6, 24, and 72 h. After 24 and 72 h, chlorimuron uptake was lowest in W-20 soybean and the two morningglory species. Translocation of root-absorbed chlorimuron to shoots and leaves of all species was limited and it did not differ among species. The moderate tolerance of pitted and entireleaf morningglories to chlorimuron may be due to reduced herbicide uptake. The response of Essex and Vance soybean to chlorimuron was related to herbicide metabolism. At 6 h after treatment with radiolabeled chlorimuron, Essex soybean metabolized the herbicide more rapidly than either W-20 or Vance soybean. At 24 h and 72 h, Essex and Vance soybean metabolized chlorimuron to the same extent. W-20 was not very efficient in metabolizing chlorimuron at any time after treatment and its resistance to chlorimuron is due to an altered target site.

Ten field experiments were conducted in Oklahoma from 1988 to 1992 to evaluate chlorsulfuron plus metsulfuron (5:1 w/w) and triasulfuron for cheat control in winter wheat. Cheat control by chlorsulfuron plus metsulfuron at 18 and 26 g ai/ha varied from 0 to 81% and by triasulfuron at 18 and 30 g ai/ha from 0 to 60%. Grain yield was increased in four experiments and dockage was reduced in five experiments by both rates of chlorsulfuron plus metsulfuron.

Sweet potato clones were evaluated for metribuzin tolerance in field and greenhouse studies. ‘Tinian’ was the most tolerant and ‘SC-1149-19’ and ‘J-2’ were the most susceptible clones. ‘Jewel’, a clone widely grown commercially, was sensitive to metribuzin in the field and greenhouse. ‘Sumor’ and ‘White Triumph’ exhibited intermediate metribuzin tolerance. All metribuzin application-by-rate treatments reduced plant stands, caused season-long crop injury, and reduced yields. Metribuzin applied 3 wk posttransplant at 1.1 kg ha−1 did not reduce total yield of Tinian. Total yield of all the clones except Tinian were reduced by metribuzin regardless of timing or rate.

Research was conducted to determine an effective morningglory control system for cotton grown in central Texas, Prometryn applied PRE or directed-POST applications of methazole or methazole + MSMA did not always adequately control ivyleaf, entireleaf, and seedling sharppod morningglories. However, adequate control of the above species plus pitted morningglory was achieved with a management system that used a dinitroaniline applied PPI or PRE, prometryn applied PRE (0.9 kg ai ha−1), followed by methazole (0.56 kg ha−1) or methazole + MSMA (0.56 + 1.80 kg ha−1) directed POST to cotton 10 to 15 cm high.

Studies were conducted in 1988, 1989, and 1992 in Plains, GA to measure effects of paraquat and alachlor on ‘Florunner’ peanut. Peanut treated with paraquat (0.14 kg ai/ha) plus alachlor (3.4 kg ai/ha) applied at vegetative emergence (VE), or paraquat plus alachlor VE followed by paraquat 28 days after emergence (DAE) were compared with a nontreated control. Both herbicide treatments reduced peanut foliage biomass at 65 DAE in 1989 and 1992. Herbicide treatments did not affect foliage biomass 90 DAE in 1988 and 122 DAE in 1989, but paraquat plus alachlor followed by paraquat reduced foliage biomass at 122 DAE in 1992. Pod biomass, measured at 90 and 65 DAE in 1988 and 1992, respectively, was reduced by herbicides. However, pod biomass did not differ among treatments 122 DAE in 1989 and 1992. Percent reflectance from the peanut canopy measured no effects from herbicides in 1988. However, in 1989 and 1992 herbicides applied sequentially reduced peanut canopy development. Peanut treated with a single herbicide and sequentially took longer to mature. Once optimum maturity was reached, peanut yields were not reduced.

Weed control and corn vigor were evaluated to determine the effects of application rate, timing, and other POST herbicides on primisulfuron activity. Corn injury caused by primisulfuron was very low. Weed control varied with species and stage of growth. Primisulfuron showed high activity on emerged johnsongrass, particularly with early postemergence (EP) and mid postemergence (MP) applications. However, these treatments did not provide full season control of this species due to regrowth from rhizomes and continuous germination of new seeds. Primisulfuron controlled giant foxtail with the EP timing (< 5 cm weed height), but not with MP and late postemergence (LP) applications. Common lambsquarters and redroot pigweed control was most effective with EP applications. Primisulfuron in combination with cyanazine, atrazine, cyanazine plus tridiphane, atrazine plus tridiphane, bentazon, 2,4-D, dicamba, or paraquat controlled common lambsquarters and redroot pigweed better than primisulfuron applied alone. Johnsongrass control decreased when primisulfuron was combined with paraquat or 2,4-D and giant foxtail control decreased when primisulfuron was combined with 2,4-D or dicamba.

Metobromuron is a major preemergence herbicide controlling mainly broadleaf weeds in common bean production in Ontario. Rainstorms at the seedling stage may splash metobromuron on the plants which results in serious injury, reduced plant stand, and low seed yield. This study determined the appropriate rates of metobromuron for identification of germplasm tolerant to the herbicide. Metobromuron of 0, 0.28, and 0.56 kg ai ha−1 in the glasshouse and 0, 0.28, 0.42, and 0.56 kg ha−1 in the field were applied POST at the unifoliolate stage of 30 bean cultivars. A significant linear effect of herbicide rate on plant injury and recovery was detected. Plant growth was reduced significantly on sensitive cultivars. Two cultivars, Taylor Hort’ and ‘UI 51’, and several plant introductions were tolerant to metobromuron. A rate range of 0.42 to 0.56 kg ha−1 of metobromuron would be appropriate to separate tolerant from sensitive bean lines.

Trifluralin selectively controls dodder in alfalfa. However, its soil activity dissipates allowing some late season dodder germination. Thiazopyr applied PRE was also found to control dodder selectively in alfalfa. Thiazopyr was more effective when applied in February than in November. Thiazopyr did not control dodder longer into the season than trifluralin in field tests, however it was more effective in greenhouse experiments. The effect of thiazopyr on dodder shoot tips was similar to that of trifluralin, in that both herbicides produced bulbous cells with thickened, globular nuclei, typical of cells treated with herbicides affecting microtubules.

The effect of delayed harvest was investigated with two soybean cultivars that were grown weed free or in competition with johnsongrass or hemp sesbania over a 3-yr period. Johnsongrass reduced the yield of early-maturing ‘Hill’ soybean 32, 35, and 36% when harvested at an average of 1, 2, or 3 wk after maturity, when compared to weed-free yields of 2490, 2430, and 2270 kg ha−1, respectively. Late-maturing ‘Lee 68’ yields were reduced 27, 29, and 39% on three harvest dates compared to weed-free yields of 2570, 2310, and 2200 kg ha−1, respectively. Seed grades of both cultivars improved with delayed harvest, but this was offset when johnsongrass was present. Hemp sesbania reduced yields of Hill 23% on the first harvest date and 26% on the second and third dates. Yields of Lee 68 were reduced 16, 22, and 28% by hemp sesbania on three successive harvest dates. The value of soybean yields adjusted for excessive foreign material, moisture, and damaged kernels was decreased by delayed harvest when hemp sesbania was present in Lee 68 and when johnsongrass was present in both cultivars.

Experiments were conducted to compare control of entireleaf morningglory with POST applications of DPX-PE350 applied with no adjuvant, a nonionic surfactant, or crop oil concentrate in spray volumes of 94, 235, and 375 L ha−1. Control was greater with a nonionic surfactant or crop oil concentrate than with no adjuvant and control with crop oil concentrate exceeded control with the nonionic surfactant. Spray volume had no effect on efficacy. DPX-PE350 was more effective when applied to foliage only or to soil plus foliage than when applied to soil only after emergence of entireleaf morningglory. Control from soil-only applications was lower on a silty clay soil than on a silt loam soil. Except for sicklepod, mixing DPX-PE350 with fluometuron or MSMA had little effect on weed control.

Experiments were conducted in 1988, 1989, and 1990 at two locations in Missouri to study the influence of fall tillage on the soil persistence of several soybean herbicides and subsequent injury to the rotational crops winter wheat, corn, cotton, and grain sorghum. Chlorimuron, clomazone, imazaquin, imazethapyr, and metribuzin plus chlorimuron were applied at their label and double label rate (2X) in soybean. Fall chisel plowing did not influence the carryover potential of these herbicides on any of the crops, in any year, or at either location of the research. However, herbicides injured several of these rotational crops. The 2X-label rate of clomazone reduced winter wheat grain yield at both locations. None of the herbicide treatments at either location reduced corn yield. Imazaquin applied at the 2X rate caused greater than 30% visible injury to cotton in 1989; however, cotton yield was not affected. The 2X rate of chlorimuron caused a reduction of grain sorghum yield in 1989, but not in 1990 or 1991 at Novelty.

False broomweed is a troublesome weed on south Texas rangelands. The plant suppresses the growth of desirable herbaceous plant species and is unpalatable to livestock and wildlife. The objectives of this study were to evaluate multispectral satellite data for automated detection, classification, and mapping of false broomweed infestations. Determining the optimum phenological conditions for false broomweed detection was a major goal. Results indicate that satellite data can be used to detect major stands of this shrub and map the relative extent of infested areas. The best classification was obtained when the foliage of the shrub was fully developed and during periods of low herbaceous biomass production. Limited ground or aerial surveying will be needed to produce more exact estimates of the extent of false broomweed stands; however, these efforts can be focused on areas identified by satellite classification.

Leafy spurge viable seed production and germination were reduced by 2,4-D applied during flower development and seed formation, in the field. Viable seed production was reduced when 2,4-D was applied at all growth stages after the start of flower bud development. The number of viable seed from untreated plants was 173, while, the number of viable seed from plants treated 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, or 35 d after the start of flower bud development was <1, 4, 7, 31, 53, and 62; respectively. Leafy spurge seed germination was higher in gibberellic acid than in water for seed collected from untreated plants and from plants treated with 2,4-D 7, 14, and 21 d after bud initiation. This research shows that 2,4-D must be applied prior to flower bud development to prevent seed production.

Imazethapyr, alone and in combination with other herbicides, was applied PPI, PRE, and POST to pinto beans to determine weed control and selectivity to the crop. All of the herbicides improved pinto bean yield as compared with the unweeded control. Imazethapyr applied PPI and POST provided excellent control of black nightshade, kochia, Russian thistle, prostrate pigweed, and redroot pigweed. Barnyardgrass control with imazethapyr ranged from 58 to 96% and increased to 98% or greater when imazethapyr was combined with metolachlor, pendimethalin, trifluralin, or EPTC. Pinto bean yield was not reduced from any herbicide treatment compared to the handweeded control.

A nonionic surfactant with the appropriate structure and concentration increased rimsulfuron activity 10-fold. Surfactants sharply increased rimsulfuron activity as concentration increased up to 0.05% (w/w) with slightly more enhancement up to 0.1% (w/w). Surfactants with a wide range of 14 chemical, physical, and surface properties were evaluated on giant foxtail, velvetleaf, and corn. Two properties, HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) and the physical form of the spray deposit, explained the biological variation. The most active surfactants had an HLB from 12 to 17 and formed a moist gel spray deposit on the leaf on all three species. A separate study with 13 chemically pure linear alcohol ethoxylates supported these conclusions and additionally showed that increasing molecular size increases activity. Because crop injury correlates with weed control, the best surfactant strategy is to maximize weed control at the lowest rimsulfuron rate.

Field studies were conducted in 1991 and 1992 to evaluate the duration of giant foxtail control in no-till soybean with MON 13200 alone and with imazaquin applied up to 2 mo prior to planting. MON 13200 at rates ranging from 224 to 448 g ai/ha applied up to 57 d before planting controlled 97 to 99% of giant foxtail averaged over years. MON 13200 plus imazaquin applied approximately 45 or 30 d before planting controlled 92 to 99% of giant foxtail compared with 53, 64, and 65% and 61, 69, and 78% in plots treated with alachlor, metolachlor, or pendimethalin plus imazaquin, respectively. Differences in control of giant foxtail among the herbicides evaluated were minimal when applied 15 or 0 d before planting. Little or no soybean injury was observed in 1991; up to 30% was observed in 1992 but final soybean height was not affected.

The efficacy of reduced rates of fomesafen, bentazon plus acifluorfen, and chlorimuron, in combination with sethoxydim was investigated in New Jersey from 1989 to 1991. Herbicides applied at sequential 0.25x rates controlled common lambsquarters, common ragweed, and stinkgrass. Chlorimuron plus sethoxydim did not control common lambsquarters at any rate. Generally, herbicides applied at 0.5x rates were not as effective as the full or sequential 0.25x rates. Yields of plots treated with reduced rates were equal to or greater than those treated with full rates.

The control of puncturevine in southern peas with imazethapyr and imazaquin and the potential for carryover of these herbicides to spinach was evaluated in Arkansas. Imazethapyr (0.07 kg ai ha−1) and imazaquin (0.14 kg ha−1) applied to southern peas either PPI tank-mixed with trifluralin (0.84 kg ha−1) or PRE or POST following trifluralin controlled puncturevine at least 70%. Imazaquin and imazethapyr remaining in soil after use caused injury and yield reduction to spinach planted 3 to 4 mo after herbicide application in the fall after southern pea harvest. In spring spinach planted 8 to 9 mo after herbicide application, the only injury observed was from soil residues of imazethapyr applied POST in one of two years, with no yield reduction. In rate by timing experiments, imazethapyr at 0.07 kg ha−1 applied PPI, PRE, and 3 and 6 d after puncturevine emergence controlled puncturevine at least 95% at the 2-wk rating. At the 4-wk rating, imazethapyr at 0.07 kg ha−1 applied PRE provided this level of control. Imazaquin at 0.07 and 0.14 kg ha−1 controlled puncturevine greater than 93% when applied up to 12 d after emergence. Puncturevine control was less with both herbicides at lower rates and as application timing increased.