Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted under weed-free conditions in 2000 and 2001 to investigate the responses of 10 soft red winter wheat cultivars to postemergence applications of the experimental herbicide AE F130060 03 at 15 g ai/ha with the crop safener AE F107892 at 30 g ai/ha. In the greenhouse, AE F130060 03 injured wheat 7 to 12% and reduced height 11 to 14% at 3 wk after treatment (WAT) across all cultivars but did not reduce biomass of any cultivar. In the field, AE F130060 03 injured wheat 11 to 32%, reduced tiller number of all cultivars except ‘Roane’, ‘Coker 9663’, and ‘VA98W-593’, and reduced height of all cultivars except ‘USG 3209’ and VA98W-593 at 3 WAT. By 9 WAT, tiller number and height of treated wheat was similar to that of nontreated wheat. AE F130060 03 did not influence moisture content or kernel weight of any cultivar. However, AE F130060 03 reduced grain yield in ‘FFR 518’, Coker 9663, and VA98W-593 in both years as well as in ‘AgriPro Patton’ in 2001. These yield reductions suggest that further investigation into soft red winter wheat cultivar tolerance to AE F130060 03 is needed.

Field studies were conducted during 1999 and 2000 to compare weed control after fall and early-preplant (EPP) herbicide applications in no-till soybean. Three residual treatments (chlorimuron plus metribuzin, chlorimuron plus sulfentrazone, and metribuzin) were applied at two rates and timings (fall and 30 d EPP) either alone or in combination with glyphosate and 2,4-D. The addition of glyphosate and 2,4-D to fall-applied residual herbicides significantly increased control of common chickweed, annual bluegrass, cressleaf groundsel, and shepherd's-purse. The effect of application rate on weed control was species dependent. Fall-applied residual herbicides were comparable with EPP treatments with respect to winter annual weed control; however, at planting control of summer annual weed species with fall treatments was less consistent compared with EPP residual herbicides.

Weed control in white beans is currently limited by the small number of registered herbicides. The tolerance of two white bean cultivars, ‘AC Compass’ and ‘OAC Thunder’, to various postemergence (POST) herbicides at the maximum use rate and twice the maximum use rate for soybean or corn was evaluated at two Ontario locations in 2001 and 2002. Generally, the two cultivars did not differ in their response to the POST herbicides. POST applications of imazamox plus fomesafen, imazamox plus bentazon, and cloransulam-methyl decreased plant height, shoot dry weight, and yield by as much as 29, 41, and 55%, respectively, and increased seed moisture content up to 3.9%. POST applications of thifensulfuron, chlorimuron, and bromoxynil decreased plant height as much as 57%, shoot dry weight by up to 71%, yield as much as 93% and increased seed moisture content up to 15.5%. Based on these results, AC Compass and OAC Thunder white beans do not possess sufficient tolerance to support the registration of imazamox plus bentazon, imazamox plus fomesafen, cloransulam-methyl, thifensulfuron, chlorimuron, and bromoxynil.

Field experiments were conducted in 1994 and 1995 under sprinkler irrigation at the University of Wyoming Research and Extension Center at Torrington to evaluate the effects of season-long interference and the effects of duration of interference of several common sunflower and green foxtail densities, alone or in combination, on pinto bean yield. Green foxtail densities did not significantly affect pinto bean yield in 1994 and reduced yield only at the highest density in 1995. In contrast, sunflower densities reduced pinto bean yield, except at the lowest density in 1994. Pinto bean yield was reduced as the combined density of green foxtail and sunflower increased. Compared with yield losses from each weed species alone, yield reductions from mixed species were additive in 1994 and at low weed densities in 1995 and less than additive at higher weed densities in 1995. The minimum number of weeds per m of row that will economically reduce pinto bean yield was estimated to be 1.6 to 2.9 for green foxtail and 0.12 to 0.2 for sunflower. Pinto bean yield reduction increased as the duration of green foxtail and sunflower interference increased, whether grown alone or in combination. The maximum duration that green foxtail, sunflower, and green foxtail plus sunflower can interfere with pinto bean before causing economical losses was estimated to be 4.5, 3.2, and 2.5 wk, respectively.

Field studies were conducted over 3 yr at two locations to evaluate the effect of glyphosate rate and time of application on common lambsquarters control, density, dry weight, seed production, and the number of seedlings emerging from soil cores taken the year after herbicide application in glyphosate-resistant corn. Glyphosate was applied at 0, 112, 225, 450, 675, or 900 g ai/ha when common lambsquarters were at the two-, four-, or six-leaf stage of growth. Nicosulfuron was applied to all experimental areas to control annual grasses. Visual estimates of percent control increased, whereas density, dry weight, seed production, and seedlings emerging the year after treatment decreased as the rate of glyphosate was increased from 0 to 450 g/ha. Increasing the glyphosate rate above 450 g/ha had little effect on these parameters. Corn yield declined only at glyphosate rates below 450 g/ha. Time of application had no effect on common lambsquarters control and corn yield because little emergence occurred after the first glyphosate application. There was no interaction between glyphosate rate and time of application for any of the parameters evaluated. In these studies, the application of glyphosate at half the manufacturer's registered rate provided control of common lambsquarters equivalent to the full-registered rate with no measured increase in weed seed production and no increase in weed seedlings emerging from soil cores the year after herbicide application. The results suggest that in some cases the use of reduced herbicide rates can provide excellent weed control and maintain crop yields, while reducing the cost of production and the environmental impact of herbicides. The use of extremely low rates (112 or 225 g/ha), however, resulted in reduced corn yields, increased common lambsquarters seed production and seedlings emerging the year after application, and possibly increased weed management costs in subsequent years.

Ground ivy is a stoloniferous, perennial weed that persists in lawn turf. With the widespread use of 2,4-D on turf sites, the development of 2,4-D–tolerant ground ivy is a possibility. Ground ivy populations showed a highly variable response to foliar 2,4-D application. Ground ivy from Nebraska (NE) was tolerant to 2,4-D, whereas Ohio (OH) ground ivy was susceptible. The 2,4-D–susceptible OH population absorbed 37% more foliar-applied 14C–2,4-D than the 2,4-D–tolerant NE population. Although OH and NE populations total translocation of applied 14C was similar and averaged 5%, the OH population translocated 42% more toward the apical meristem of the primary stolon than the NE population, primarily because of the OH population's higher 14C–2,4-D absorption. The variation in response to 2,4-D found between these two populations occurred after exposure of roots to 2,4-D, but the effect was less pronounced. These results suggest that the difference in foliar uptake may partially contribute to differences in response to 2,4-D between these two populations. Likewise, differences in acropetal translocation may contribute to the differential sensitivity of 2,4-D–tolerant and –susceptible ground ivy populations.

Field experiments were conducted at five locations in Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming to determine the effects of imazamox rate and application timing on winter annual grass control and crop response in imidazolinone-tolerant winter wheat. Imazamox at 35, 44, or 53 g ai/ha applied early-fall postemergence (EFP), late-fall postemergence, early-spring postemergence (ESP), or late-spring postemergence (LSP) controlled jointed goatgrass at least 95% in all experiments. Feral rye control with imazamox was 95 to 99%, regardless of rate or application timing at Hays, KS, in 2001. Feral rye control at Sidney, NE, and Torrington, WY, was highest (78 to 85%) with imazamox at 44 or 53 g/ha. At Sidney and Torrington, feral rye control was greatest when imazamox was applied EFP. Imazamox stunted wheat <10% in two experiments at Torrington, but EFP or LSP herbicide treatments in the Sidney experiment and ESP or LSP treatments in two Hays experiments caused moderate (12 to 34%) wheat injury. Wheat injury increased as imazamox rate increased. Wheat receiving imazamox LSP yielded less grain than wheat treated at other application timings in each Hays experiment and at Sidney in 2001. No yield differences occurred in one Torrington experiment. However, yields generally decreased as imazamox application timing was delayed in the other Torrington experiment. Generally, imazamox applied in the fall provided the greatest weed control, caused the least wheat injury, and maximized wheat yield.

Field and growth chamber experiments determined the efficacy of temporal glyphosate applications on velvetleaf. Glyphosate was applied postemergence to velvetleaf periodically before and during light and after dark. In 1999, glyphosate at 840 g ae/ha applied before sunrise and after midday provided 54 and 100% velvetleaf control, respectively. In 2000, glyphosate at 840 g/ha applied before sunrise, midday, and after sunset provided 69, 100, and 37% velvetleaf control, respectively. In the growth chamber, glyphosate at 840 g/ha applied before or after light reduced velvetleaf biomass 15 to 20% or 32 to 47%, respectively, and reduced velvetleaf height 24% or 45 to 54%, respectively. Velvetleaf control was consistently greater with glyphosate applications during light compared with dark, regardless of constant air temperature and relative humidity (growth chamber), dew absence or presence (field and growth chamber), or leaf blade orientation (growth chamber) with natural light–dark movements or a fixed horizontal position.

Field studies were conducted from 1998 through 2000 to determine the influence of crop rotation and level of herbicide system for johnsongrass, entireleaf morningglory, and smellmelon control in glyphosate-resistant cotton and corn. Three different crop rotation schedules were used including cotton–cotton–cotton, cotton–corn–cotton, and corn–cotton–corn. Herbicide systems involving various degrees of input levels (low, medium, and high) were compared with a conventional standard program. In 1998, weed control ranged from 80 to 95% for all herbicide systems when the rotation was corn–cotton–corn. In 1999 and 2000, the low-input herbicide system controlled entireleaf morningglory 76 to 78% late in the season. Decreased smellmelon control (78%) was also observed with the conventional standard during this same period. In the cotton–corn–cotton rotation, late-season entireleaf morningglory control decreased each year in the low-input system, regardless of crop. In 2000, late-season evaluations indicated lower weed control of all three species with the conventional standard program compared with the other input systems. Yield data from 2000 suggested that corn and seed cotton yields were influenced by crop rotation.

Field studies were conducted in 2000, 2001, and 2002 at Urbana, IL, to examine the interference potential of common waterhemp that emerged at soybean growth stages VE, V2-V3, V4-V5, R1-R2, and R3-R4 in 19- and 76-cm row soybean. Soybean row width and common waterhemp emergence timing significantly influenced common waterhemp density, biomass, seed production, mortality, and soybean yield loss. Common waterhemp density declined as emergence timings were at later soybean growth stages. This decline happened at earlier growth stages in narrow-row soybean. Significant reductions in common waterhemp biomass and seed production occurred at the V2-V3 and V4-V5 emergence timings for the narrow- and wide-row soybean, respectively. Common waterhemp seed production was more than 23,000 seeds per plant at the VE emergence timing for both soybean row widths. Survival of common waterhemp that emerged after the V4-V5 soybean growth stage was less than 20% in both row widths. Common waterhemp interference reduced soybean seed yield at the VE, V2-V3, and the V4-V5 emergence timings. Row width affected the magnitude of yield reductions at these interference timings, with reductions being less in narrow-row soybean. This research suggests that control measures need to be implemented to common waterhemp plants that emerge before V4-V5 soybean to protect soybean yield and reduce common waterhemp seed production.

Field experiments were conducted to study the effects of various tillage and mulching practices on fruit maturity and weed suppression in pumpkins. Conventional tillage (CT), disking, no tillage with rye removed (RR), no tillage with standing rye (SR), and strip tillage (ST) were evaluated with and without ethalfluralin plus halosulfuron (1.5 plus 0.036 kg ai/ha, respectively) applied preemergence. In 2001, when heavy rain after herbicide application caused significant crop injury, the herbicides delayed maturity and significantly reduced yields of mature pumpkins within each herbicide treatment, total yields did not differ with tillage. In 2002, weed populations were significantly greater than those in 2001, and in 2002, regardless of herbicides, yields of mature fruit were greater in tillage treatments with higher rye residues (SR, ST). Although weed populations were less in one year than the other, herbicides provided effective control in both seasons, and RR, ST, and SR effectively suppressed weeds compared with CT. Averaged over treatments, greater yield losses were attributable to weed competition (42%) in 2002 than to herbicide injury (32%) in 2001.

Snap bean was evaluated for sensitivity to a number of herbicides in field studies conducted during a 2-yr period in Exeter, ON. Preemergence (PRE) applications of metolachlor (1,600 and 3,200 g ai/ha), imazethapyr (75 and 150 g ai/ha), and clomazone plus metobromuron (840 + 1,000 g ai/ha and 1,680 + 2,000 g/ha) were evaluated for visual injury at 7, 14, and 28 d after emergence. Postemergence (POST) applications of imazamox plus fomesafen (25 + 200 g ai/ha and 50 + 400 g/ha), quizalofop-P (72 and 144 g ai/ha), and clethodim (90 and 180 g ai/ha) also were evaluated for visual injury 7, 14, and 28 d after treatment. Plant height and crop yield were assessed for all treatments. Visual injury, stunting, and yield loss were not observed in the metolachlor treatments. Imazethapyr (150 g/ha) caused stunting and reduced snap bean yield in both study years. Clomazone plus metobromuron (1,680 + 2,000 g/ha) injured and stunted snap bean in both years of the study and reduced yield in 2000. Imazamox plus fomesafen (50 + 400 g/ha) injured snap bean in both years but only reduced yield in 2000. Quizalofop-P injured snap bean but did not reduce plant height or yield. Clethodim did not injure, stunt, or reduce yield of snap bean. Metolachlor (PRE), imazamox plus fomesafen (POST), quizalofop-P (POST), and clethodim (POST) have excellent potential as weed management tools in snap bean in Ontario.

Field studies were conducted to investigate the effects of different rates of herbicides on weed control, agronomic characteristics, and quality of sugar beet at Shiraz, Iran, in 2000 and 2001. Separate and combined applications of herbicides, including 14 combinations and different rates of grass and broadleaf herbicides, at two rates were used. Herbicides reduced weed biomass compared with the weedy check. In both years, maximum reduction in weed biomass was observed with desmedipham plus phenmedipham plus ethofumesate at 0.23 + 0.23 + 0.23 kg ai/ha and desmedipham plus phenmedipham plus propaquizafop at 0.46 + 0.46 + 0.1 kg ai/ha. Efficacy of grass herbicides was reduced when they were combined with pyrazon. Highest crop injury in both years was observed with desmedipham plus phenmedipham plus ethofumesate at 0.23 + 0.23 + 0.23 kg/ ha. Highest and lowest root yields in both years were produced in weed-free and weedy check plots, respectively. All herbicide treatments produced lower sugar beet yields than the hand-weeded check. Of the herbicide treatments evaluated, the highest sugar beet yields were with desmedipham plus phenmedipham plus propaquizafop at 0.46 + 0.46 + 0.1 kg/ha in 2001 and with desmedipham plus phenmedipham plus ethofumesate at 0.23 + 0.23 + 0.23 kg/ha in 2000. Sucrose content and other sugar beet brei characteristics were not affected by the herbicide treatments.

Field experiments were conducted at Adelphia, NJ, in 2001 and 2002 to evaluate the response of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and Chewings fine fescue to sulfosulfuron. Single applications of sulfosulfuron at 6 to 67 g ai/ha were applied to mature swards of each species. Visual chlorosis ratings were taken and clippings were collected 4 wk after treatment (WAT), and turf injury was rated 8 WAT. Chlorosis on all species increased with increasing sulfosulfuron rate. In 2001, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and fine fescue chlorosis reached 33, 43, 65, and 61% at 4 WAT, respectively, whereas in 2002, chlorosis only reached 13, 26, 46, and 26%, respectively. Clipping weights of all species decreased as application rate increased. Reductions in Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass clipping weights were less severe than those in tall and fine fescue. By 8 WAT, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescue had nearly complete recovery from any initial visual injury symptoms. However, tall fescue injury was still evident 8 WAT in both years. Initial injury of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and Chewings fine fescue was in the form of discoloration and stunting. Significant stand thinning was only evident in the tall fescue studies. These studies suggest that Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass may be more tolerant than tall fescue to applications of sulfosulfuron and fine fescue is intermediately tolerant to sulfosulfuron.

Five sweet corn cultivars were evaluated for tolerance to bentazon in five field experiments conducted during 2 yr in Ontario. Bentazon was applied postemergence (POST) at 1.08 and 2.16 kg ai/ha, the highest registered rate and twice the highest registered rate, respectively, used in sweet corn in Ontario. When bentazon was applied POST at 1.08 and 2.16 kg/ha to sweet corn cultivar ‘DelMonte 2038’, injury included plant stunting and leaf damage ranging from 6 to 69% and 15 to 90%, respectively. Plant height was reduced to 48 and 100% of the untreated check when treated with bentazon at 1.08 and 2.16 kg/ha, respectively. The visual injury and height reductions were reflected in the marketable yields, which were reduced to 94% when treated with bentazon. Significant reductions in height and marketable yield were not observed in the other four cultivars tested. No correlation was observed between bentazon sensitivity and endosperm genotype. Based on visual injury ratings, sweet corn height, and marketable yield, it was concluded that ‘Calico Belle’, ‘GH 2684’, ‘Reveille’, and ‘Rival’ are tolerant to POST application of bentazon.

Thirteen hard red winter wheat cultivars were evaluated for their ability to suppress summer annual weeds in grain production systems near North Platte, NE, from 1993 through 1997. ‘Turkey’, a 125-yr-old landrace selection, suppressed both broadleaf and grass weeds more than other cultivars. Some relatively new cultivars, such as ‘Arapahoe’, ‘Jules’, ‘Pronghorn’, and ‘Vista’ suppressed summer annual grasses almost as well as Turkey. Total weed density was negatively correlated with number of winter wheat stems/m2, mature winter wheat height, and lodging. Weed density after wheat harvest was positively correlated with delay in winter wheat seeding date and was negatively correlated with precipitation 0 to 30 d after winter wheat seeding, during tillering, tillering to boot stage, and heading to maturity stage. Mean air temperature 0 to 30 d after wheat seeding was positively correlated with weed density. In the spring, weed density was positively correlated with temperatures during the tillering stage, tillering to boot stage, and heading to maturity stage. Stinkgrass and witchgrass densities were positively correlated with severity of wheat leaf rust. The highest grain-producing cultivars included three medium height cultivars ‘Alliance’, Arapahoe, and ‘Niobrara’. Alliance wheat produced 53% more grain than Turkey, and the other two produced 43% more grain.

Waterhemp has emerged as one of the most problematic weeds in agronomic crops in the Midwest because of an extended germination period and widespread occurrence of biotypes resistant to atrazine and sulfonylurea herbicides. However, the competitive effects of late-emerging cohorts on corn yield are not known. Field studies were conducted in 2001 and 2002 at Columbia, Novelty, and Albany, MO, to determine the effects of late-emerging waterhemp interference on corn growth, nitrogen (N) accumulation, and yield. Waterhemp emerged approximately 20 d after planting (DAP) and was treated at heights of 8, 15, 23, 31, 38, or 46 cm with directed applications of dicamba + diflufenzopyr followed by hand hoeing. Soil water status, corn leaf chlorophyll content, and corn and common waterhemp height were recorded at the time of waterhemp removal. N stress was detected with a chlorophyll meter at four of six removal timings at high waterhemp densities (362 or more plants/m2) but only at one of six removal timings at lower densities (82 or less plants/m2). Water stress was observed at five of the six removal timings at high densities but at none of the removal timings at low densities. High waterhemp densities reduced corn yield when allowed to reach 15 cm before removal, and yields were reduced 36% when not controlled. At low densities, yield losses did not occur unless waterhemp was allowed to remain with corn season long. Our research suggests that waterhemp is less competitive with corn than redroot pigweed, smooth pigweed, and Palmer amaranth. In addition, low densities of late-emerging waterhemp would not warrant removal to protect corn yield.

Herbicide-resistant canola dominates the canola market in Canada. A multiyear field experiment was conducted at three locations to investigate the effect of time of weed removal (two-, four-, or six-leaf canola) and herbicide rate (50 or 100% recommended) in three herbicide-resistant canola systems. Weeds were controlled in glufosinate-resistant canola (GLU) with glufosinate, in glyphosate-resistant canola (GLY) with glyphosate, and in imidazolinone-resistant canola (IMI) with a 50:50 mixture of imazamox and imazethapyr. Canola yields were similar among the three canola cultivar–herbicide systems. Yields were not influenced by 50 vs. 100% herbicide rates. Timing of weed removal had the greatest effect on canola yield, with weed removal at the four-leaf stage giving the highest yields in most cases. Percent dockage was often greater for GLU and IMI than for GLY. In comparison with the other treatments, dockage levels doubled for GLU after application at 50% herbicide rates. The consistency of monocot weed control was usually greater for GLY than for GLU or IMI systems. However, weed biomass data revealed no differences in dicot weed control consistency between IMI and GLY systems. Greater dockage and weed biomass variability after weed removal at the six-leaf stage or after low herbicide rates suggests higher weed seed production, which could constrain the adoption of integrated weed management practices in subsequent years.

Area-of-influence experiments were conducted on high–organic matter soils to assess the effect of common lambsquarters distances from ‘South Bay’ lettuce on yield and quality under two phosphorus (P) regimens. P was applied either banded (125 kg P/ha) or broadcast (250 kg P/ha) before lettuce planting. Lettuce plants were harvested at 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 cm from each side of the common lambsquarters plant after season-long interference. The regression equations were y = 0.40 + 0.36/(1 + e−0.09(x−52.5)), r2 = 0.92, for banded P; and y = 0.40 + 0.29/(1 + e−0.07(x−69.3)), r2 = 0.94 for broadcast P. Banded P produced 9% more fresh weight per head than the broadcast P treatment under weed-free conditions. Within the broadcast P treatments, common lambsquarters growing at 125 and 100 cm did not affect fresh weight of harvested lettuce. Values for fresh weight per head declined 18, 34, 38, and 38% when lettuce grew at 75, 50, 25, and 0 cm distance from common lambsquarters, respectively. Fresh weight of lettuce in banded P treatments was reduced only at 50, 25, and 0 cm distance from common lambsquarters plants, representing 31, 44, and 44% less than its weed-free control, respectively. Banding P at 50% (125 kg/ha) of the recommended broadcast rate reduced the area of influence of common lambsquarters with lettuce.

Field studies were conducted in 1992 and 1993 to evaluate imazapic alone and in postemergence (POST) mixtures with atrazine or bentazon for weed control in imidazolinone-resistant corn treated with carbofuran. Nicosulfuron and nicosulfuron plus atrazine also were evaluated. Imazapic at 36 and 72 g ai/ha controlled large crabgrass 85 and 92%, respectively, which was equivalent to control obtained with nicosulfuron plus atrazine. Imazapic at the higher rate controlled large crabgrass better than nicosulfuron alone. Imazapic at 36 and 72 g/ha controlled Texas panicum 88 and 99%, respectively, and at the higher rate control was equivalent to that obtained with nicosulfuron alone or in mixture with atrazine. Imazapic plus bentazon POST controlled Texas panicum less than imazapic at the lower rate applied alone. Redroot pigweed was controlled 100% with all herbicide treatments. Imazapic at either rate alone or in tank mixture with bentazon or atrazine controlled prickly sida >99%, which was superior to control obtained with nicosulfuron or nicosulfuron plus atrazine. Smallflower, entireleaf, ivyleaf, pitted, and tall morningglories were controlled 96% or greater with all herbicide treatments except nicosulfuron alone. Sicklepod control was >88% with all imazapic treatments, whereas control from nicosulfuron alone was 72%. Corn yields were improved by the addition of POST herbicides with no differences among POST herbicide treatments.