Experiments were conducted to determine the influences of temperature, light, winter storage, and water stress on seed germination of fringed sage. Seeds collected in 3 yr in central Saskatchewan were placed in sealed vials and buried in the soil after harvest, and germination was tested in spring and early summer. Seeds germinated over a wide range of temperatures with alternating 25/15 C being optimal. The range of optimal temperatures was higher for older seeds than younger seeds. The stimulating effect of light on germination varied among collections and incubating temperatures. Total germination and germination rate was limited by water stress and no seeds germinated at osmotic potentials below −0.9 MPa. Seeds hydrated in the autumn and exposed to low winter temperatures had higher germination the following spring than dry seeds exposed to the same conditions. Results suggest that sufficient soil moisture combined with moderate seedbed temperatures are optimal for fringed sage germination. Periodicity of germination may be influenced by variable germination requirements in different aging seeds.

When a range of weed densities is needed for competition experiments, one method of reducing existing populations is to remove all weeds in strips of specified length down the crop row. This technique also can be used to create different sizes of weed dusters. Two methods of sampling weed densities after such thinning were compared: unrestricted sampling (under which quadrats are placed randomly within the row) and restricted sampling (under which quadrats are randomly placed within a row under the restriction that they coincide with the beginning of an infested strip). The bias of estimators of weed density under each of these two approaches was derived and bias-corrected estimators of weed density from the two methods were compared on the basis of their variance. The variance under restricted sampling is less than or equal to the variance under unrestricted sampling so that, by a minimum variance criterion, restricted sampling using a bias correction is the better technique.

Russian thistle plant movement and seed dispersal were studied in 1991 and 1992 by placing Russian thistle plants in the center of wheat fields in eastern Washington. Three adjacent site treatments, with 24 plants on each site, were used each year; wheat stubble, summerfallow planted to winter wheat, and a “stationary” site. Plants in the “stationary” site were anchored to the ground to prevent tumbling. Plants in the stubble and summerfallow sites were allowed to tumble naturally. Individual plant movement was monitored and recorded weekly by satellite global positioning systems technology. Average estimated seed number per plant at the beginning of the experiment was 57,400 in 1991 and 66,000 in 1992. The direction plants moved correlated highly with wind direction. Some plants moved a maximum distance of 4069 m in 6 wks, while other plants moved only 60 m because of variable winds and being compressed by snow or frozen into wheat stubble. Average percentage seed loss in 1991 and 1992 for stationary plants was 15 and 26%, and for tumbling plants was 48 and 66%, respectively.

Measurements of above-ground plant volume were used to quantify corn interference with common cocklebur and velvetleaf. Separate experiments were carried out for each weed species in which neighborhoods with a radius of 50 cm were established around target plants of both species, selected from a range of corn plus cocklebur or velvetleaf densities. Height and canopy area of target plants and neighbor corn and weed populations were measured periodically during the growing season. Target plant (corn, cocklebur, or velvetleaf) size as well as corn and weed population size within each neighborhood were quantified as cylindrical volumes. Regression analysis was used to quantify the relationship between target plant seed production and cylindrical volumes of the target and neighbor species. Both target and neighbor plant volumes were correlated with target plant seed production for all species. The ratio of target plant volume to total neighborhood plant volume (volume ratio) was the independent variable that accounted for the most variation in target plant seed production. These volume-based variables may be used to develop competitive indices in physico-empirical based interference models.

Based on six years of data from a field experiment near Pullman, WA, a bioeconomic decision model was developed to annually estimate the optimal post-emergence herbicide types and rates to control multiple weed species in winter wheat under various tillage systems and crop rotations. The model name, PALWEED:WHEAT, signifies a Washington-Idaho Palouse region weed management model for winter wheat The model consists of linear preharvest weed density functions, a nonlinear yield response function, and a profit function. Preharvest weed density functions were estimated for four weed groups: summer annual grasses, winter annual grasses, summer annual broadleaves, and winter annual broadleaves. A single aggregated weed competition index was developed from the four density functions for use functions for use in the yield model. A yield model containing a logistic damage function performed better than a model containing a rectangular hyperbolic damage function. Herbicides were grouped into three categories: preplant nonselective, postemergence broadleaf, and postemergence grass. PALWEED:WHEAT was applied to average conditions of the 6-yr experiment to predict herbicide treatments that maximized profit. In comparison to average treatment rates in the 6-yr experiment, the bioeconomic decision model recommended less postemergence herbicide. The weed management recommendations of PALWEED:WHEAT behaved as expected by agronomic and economic theory in response to changes in assumed weed populations, herbicide costs, crop prices, and possible restrictions on herbicide application rates.

A replacement series experiment was conducted in the field to quantify the interaction between Canada thistle and buckwheat, and to determine if allelopathy was the mechanism of interference. Plant biomass data indicated that buckwheat only responded to intraspecific competition and not interspecific competition from Canada thistle. Canada thistle responded to interspecific competition from buckwheat plants but not to intraspecific competition. The absence of one of the interspecific competition components (no measurable effect of Canada thistle density on buckwheat) indicates that the value for niche differentiation is probably greater than unity, signifying that there is no mutual antagonism between buckwheat and Canada thistle. Because allelopathy is one mechanism that causes mutual inhibition, data do not support the hypothesis that buckwheat interferes with Canada thistle by allelopathy.

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate soybean interference on common cocklebur and entireleaf morningglory under irrigated and nonirrigated conditions. Interference from the mixture of soybean and entireleaf morningglory, and soybean alone reduced the total leaf area index (LAI), LAI within the common cocklebur canopy, and growth rate of common cocklebur more than did entireleaf morningglory; more reduction occurred without irrigation than with irrigation. Irrigated common cocklebur produced 687 burs per plant, while nonirrigated produced 359. Irrigated and nonirrigated soybeans and the mixture of soybeans and entireleaf morningglory reduced common cocklebur bur production 43 to 47%. Irrigated entireleaf morningglory reduced common cocklebur bur production 42%, while nonirrigated reduced bur production 28%. Interference from the mixture of irrigated soybeans and common cocklebur reduced the total leaf area index (LAI), LAI within the entireleaf morningglory canopy, and growth rate of entireleaf morningglory more than did soybean or common cocklebur alone. Irrigated entireleaf morningglory produced 542 and 1107 seeds per plant in 1982 and 1983, respectively. The mixture of irrigated soybeans and common cocklebur reduced entireleaf morningglory seed production 84 to 90%. Nonirrigated entireleaf morningglory was not competitive in any treatment combination either year due to lack of sufficient LAI.

Field studies were conducted at Rosemount, MN, in 1992 and 1993 to quantify the demographic processes regulating the population dynamics of velvetleaf in soybean as part of a corn-soybean rotation. A consistent 6.8 ± 0.5% of the total velvetleaf seedbank emerged each year. Less than 21% of all velvetleaf seedlings survived each year in mixture with soybean, due in part to Verticillium spp wilt infection. The probability of seedling survival varied across time of emergence. Velvetleaf seed production in the absence of crop competition was 125 and 227 seeds plant−1 in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Velvetleaf plants that emerged early produced greater numbers of seed than later emerging plants. Velvetleaf survival and seed production were reduced up to 82% in the presence of crop competition. Soybean yield varied across soybean densities in both years, but was not reduced across velvetleaf densities.

Resistance to fenoxaprop-P and other aryloxyphenoxypropionate and cyclohexanedione herbicides in the wild oat population, UM1, is controlled by a single, partially dominant, nuclear gene. In arriving at this conclusion, parents, F1 hybrids, and F2 plants derived from reciprocal crosses between UM1 and a susceptible wild oat line, UM5, were treated with fenoxaprop-P over a wide range of dosages. Based on these experiments, a dosage of 400 g ai ha−1 fenoxaprop-P was selected to discriminate between three response types. At this dosage, susceptible plants were killed and resistant plants were unaffected, whereas plants characterized as intermediate in response were injured but recovered. Treated F2 plants segregated in a 1:2:1 (R, I, S) ratio, indicative of single nuclear gene inheritance. This was confirmed by selfing F2 plants and screening several F3 families. Families derived from intermediate F2 plants segregated for the three characteristic response types, whereas those derived from resistant F2 plants were uniformly resistant. Chisquare analysis indicated the F2 segregation ratios fit those expected for a single partially dominant nuclear gene system. In addition, F2 populations from both crosses were screened with a mixture of fenoxaprop-Pand sethoxydim. The dosages of both herbicides (150 g ai ha−1 fenoxaprop-P and 100 g ha−1 sethoxydim) were sufficient to control only susceptible plants. Treated F2 populations segregated in a 3:1 (R:S) pattern, thereby confirming that resistance to the two chemically unrelated herbicides results from the same gene alteration.

Intensive field surveys were conducted in eastern Nebraska to determine the frequency distribution model and associated parameters of broadleaf and grass weed seedling populations. The negative binomial distribution consistently fit the data over time (1992 to 1993) and space (fields) for both the inter and intrarow broadleaf and grass weed seedling populations. The other distributions tested (Poisson with zeros, Neyman type A, logarithmic with zeros, and Poisson-binomial) did not fit the data as consistently as the negative binomial distribution. Associated with the negative binomial distribution is a k parameter. k is a nonspatial aggregation parameter related to the variance at a given mean value. The k parameter of the negative binomial distribution was consistent across weed density for individual weed species in a given field except for foxtail spp. populations. Stability of the k parameter across field sites was assessed using the likelihood ratio test There was no stable or common k value across field sites and years for all weed species populations. The lack of stability in k across field sites is of concern, because this parameter is used extensively in the development of parametric sequential sampling procedures. Because k is not stable across field sites, k must be estimated at the time of sampling. Understanding the variability in it is critical to the development of parametric sequential sampling strategies and understanding the dynamics of weed species in the field.

Wild, ball, and dog mustard growth and development were investigated by mathematical growth analysis in a greenhouse experiment. Plant height and total plant biomass over the growth period followed the trend wild mustard > ball mustard > dog mustard. Dog mustard plants had lower leaf areas than either wild or ball mustard. In a replacement series experiment, wild mustard was more competitive than either ball or dog mustard, and ball mustard was more competitive than dog mustard.

Above-ground seedling development was characterized for five annual grass weeds: downy brome, bulbous bluegrass, jointed goatgrass, Italian ryegrass, wild oat; and three cereals: winter wheat, winter barley, and winter triticale in field experiments over two years. The rate of leaf production on the main stem of each species was linearly related to cumulative growing degree days (GDD) since planting. Leaf production rates were faster for bulbous bluegrass, downy brome, Italian ryegrass, wild oat, and barley than for wheat, triticale, and jointed goatgrass. The main stem development stage when individual tillers appeared was similar in all species except under poor seedbed conditions in 1991, in which case lower-node tillers were delayed in the cereals and jointed goatgrass, but not in most of the weed species. Bulbous bluegrass, downy brome, and barley had the same percentage of plants produce the first four primary tillers on the main stem in both years; the other species showed more year-to-year variation. Seedling heights at full emergence were generally greater for large-seeded species. Small-seeded species compared to large-seeded species tended to have greater relative increases in plant height over time. Knowledge of comparative development rates between these weeds and cereals could provide information for development of growth models for each of the species and could also improve understanding of the competitive relationships between grass weeds and cereal grains.

Three empirical crop yield loss models were used to describe the interference of redroot pigweed and Powell amaranth populations with soybean. Data were obtained from field experiments conducted in 1992 and 1993. Pigweed densities of 0 to eight plants m−1 were established within the soybean row. Pigweed sowing dates were selected so that weed seedling emergence coincided with VE, VC, and V2 soybean growth stages within the time frame of the critical weed-free period. The model incorporating pigweed density and time of emergence gave the best description of soybean yield loss in comparison to the two relative leaf area models. This model was fit to a combined data set of percent yield loss because parameter estimates did not differ among locations and years. Estimated soybean yield losses decreased from 16.4 to 0.5% with delayed pigweed emergence from 0 to 20 degree days. Leaf area of pigweed relative to soybean encompassed pigweed density and time of emergence. Relationship between relative leaf area and soybean yield loss was best described by the one-parameter model estimating a relative damage coefficient ‘q’ than the two-parameter model that also estimated maximum expected yield loss. The relative damage coefficient ‘q’ decreased with later times of leaf area assessment but could be predicted with one leaf area observation. Empirical models that incorporate time of weed emergence represent a step toward improving predictions of yield loss. This is important for the selection of cost-effective weed control strategies.

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate common cocklebur and entireleaf morningglory interference on soybean under irrigated and nonirrigated conditions. Total leaf area index (LAI), LAI within the soybean canopy, crop growth rate, and seed yield of soybean were decreased more by common cocklebur than by entireleaf morningglory. Interference from entireleaf morningglory, common cocklebur, or both species reduced soybean yields 21, 57, and 64%, respectively, with irrigation and 12, 60, and 76%, respectively, without irrigation. Soybean yield reduction from interference with entireleaf morningglory, common cocklebur, or both species was not influenced by soybean date of planting. Soil water was extracted from greater soil depths by soybean growing with the weeds than by soybean alone. High WUE without irrigation suggests that soybean uses water more efficiently when soil moisture is limiting than when soil moisture is available under irrigated conditions.

Studies were conducted in conventional and no-tillage corn in 1990, 1991, and 1992 at Wooster, OH, to measure corn yield and velvetleaf seed production in response to density of early and late emerging velvetleaf, and to estimate economic thresholds. The percent reduction in corn yield fit a hyperbolic function over velvetleaf densities from 1 to 30 plants m2. The percent yield loss and velvetleaf seed production were higher in a warm, wet year (1990) than in a dry (1991) or cold, wet year (1992). The percent corn yield reduction was generally greater in no-tillage than in conventional tillage and from early rather than late emerging velvetleaf. Maximum velvetleaf seed production ranged from about 18,000 seeds m2 for early emerging weeds in no-tillage in 1990 to 100 seeds m2 for late emerging weeds in no-tillage in 1992. The single year economic threshold for early emerging velvetleaf ranged from 0.40 to 14.0 velvetleaf m2 in conventional tillage and 0.13 to 3.13 in no-tillage. Economic thresholds that were predicted using yield goal information deviated from actual thresholds (using actual yields) for a given year by −43 to 30%. Single year economic thresholds were similar in both tillage treatments, but their value for management decisions is questionable due to variation among growing seasons and weed seed production from subthreshold populations.

Field and laboratory studies were conducted to determine if differences existed in pinto bean varietal tolerance to postemergence application of imazethapyr under field conditions; if differences in tolerance were due to differential acetolactate synthase enzyme sensitivity or differences in 14C-imazethapyr absorption, translocation, and metabolism; and the heritability of imazethapyr tolerance in pinto bean. All rates of imazethapyr injured Olathe, Sierra, UI-114, P89405, Aztec, and P90570 pinto bean varieties 7 d after treatment in 1991 and 1992, except 53 g ai ha−1 of imazethapyr applied to Sierra pinto bean in 1991. Olathe was injured more than other varieties in 1991, and physiological maturity of Olathe was delayed more than Sierra in 1991 and 1992. Seed yields of all varieties were not reduced in 1991, and only P90570 had reduced seed yields from 53 g ha−1 of imazethapyr in 1992. Differential sensitivity of the acetolactate synthase enzyme to imazethapyr was not the mechanism of differential varietal response. Olathe pinto bean absorbed and translocated 1.4 and 1.3 times more 14C-imazethapyr, respectively, than Sierra pinto bean 24 h after application. No differences in 14C-imazethapyr metabolism were detected between Olathe and Sierra pinto bean. Broad heritability of imazethapyr tolerance in pinto bean was calculated to be 0.85. The number of genes controlling the inheritance of imazethapyr tolerance in pinto bean was greater than one.

Studies were conducted to determine the relative competitive ability and productivity of an atrazine-resistant biotype (WRB1) and an atrazine-susceptible accession (WSA1) of velvetleaf from Wisconsin. Noncompetitive productivity studies conducted in the field and greenhouse during 1992 and 1993 showed that instantaneous relative growth rate, net assimilation rate, and leaf area ratio of the WRB1 biotype and WSA1 accession were similar. There were no consistent differences between the WRB1 biotype and WSA1 accession in plant height, shoot dry biomass, and leaf area over time. The WRB1 biotype and WSA1 accession did not differ in noncompetitive seed yield. A replacement series experiment conducted in the field in 1992 and 1993 showed that the WRB1 biotype and WSA1 accession did not differ in shoot dry biomass or seed yield at densities of 36, 64, and 100 plants m−2. Results suggest that resistance to atrazine has not reduced the noncompetitive productivity or the intraspecific competitive ability of the WRB1 biotype relative to the WSA1 accession. Thus, even in the absence of atrazine selection intensity, the frequency of atrazine resistance gene(s) is unlikely to decrease in the velvetleaf population from which the WRB1 biotype was selected.

The efficacy of Alternaria helianthi on imazaquin-susceptible and -resistant biotypes of common cocklebur was evaluated with and without imazaquin. A. helianthi caused severe damage to both biotypes when applied at 80,000 conidia ml−1 at the five- to six-leaf stage. Symptoms included necrotic lesions, stunting, and mortality. Mortality from imazaquin at 140 g ai ha−1 was 0 and 100% and mortality from A. helianthi at 80,000 conidia ml−1 was 33 to 75% and 67 to 100% for resistant and susceptible biotypes, respectively, and surviving plants showed reduction in height, dry weight, and number of new leaves. The combination of imazaquin at 18 g ai ha−1 and A. helianthi at 40,000 conidia ml−1 was not synergistic or antagonistic in killing common cocklebur.

Field studies were conducted to determine the effects of cultivated oats planting pattern on early canopy shape and growth of cultivated oats and wild oats, in part to test the assumption of radial plant canopy expansion on which previous theoretical models of crop-weed interference models have been based. Cultivated oats density was kept constant as the pattern rectangularity was varied, and single wild oats plants were centered within each pattern. Individual plant canopies, photographed from above 31 days after emergence (DAE), were radial for wild oats in all crop planting patterns and for cultivated oats planted in triangular and square planting patterns. Canopy radius perpendicular to the crop row axis in rectangular patterns was similar to canopy radius along the same cardinal axis in equidistant patterns, but was reduced along the crop row axis, resulting in a rectangular canopy shape and decreased canopy area in rectangular compared to equidistant patterns. Cultivated oats dry weight and leaf area at crop flowering (64 DAE) also decreased with increasing rectangularity of crop planting pattern. Reductions in cultivated oats growth in rectangular patterns were associated with earlier intraspecific interference and delayed crop canopy closure in rectangular compared to equidistant patterns. Wild oats leaf area and tiller number 64 DAE decreased with more equidistant crop planting patterns, consistent with reduced canopy area 31 DAE and earlier crop canopy closure in equidistant patterns. The data suggest that individual oats canopy expansion during early growth is essentially radial and also support previous theoretical predictions of crop planting pattern effects on weed suppression.

A model of competition for light between peanut and three broadleaf weed species has been developed to run with the PNUTGRO model. The model simulates shading of the peanut canopy by reducing the total daily PAR received by the peanuts in a manner that realistically represents timing and quantity of light capture by the weeds. Data were collected in nursery plots of Florida beggarweed, sicklepod, and wild poinsettia in 1989, 1990, and 1991. These data provided the values for the critical parameters: maximum attenuation of PAR by the weed, time when the weed overtops the peanut canopy, time when maximum attenuation is reached, and the distance of influence of the weed. Florida beggarweed overtopped the peanut canopy 52 DAP, and reduced PAR reaching the peanuts 45% by 73 DAP. Sicklepod overtopped the peanut canopy 42 DAP and reached an attenuation of 41% 79 DAP. Wild poinsettia overtopped the peanut canopy 44 DAP, and had an attenuation value of 39% 85 DAP. The distances of influence were 162, 150, and 192 cm for Florida beggarweed, sicklepod, and wild poinsettia, respectively. Observed yield losses in the distance of influence were 26, 27, and 22%, respectively. The model predictions accounted for at least 90% of the yield losses observed in field studies. The model also proved capable of simulating competitive differences between morphologically and phenologically different populations of Florida beggarweed. Simulation models will play an important role in reducing the expenditure of time and resources required to document yield losses due to weeds in peanuts.