Although water is crucial to the performance of preemergence herbicides, pesticide performance has rarely been related to irrigation management. This 2-yr study investigated the effect that amount of irrigation water applied had on activity of simazine. Three rates of simazine at 0, 1.12, and 2.24 kg/ha were applied to a 3-yr-old nectarine orchard that was irrigated with microsprinklers. The performance of simazine was compared between irrigation treatments initially targeted to provide water at 110 (efficient) and 175% (overwatered) of crop water requirements. Simazine effectiveness was based on the survival of oat and cucumber plants that were seeded at 0, 14, 28, 56, and 84 d after herbicide application. A longer time interval to 50% survival indicated prolonged herbicidal activity. Results were consistent between years in that simazine's performance was consistently greater in efficient irrigation treatments. The greatest increases were measured at the higher simazine application rate (2.24 kg/ha); overall averages for the length of time to reach 50% survival for cucumber were 50 and 23 d and for oats were 55 and 15 d for efficient and overwatered irrigation treatments, respectively. Use of an efficient irrigation management technique could have enhanced simazine's performance through a decreased leaching of residues from the weed root zone or less chemical or biological degradation (or both). Adoption of efficient irrigation management has been identified as a best management practice to mitigate leaching of pesticide residues to groundwater in coarse soils in California. This study indicates that efficient irrigation improves simazine performance and that both factors, pesticide application and irrigation management, should be considered when developing a weed management system.

Adjuvants that increase the pH of the spray mixture and solubilize nicosulfuron can enhance biological activity under specific conditions. These conditions include high nicosulfuron rates, difficult-to-control weeds, low spray volumes, and initially acidic spray conditions. The most effective pH adjusters are tribasic potassium phosphate, sodium carbonate, and triethanolamine. In low spray volumes, these adjusters make the spray mixture alkaline and often enhance the activity of nicosulfuron on common cocklebur and large crabgrass. Alkaline conditions rapidly dissolve the sulfonylurea particles and enhance activity with crop oil concentrate, modified seed oil, and hydrophilic nonionic surfactants. pH adjusters did not enhance activity with lipophilic surfactants. Ammonium sulfate slightly increases the pH of spray mixtures and increases nicosulfuron activity depending on species, adjuvant type, and pH adjuster. These results generally support the concept that herbicide solubilization is necessary to maximize the foliar activity.

Field studies were conducted in 1999 and 2000 at seven locations in south Texas to evaluate flufenacet plus metribuzin for weed control and corn tolerance. Texas panicum control with flufenacet plus metribuzin was variable with less than 70% control in 1999 and greater than 75% control in 2000. Palmer amaranth and pitted morningglory control ranged from 41 to 100%. Corn stunting (4 to 13%) was noted in soils with greater than 75% sand. Corn yields with flufenacet and metribuzin combinations were increased up to 19% over the untreated check where stunting was not observed.

Management of volunteer potato is difficult and requires an integrated approach. Soil fumigation is one tactic known to reduce population densities of certain weeds and may be a method to improve the management of volunteer potato. The effect of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and metham sodium on potato tuber viability was tested in sealed glass jars at various doses, incubation temperatures, and times of exposure. Tuber viability data were fitted to a logistic model, and I90 doses (90% suppression) were calculated for each combination of temperature and time of exposure. I90 doses for 1,3-D ranged from 41 to 151 kg/ha and from 96 to over 480 kg/ha metham sodium. Both nondormant and dormant tubers were injured by exposure to metham sodium. Soil fumigation with 1,3-D and metham sodium has the potential to greatly reduce the number of viable potato tubers.

A perceived limitation to incorporating herbicide application decision support system (HADSS) into routine peanut weed management decisions is efficient scouting of fields. A total of 52 peanut fields were scouted from 1997 through 2001 in North Carolina to determine the weed density in a 9.3-m2 section for each 0.4-ha grid of the field. These weed populations and their spatial distributions were used to compare theoretical net return (TNR) over herbicide investment for various scouting methods and weed management approaches. HADSS was used to determine the expected net return for each treatment in each 0.4-ha section of every field under differing assumptions of weed size, soil moisture conditions, and pricing structures. The treatment with the highest net return averaged across all 0.4-ha grids was considered to be the optimal whole-field treatment. For all 52 fields, TNR for the best whole-field treatment and for site-specific weed management (applying the most economical recommendation on each 0.4-ha grid) averaged $414 and $435/ha, respectively. Estimated return from the commercial postemergence herbicide program of aciflurofen plus bentazon plus 2,4-DB followed by clethodim (where grass was present) averaged $316/ha across all 52 fields. For fields of 5 ha or more (17 fields) in which 12 or more samples were taken, TNR was $500, $510, and $516/ha for three-sample (one pass through the middle of the field with samples taken on both ends and the center of the field), six-sample (two passes through the field with three stops per pass), and full-sample (one stop for each 0.4 ha) approaches, respectively.

Selective placement studies were conducted under greenhouse conditions to determine the relative importance of root vs. foliar absorption of postemergence-applied CGA-362622 by torpedograss. All application methods were equally effective in reducing torpedograss foliage as measured 4 wk after treatment. However, foliar + soil and soil-only were more effective than foliar-only in suppressing regrowth at 10 wk after treatment. Foliar absorption by torpedograss and subsequent translocation was determined with radiotracer techniques. After 72 h, 29% of the applied CGA-362622 had been absorbed, and 2 and 7% of the amount applied had accumulated in developing rhizomes and roots, respectively. CGA-362622 was more readily absorbed and translocated by the root. Hydroponically grown plants were transferred to a hydroponic solution spiked with CGA-362622 at 200 ppb. After 6 h, whole plant concentration was 113.1 ng/plant. Only 56% of amount absorbed remained in the roots, the remainder having been translocated to other tissues. The youngest leaf and the immature rhizomes accumulated 2 and 15%, respectively. CGA-362622 soil adsorption was slightly influenced by CGA-362622 concentration and greatly influenced by soil pH. Average percent recovered in the soil solution (i.e., not absorbed) was 15.3 and 27.4% at pH 5.7 and 6.7, respectively. Soil mobility was also pH dependent. Soil solution and soil mobility data support the observation that soil application followed by root entry is more effective in delivering phytotoxic concentrations to the regenerative tissues of torpedograss than foliar application.

The effect of CGA-362622 on annual grass control in cotton by clethodim and fluazifop-P and crop response was determined in field studies. CGA-362622 applied postemergence at 5.3 g ai/ha injured cotton up to 34% 1 wk after treatment (WAT). Injury was similar when crop oil concentrate (COC) and nonionic surfactant (NIS) were included. Adding fluazifop-P, but not clethodim, to CGA-362622 increased crop injury. Cotton recovered by 3 WAT. CGA-362622 mixed with fluazifop-P at 210 g ai/ha reduced broadleaf signalgrass and large crabgrass control 60 to 80%. Control was similar with COC or NIS in the mixture. Increasing the fluazifop-P rate to 315 g/ha did not improve control. CGA-362622 mixed with clethodim at 105 g ai/ha reduced control 65 to 80% with NIS and 40 to 65% with COC. Increasing the clethodim rate to 175 g/ha, especially with COC, substantially increased control. However, control was still less than that with clethodim at 105 g/ha. Prometryn plus MSMA postemergence-directed 3 wk after gramincide and CGA-362622 application increased control. Cotton yield was similar with clethodim alone and clethodim at 175 g/ha plus CGA-362622. Yield was reduced 29% by CGA-362622 mixed with fluazifop-P at 350 g/ha. Control was reduced by CGA-362622 applied 1 d before or after clethodim but not 5 d before or after clethodim. Control by fluazifop-P was reduced by CGA-362622 applied 1 or 5 d before or 1 d after the graminicide. Under greenhouse conditions, CGA-362622 and pyrithiobac mixed with clethodim, fluazifop-P, quizalofop-P, or sethoxydim reduced control of large crabgrass. Greater antagonism was noted with CGA-362622 than with pyrithiobac, and with fluazifop-P and quizalofop-P than with clethodim or sethoxydim.

Persistence of microencapsulated (ME) and emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations of alachlor and acetochlor, as well as EC formulations of metolachlor, s-metolachlor, dimethenamid, and flufenacet were studied using a bioassay based on root response of oat Kassandra grown in soil. Flufenacet was the most persistent of the herbicides, but biologically available residues were not detected at 0- to 10-cm soil depth 50 d after any herbicide treatment. All herbicides applied preemergence (PRE) in field trials gave good to excellent control of redroot pigweed, black nightshade, barnyardgrass, and green foxtail but only partial control of jimsonweed. Furthermore, when they were applied postemergence (POST) in mixture with atrazine in the field, the control obtained for black nightshade, common lambsquarters, common purslane, and redroot pigweed was excellent, but good to excellent for bristly foxtail and green foxtail. Their efficacy against yellow foxtail and large crabgrass was fair to good. Generally, the EC-alachlor and EC-acetochlor applied POST in mixture with atrazine gave better control of grasses than did their ME-formulations. None of the herbicide treatments showed any phytotoxic effect on corn, and all of them produced corn yield greater than that of weedy control but slightly lower than that of the weed-free control. Flufenacet, s-metolachlor, and dimethenamid were suitable alternatives to acetochlor, alachlor, and metolachlor.

Advances in biotechnology within the last decade have caused dramatic changes in agricultural production systems. In Mississippi, over 60% of the soybean hectarage was planted to glyphosate-resistant soybean in the 2001 production season. One advantage of glyphosate-resistant systems may be that fields with fewer weeds at harvest result in less foreign material and lower seed moisture due to less foreign material. Research was conducted to assess the foreign matter and moisture content of representative glyphosate-resistant and conventional soybean by evaluating elevator receipts collected from soybean producers in the southern and midwestern United States. A survey of growers using glyphosate-resistant and conventional soybean was conducted during the fall and winter of 2000. Copies of elevator receipts were collected to compare the foreign matter percentage and moisture content of soybean in both categories. A total of 16,535 ha were represented, of which 13,903 were from glyphosate-resistant soybean and 2,632 were from conventional soybean. Average foreign matter content from the glyphosate-resistant soybean was 1.9%, compared with 2.5% from the conventional soybean. Thus, the glyphosate-resistant program reduced foreign matter, an indication of reduced weed seed and trash contained in the sample or improved harvest efficiency. No difference was noted in seed moisture content between the two systems.

Interference between weeds and crops is a key topic in undergraduate weed science courses. A laboratory exercise was developed at Iowa State University to actively demonstrate how small-seeded weeds can compete with large-seeded crops despite the initial seedling size disadvantage. Spring wheat and wild mustard were grown in pots in monoculture and in competition with each other. One set of plants was harvested at 1 wk after planting and another at 6 wk after planting. Relative growth rates (RGR) were calculated for the 5-wk period using the classical approach of plant growth analysis. The results from four semesters were analyzed to determine whether the experiment was meeting its intended outcomes. It was successful in this regard. In each of the four semesters, wild mustard had a lower initial dry weight and a greater RGR than did wheat. Students were required to write a scientific paper using the experimental results after completing a series of active-learning exercises. Assessment by students suggested that the experiment, active-learning exercises, and writing assignment were valuable activities.

Crop–weed interactions is an important topic for introductory weed science courses. The effect of the timing of weed emergence and the duration of weed competition on crop yield are two topics usually covered when discussing competition. Students generally gain a better knowledge of these concepts through observation in addition to discussion of the underlying concepts. An additive removal and plant-back experiment was used, in the undergraduate weed science laboratory at Iowa State University, to demonstrate critical period for weed control concepts for cultivated radish. In one series of treatments, weeds were sown at the time of radish planting and removed at 2, 3, and 4 wk after planting. In another series, weeds were sown at 1, 2, and 4 wk after radish planting and allowed to grow in the flats until completion of the experiment. Two controls, one weed free and one unweeded, were also included. The results from four semesters suggested that the critical period for weed control began immediately after planting and lasted 3 wk. The timing and duration of the critical period was consistent across the four semesters evaluated. This activity was successful in demonstrating the critical period for weed control in radish.

Row crop weed management decisions can be complex due to the number of available herbicide treatment options, the multispecies nature of weed infestations within fields, and the effect of soil characteristics and soil-moisture conditions on herbicide efficacy. To assist weed managers in evaluating alternative strategies and tactics, three computer programs have been developed for corn, cotton, peanut, and soybean. The programs, called HADSS (Herbicide Application Decision Support System), Pocket HERB, and WebHADSS, utilize field-specific information to estimate yield loss that may occur if no control methods are used, to eliminate herbicide treatments that are inappropriate for the specified conditions, and to calculate expected yield loss after treatment and expected net return for each available herbicide treatment. Each program has a unique interactive interface that provides recommendations to three distinct kinds of usage: desktop usage (HADSS), internet usage (WebHADSS), and on-site usage (Pocket HERB). Using WeedEd, an editing program, cooperators in several southern U.S. states have created different versions of HADSS, WebHADSS, and Pocket HERB that are tailored to conditions and weed management systems in their locations.

There, fed by Food they love, to rankest size, Around the Dwellings Docks and Wormwood rise;

Here the strong Mallow strikes her slimy Root, Here the dull Nightshade hangs her deadly Fruit;

The Borough, Rev. George Crabbe, 1810.

The black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) complex consists of a group of plants in the section Solanum of the genus Solanum. Black nightshade is the type for the genus Solanum and the most well-known as a noxious weed species. Black nightshade also has been used around the world as a pot-herb, and the berries are used to bake pies despite its reputation as a poisonous plant (Edmonds and Chweya 1997; Mabberley 1997). The black nightshades form a complex group of mainly herbaceous or shrubby plants that are still not completely resolved taxonomically. Most weed references to black nightshade predating the 1980s simply refer to S. nigrum L. as the species. However, taxonomists now recognize many weedy species within this complex (D'Arcy 1991; Edmonds 1977; Edmonds and Chweya 1997; Mabberley 1997; Schilling 1981). This article will mainly cover the history of black nightshade as recorded in the literature. Current species names will be clarified or identified within the Solanum section where information is available.