Field trials were conducted in 2009 and 2010 near Paterson, WA and Ontario, OR to evaluate weed control and potato tolerance to PRE-applied pyroxasulfone, saflufenacil, and KSU12800 herbicides. Pyroxasulfone at 0.09 to 0.15 kg ai ha−1 and saflufenacil at 0.05 to 0.07 kg ai ha−1 applied PRE alone or in tank mixes with several currently labeled herbicides did not injure potatoes at either site in both years. KSU12800 at 0.15 kg ai ha−1 injured potatoes from 18 to 26% for a period of about 4 wk after emergence at Ontario both years. In addition, KSU12800 at 0.29 and 0.45 kg ha−1 injured potatoes from 17 to 38% at 17 d after treatment (DAT) at Paterson in 2009. Pyroxasulfone at 0.15 kg ha−1 controlled barnyardgrass, hairy nightshade, and redroot pigweed 96% or greater, but control of common lambsquarters was variable. Saflufenacil at 0.07 kg ha−1 provided greater than 93% control of common lambsquarters, hairy nightshade, and redroot pigweed at both sites in 2010. KSU12800 at 0.15 kg ha−1 controlled common lambsquarters, hairy nightshade, and redroot pigweed 99% or more at Ontario, but only 87 to 93% at Paterson in 2010. These herbicides did not reduce yield of U.S. no. 1 tubers or total tuber yields compared to standard labeled herbicide treatments when weed control was adequate.

Field dodder is a parasitic plant that attaches to the stems and leaves of broadleaf plants, including weeds, field crops, vegetables, and ornamentals, throughout most agricultural regions of the world. Effective field dodder control is extremely difficult to achieve, due to the nature of attachment and close association between host and parasite, which requires a highly effective and selective herbicide to destroy the parasite without crop damage. Previous studies have demonstrated the tolerance of certain tomato varieties to dodder parasitism. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ability of sulfonylurea herbicides to control field dodder under greenhouse and field conditions. Two greenhouse studies and three field studies were conducted to evaluate the efficiency and crop selectivity of the sulfonylurea herbicides sulfosulfuron, rimsulfuron, halosulfuron, and flazasulfuron in controlling field dodder parasitizing tomato plants. Sulfosulfuron at 50 or 100 g ai ha−1 was effective and safe for tomato in field dodder control, while the other herbicides exhibited little or no dodder control.

Field studies were conducted in 2011 at the Malheur Experiment Station, Ontario, OR and Prosser, WA to evaluate the effect of simulated glyphosate drift on direct-seeded dry bulb onion. Glyphosate was applied at 8.6, 25.8, 86, 290, 434, and 860 g ae ha−1 when onion plants were at the flag-, two-, four-, and six-leaf stages. Onion foliar injury was directly related to the glyphosate dose and varied with application timing. Foliar injury at 7 d after treatment (DAT) ranged from 0 to 12% for glyphosate ≤ 25.8 g ha−1. Foliar injury increased at 21 DAT when glyphosate was applied ≥ 25.8 g ha−1 to plants at the flag- and four-leaf stage, and ranged from 24 to 99%. The 50%-injury glyphosate dose at 21 DAT was lowest when onion was treated at the four-leaf and flag stages and was estimated to be 76.8 and 81 g ha−1, respectively. Onion injury severity increased when glyphosate was applied at ≥ 86 g ha−1 and eventually resulted in plant death at 860 g ha−1. Foliar injury was inversely correlated to U.S. no. 1 onion yield. Onions displayed sensitivity to very low glyphosate doses especially at the four-leaf stage. Shikimic acid accumulation increased with the increase in glyphosate dose and was positively correlated with foliar injury and negatively correlated with plant height and onion yield.

Eight field studies were conducted over a 3-yr period from 2008 to 2010 in Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada, to determine the cumulative stress caused by simulated glyphosate spray drift followed by an in-crop application of metribuzin in processing tomato. As the simulated glyphosate spray drift rate increased so did the degree of injury to the tomatoes. At a simulated spray drift rate of 22.5 g ae ha−1 (2.5% of the recommended glyphosate field rate), a 23% decrease in red tomato yield was observed. Yield reductions increased to 88% of the control when 180 g ae ha−1 glyphosate (20% of the recommended field rate) was applied. Similarly when simulated spray drift rates were followed 3 to 5 d later with an in-crop application of metribuzin at 250 g ai ha−1, tomato yields decreased by 22 to 85% depending on glyphosate rate applied. A transient synergistic interaction was observed only when 22.5 g ae ha−1 glyphosate was followed by metribuzin. The synergistic response was no longer evident by the 28-d injury rating. Herbicide interactions were additive for crop injury, dry weight, fruit counts, and yield when glyphosate spray drift rates of 45, 90, or 180 g ae ha−1 were followed by metribuzin.

Methyl bromide is a common fumigant for effective weed control in polyethylene-mulched vegetable crops. However, the ban on methyl bromide in the United States has created a need to find a suitable alternative. This study investigated the herbicidal efficacy of phenyl isothiocyanate (ITC) as a methyl bromide alternative for weed control in polyethylene-mulched bell pepper during 2006 and 2007. Six rates of phenyl ITC (0, 15, 75, 150, 750, 1,500 kg ha−1) under low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or virtually impermeable film (VIF) mulch were tested against yellow nutsedge, Palmer amaranth, and large crabgrass. Additionally, a standard treatment of methyl bromide/chloropicrin (67 : 33%) at 390 kg ha−1 under LDPE mulch was included for comparison. VIF mulch provided no advantage over LDPE mulch in either improving weed control or marketable yield in bell pepper. Unacceptable pepper injury (≥ 60%) occurred at the highest phenyl ITC rate of 1,500 kg ha−1 at 2 WATP in both years, regardless of mulch type. Higher bell pepper injury was observed in 2006 (≥ 36%) than in 2007 (≤ 11%) at 750 kg ha−1 of phenyl ITC. The lower injury in 2007 could be attributed to aeration of beds 48 h prior to transplanting. Regardless of mulch type, phenyl ITC at 2,071 (± 197) and 1,655 (± 309) kg ha−1 was required to control yellow nutsedge, Palmer amaranth, and large crabgrass equivalent to methyl bromide in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Bell pepper marketable yield at all rates of phenyl ITC was lower than methyl bromide in 2006. In contrast, marketable yield in phenyl ITC at 750–kg ha−1 was equivalent to methyl bromide in 2007. It is concluded that phenyl ITC should be applied at least 4.2 times higher rate than methyl bromide for effective weed control, and bed aeration is required to minimize crop injury and yield loss. Additional research is needed to test phenyl ITC in combination with other weed control strategies to obtain effective weed control with acceptable crop safety.

Field studies were conducted from 2009 to 2011 in Oregon and from 2006 to 2008 in California to evaluate the response of various crops to imazosulfuron soil residues 91 to 731 d after application (DAA). Imazosulfuron rates applied in Oregon were 224 or 450 g ai ha−1 PRE, sequential 224 g ha−1 PRE and POST, or 450 g ha−1 as a tank mixture with PRE applied S-metolachlor at 1,060 g ai ha−1 followed by 224 g ha−1 POST to potato. Imazosulfuron was applied on bare ground PRE at 224, 336, and 450 g ha−1 and applied sequentially at 450 g ha−1 in California. Sugar beet planted 91 to 364 and 458 to 731 DAA were injured 83 to 94% and 54 to 78% among imazosulfuron rates and application timing in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Alfalfa planted 701 DAA at rates greater than 224 g ha−1 was injured, and the forage yield was reduced. Onion, spinach, carrot, and broccoli were also injured by imazosulfuron residues when planted 91 to 731 DAA, regardless of the rate or interval before planting. Imazosulfuron applied at 224 to 450 g ha−1 458 to 731 d before planting head lettuce resulted in moderate injury that did not reduce fresh-weight yield. The results indicated that imazosulfuron residues in the soil have the potential to injure many rotational specialty crops for 2 yr or more in soils with pH > 6.9.

Spreading dogbane is a troublesome weed of wild blueberry fields. Field studies were conducted in 2008 and 2009 to evaluate efficacy of different herbicides and application techniques on spreading dogbane as well as blueberry tolerance. Results indicated that summer-broadcast nicosulfuron at 25 g ai ha−1 with 0.5% v/v blend of surfactant with petroleum hydrocarbons suppressed (> 60%) spreading dogbane at three of four sites. Spot sprays with dicamba at 1 kg ae ha−1 effectively controlled (> 80%) spreading dogbane with minimal (19 to 23%) blueberry damage at three of four sites. Glyphosate spot sprays at 5 g ae L−1 water provided more effective and longer control than hand pulling. Wiping with glyphosate at 154 g ae L−1 water or wiping triclopyr at 29 g ae L−1 water onto the shoots is also an effective control method for localized patches of spreading dogbane. Although low to moderate crop damage may accompany these techniques, it may still be tolerable for growers to apply these options to limit long-term yield loss caused by spreading dogbane.

Citron melon is a monoecious and hairy annual vine commonly found in citrus orchards and cotton and peanut fields. There is limited information available on citron melon control with PRE- and POST-applied herbicides in Florida citrus. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of citron melon to 11 PRE and 18 POST herbicides under greenhouse conditions. Indaziflam applied PRE at 0.095 kg ai ha−1 resulted in 13% citron melon emergence at 14 d after treatment (DAT). The majority of PRE herbicides did not affect emergence at 14 DAT. Efficacy of PRE herbicides at 21 DAT resulted in > 90% control of citron melon with bromacil, premix formulation of bromacil + diuron, flumioxazin, indaziflam at 0.073 and 0.095, norflurazon, and simazine. Citron melon control was < 30% 21 DAT following PRE-applied diuron, oryzalin, and flazasulfuron. Control of citron melon varied by POST herbicides and growth stage. Regardless of citron melon growth stage, glyphosate, glufosinate, saflufenacil, paraquat, and flumioxazin provided > 90% at 7 and 14 DAT. Carfentrazone, flazasulfuron, imazapic, pyrithiobac-Na, rimsulfuron, trifloxysulfuron, and premix of 2,4-D + glyphosate controlled citron melon at least 90% when applied to two- to four-leaf plants. Control was reduced when application was delayed to the six- to eight-leaf stage. Bentazon and halosulfuron controlled citron melon 11 to 31% regardless of growth stage. Biomass of citron melon at 14 DAT was reduced > 50% in all herbicide treatments except with bentazon and halosulfuron applied at both stages, and dicamba, mesotrione, imazapic, and rimsulfuron applied to six- to eight-leaf citron melon. The results of this study indicate that citron melon can be adequately controlled with several PRE- or POST-applied herbicides; however, research is required to evaluate PRE followed by POST programs or their tank mixtures for season-long control of citron melon under field conditions.

Methiozolin selectively controls annual bluegrass in cool-season turfgrasses, and practitioners may wish to reseed desirable species in treated areas. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate reseeding intervals for creeping bentgrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue following methiozolin applications. Turfgrass establishment varied for species, application timing (0, 2, 4, or 6 wk before seeding, WBS), and rates tested (0.56, 1.12, or 2.24 kg ai ha−1). Reductions in turf cover suggest that seeding of creeping bentgrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue should be delayed 2 wk after methiozolin treatments at 0.56 kg ha−1. However, reseeding should be delayed after methiozolin treatments at 1.12 kg ha−1 for approximately 4, 4, and 2 wk for creeping bentgrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue, respectively. Similarly, establishment was reduced on all dates from the nontreated after 2.24 kg ha−1 was applied at 4 WBS, suggesting that reseeding should be delayed for at least 6 wk on all three species at the high rate.

The weed management needs of organic producers are unique because they rely primarily on cultural and physical management strategies. Recommendations regarding commonly used tools for weed management could benefit this sector of agriculture. The objectives of this research were to (1) determine the optimum time of day for propane flaming to achieve maximum weed reductions while minimizing corn damage; (2) assess whether flaming, rotary hoeing, or a combination of the two tools best manages early-season weeds without injuring dry beans; and (3) evaluate the use of growing degree days (GDD) to optimize rotary hoe timing. Experiments were carried out between 2006 and 2009 in Hickory Corners and East Lansing, MI. Flaming reduced broadleaf weed densities by at least 82% when done in the morning to midafternoon but only reduced densities by 58% when weeds were flamed in the evening. Common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, and velvetleaf were easier to control by flaming than common ragweed and common purslane. Flaming did not reduce grass weed densities. When comparing flaming and rotary hoeing, the two treatments that achieved the highest level of weed control and highest dry bean yields were flaming prior to bean emergence followed by two rotary hoeings and rotary hoeing three times (no flaming). However, the added cost of the flamer may only be justified when wet conditions make rotary hoeing ineffective. Flaming dry beans POST resulted in significant injury and yield reductions of 60%; therefore this practice is not recommended. Timing rotary hoe passes every 300 GDD (base 3.3 C) from the time of soybean or dry bean planting resulted in fewer passes compared with the 7-d or 150 GDD treatments, while maintaining similar levels of weed control and yields similar to the weed-free treatment in 1 of 2 yr for each crop.

Thermal heat has been utilized for nonselective weed control methods. These methods are highly variable in application and efficacy. One effective weed–seed-control determining factor is achieving the thermal death point of targeted weed seeds. The thermal death point varies by weed species, temperature, and exposure time. Our objective was to determine the thermal death point of large crabgrass, cock's-comb kyllinga, and Virginia buttonweed at short thermal exposure periods. Studies conducted utilized 5 and 20 s exposure periods for incremental range, 60 to 250 C temperatures. Sigmoid regression curves were used to predict weed seed mortality by temperature and exposure time. A significant interaction between exposure period and temperature occurred for each weed species. Weed species increased in susceptibility to 20 s thermal heat as follows: Virginia buttonweed < cock's-comb kyllinga < large crabgrass. Increasing thermal exposure time from 5 to 20 s reduced thermal temperature by 21 C to achieve 50% mortality for large crabgrass and by 10 C for cock's-comb kyllinga. Virginia buttonweed achieved 50% mortality at 99 C for 5 and 20 s exposure periods. These data indicate that at least 50% weed seed mortality can be achieved at 99 and 103 C for 20 and 5 s exposure periods, respectively, for these weed species.

Experiments were conducted in 2008 and 2009 in Fayetteville, AR, to determine the influence of late-season herbicide applications on control, seed reduction, seed viability, and seedling fitness of two glyphosate-resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth biotypes, one from Mississippi County (MC) and the other from Lincoln County (LC) in Arkansas. Glyphosate (870 g ae ha−1), glufosinate (820 g ai ha−1), 2,4-D amine (1,060 g ae ha−1), dicamba (280 g ae ha−1), and pyrithiobac (70 g ai ha−1) were each applied at the first visible sign of inflorescence of GR Palmer amaranth plants. Glufosinate, 2,4-D, and dicamba provided 52 to 74% control of MC GR Palmer amaranth plants 28 d after treatment (DAT). The LC biotype was larger (94 cm tall) than the MC biotype was (64 cm tall) at application and was more difficult to control. Although control of GR Palmer amaranth was inadequate, late-season applications of glufosinate, 2,4-D, and dicamba reduced seed production of the LC biotype by 75 to 87% and production of the MC biotype by 94 to 95% compared with nontreated plants. Irrespective of biotypes, glufosinate, 2,4-D, and glyphosate reduced 100-seed weight by 22% compared with the nontreated control, and viability of seeds produced by treated plants was only 45 to 61% compared with 97% seed viability in nontreated plants. Glyphosate, glufosinate, 2,4-D, or dicamba reduced cumulative seedling emergence by an average of 84% compared with the nontreated check. Seedling biomass was four times greater for the LC than for the MC biotype, suggesting greater vigor and fitness for the LC progeny. This research demonstrates that a single, late-season (early inflorescence stage) application of glufosinate, 2,4-D, or dicamba could potentially reduce seedbank replenishment of GR Palmer amaranth. Additionally, reduction in seed weight, viability, and seedling recruitment would impair the success of GR Palmer amaranth progeny in the following season.

Purple and yellow nutsedges are two of the world's worst weeds, reproducing asexually by rhizomes that can develop into new shoots or tubers. These tubers are the storage organs for carbohydrate reserves that are replenished by growing shoots and exhausted by new shoot, root plus rhizome, and basal bulb production. Based on the biology of both species, we hypothesized that the regenerative potential of purple and yellow nutsedge would decrease, with increasing shoot clipping–soil disturbance (SCSD) frequency and decreasing tuber size. To test this hypothesis, greenhouse experiments were conducted in pots to determine the effect of SCSD frequency and tuber size on aboveground and belowground growth of purple and yellow nutsedges. Five viable tubers of two tuber category sizes (small, 0.40 ± 0.05; and large, 0.80 ± 0.05 g of tuber fresh weight) were subjected to four SCSD frequencies (weekly, biweekly, monthly, and none) for 12 wk. SCSD was performed by clipping the emerged nutsedge shoots followed by manually disturbing the soil. SCSD at biweekly or weekly intervals reduced purple nutsedge proliferation, regardless of initial tuber size. However, monthly SCSD did not suppress purple nutsedge as effectively as weekly or biweekly SCSD, and less proliferation occurred with small tubers than with large tubers. In contrast, yellow nutsedge proliferation was equally reduced with monthly or more-frequent SCSD, regardless of initial tuber size. Even weekly soil disturbance for 12 wk failed to eradicate all small or large tubers in either species. Thus, yellow nutsedge is managed more easily than purple nutsedge with less-frequent tillage or cultivation. However, tillage or cultivation alone during a 12-wk period will not likely eradicate either nutsedge species from infested soil.

Winter annual weeds can interfere directly with crops and serve as alternative hosts for important pests, particularly in reduced tillage systems. Field experiments were conducted on loamy sand soils at two sites in Holt, MI, between 2008 and 2011 to evaluate the relative effects of cereal rye, hairy vetch, and rye–vetch mixture cover crops on the biomass and density of winter annual weed communities. All cover crop treatments significantly reduced total weed biomass compared with a no-cover-crop control, with suppression ranging from 71 to 91% for vetch to 95 to 98% for rye. In all trials, the density of nonmustard family broadleaf weeds was either not suppressed or suppressed equally by all cover crop treatments. In contrast, the density of mustard family weed species was suppressed more by rye and rye–vetch mixtures than by vetch. Cover crops were more consistently suppressive of weed dry weight per plant than of weed density, with rye-containing cover crops generally more suppressive than vetch. Overall, rye was most effective at suppressing winter annual weeds; however, rye–vetch mixtures can match the level of control achieved by rye, in addition to providing a potential source of fixed nitrogen for subsequent cash crops.

Evaluation of turfgrass performance at low nitrogen fertility levels is important because many home lawns are fertilized below common recommendations. The objective of this study was to evaluate visible quality and weed susceptibility of common and alternative cool season grasses under multiple management regimes in Wisconsin. A split-split plot completely randomized block design was used to evaluate ‘Kingfisher' Kentucky bluegrass (Kentucky bluegrass), ‘Kenblue' Kentucky bluegrass, ‘Victory II' chewings fescue, ‘Grande II' tall fescue, and ‘Jiffe II' perennial ryegrass. Each species was mowed at 3.5, 6.0, or 8.5 cm, and fertilized with 0, 98, or 196 kg ha−1 yr−1 of nitrogen. Visible quality and weed cover were evaluated four times annually for 3 yr. Tall fescue had the greatest turf quality across all treatments. Kingfisher Kentucky bluegrass, an improved variety, responded most dramatically to nitrogen fertilization, with quality rating improved from 5.1 to 7.1 when annual nitrogen applications totaled 196 kg ha−1 compared to the nonfertilized control. Kenblue Kentucky bluegrass, a common variety, had the greatest weed cover at all mowing heights and fertilizer rates. Assessment of common dandelion flowers by digital image analysis revealed that improved and common Kentucky bluegrass had greater common dandelion cover than fine or tall fescue when herbicides were withheld for 2.5 yr. Background soil fertility was found to have a significant impact on visible quality and weed cover. In an area with eroded, low-fertility soil, improved Kentucky bluegrass required 196 kg N ha−1 yr−1 to maintain high quality and limit weed invasion. These results suggest that tall fescue is best suited to low and high input conditions, while improved varieties of Kentucky bluegrass performed acceptably only under high inputs.

Glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth has become a major problem for cotton producers throughout much of the southern United States. With cotton producers relying heavily on glyphosate-resistant cotton, an alternative solution to controlling resistant Palmer amaranth is needed. A field experiment was conducted during 2009 and 2010 at Marianna, AR, in which a rye cover crop and no cover crop were tested in combination with deep tillage with the use of a moldboard plow and no tillage to determine the impact on Palmer amaranth emergence in cotton. To establish a baseline population, 500,000 glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth seeds were placed in a 2-m2 area in the middle of each plot and incorporated into the soil, and emergence was evaluated five times during the season. In 2009, both tillage and the cover crop reduced Palmer amaranth emergence in cotton, but the combination of the two reduced emergence 85%. In the second year, only the cover crop reduced Palmer amaranth emergence in cotton, a 68% reduction. Cover crops and deep tillage will not eliminate glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth; however, use of these tools will likely reduce the risks of failures associated with residual herbicides along with selection pressure placed on both PRE- and POST-applied herbicides. Additional efforts should focus on the integration of the best cultural practices identified in this research with use of residual herbicides and greater focus on limiting Palmer amaranth seed production and reducing the soil seedbank.