POST herbicides were applied at four soybean growth stages to evaluate their effect on triazine-resistant (TR) kochia in 1991, 1992, and 1993. Applying imazethapyr at 70 g ai/ha or bentazon plus imazethapyr at 1,120 plus 70 g ai/ha controlled 75 to 100% of 1- to 13-cm-tall TR kochia consistently across growth stages and years. Acifluorfen at 560 g ai/ha, chlorimuron at 13 g ai/ha, or chlorimuron plus thifensulfuron at 4 plus 4 g ai/ha controlled 68 to 96% of 1- to 2-cm-tall TR kochia at soybean growth stage VC to V1, and control was inconsistent at later growth stages. In most instances, soybean seed yield was greater with herbicides applied at the V1 or V2 growth stage of soybean compared with the V4 and V5 growth stage because of better weed control. No wheat yield reduction occurred because of herbicide carryover in 1992 and 1994. However, in 1993, imazethapyr and bentazon plus imazethapyr treatments applied in 1992 caused 22% injury and reduced winter wheat yield 10% when wheat was planted after soybean harvest.

The potential of alachlor, SAN 582H (Proposed name, dimethenamid), chlorimuron plus metribuzin, clomazone, imazaquin, imazethapyr, metolachlor, sulfentrazone, and trifluralin plus flumetsulam to injure rice the year following application to soybean was evaluated on silty clay and silt loam soils in Louisiana. These herbicides did not cause rice injury or yield reduction. Rice tolerance of the amine salt of 2,4-D or thifensulfuron plus tribenuron applied 0, 7, 14, and 28 d prior to planting was also evaluated on these soils. The amine salt of 2,4-D at 1.1 kg ai/ha injured rice 43 and 52% on silty clay and silt loam soils, respectively, in 1994 when applied the day of planting. In 1995, injury was 78 and 88% on these respective soils at this timing. When applied 7 d or more before planting, 2,4-D amine injured rice in one of four trials. Thifensulfuron plus tribenuron (17 + 9 g ai/ha) injured rice in one of four trials when applied the day of planting, but did not injure rice when applied 7 d before planting. No visual rice injury was observed when 2,4-D amine or thifensulfuron plus tribenuron was applied 14 or 28 d before planting. Rice grain yield was not affected by thifensulfuron plus tribenuron regardless of the interval between application and rice planting. In contrast, rice grain yield was reduced in all trials when 2,4-D amine was applied on the day of planting, and in one of four trials when applied 7 or 14 d before planting.

Field and greenhouse experiments evaluated the differential response of 15 green pea varieties to metribuzin applied preemergence. ‘Charo,’ ‘CMG 298,’ ‘Leah,’ ‘Scout,’ and ‘Puget’ were the most tolerant, whereas ‘Bolero’ and ‘Sundance’ were the most susceptible varieties under greenhouse conditions. Variable chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv), efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fmax), and leaf area were reduced sharply by metribuzin in susceptible varieties, and metribuzin susceptibility correlated highly with the reduction in shoot dry weight. Green pea varieties grown under field conditions responded to metribuzin similarly to pea varieties grown under greenhouse conditions. Metribuzin reduced shoot dry weight more in peas grown at 30/25 C than in those grown at 25/20 and 20/15 C. Also, metribuzin injured peas more when grown in soil saturated to field capacity compared to soil at 70 and 40% of field capacity.

Field mint is widespread on Prince Edward Island and has become a problem in the production of cereal grains, potatoes, and other crops. Studies were conducted to determine if deep burial of the rhizome could be used as a control method. Rhizome pieces measuring 2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 cm in length were hand-buried in soil at depths of 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, or 20.0 cm in the spring. As planting depth increased, shoot emergence was delayed and fewer shoots emerged throughout the season. The smallest rhizome of 2.5 cm produced the fewest shoots during the season, but larger rhizomes (5.0 or 10.0 cm long) produced greater amounts of shoot and rhizome dry weights than smaller rhizomes. Deep burial of field mint to 20.0 cm by inversion plowing could be used as a means of field mint control, especially in early planted competitive crops that close canopy quickly.

A classification of herbicides according to their sites of action was developed to help maintain the usefulness of herbicides as a tool in crop production to delay the selection of herbicide-resistant weeds. The classification includes a numbering system for the site of action, the chemical family, and the common name of the herbicide. The United States of America trade name and package mixes also are included.

Researchers are currently developing predictive weed management models to aid producers in maintaining or improving economic profitability of peanut production while minimizing herbicide inputs and reducing environmental impact. HERB (Version 2.1.P), a computer decision model, has recently been developed for peanut and is now awaiting validation of weed control decisions before being released to the public. Field validation trials in 1994 and 1995 indicate that the current competitive index parameters in the HERB model are invalid, and statistically estimated competitive indices were generated. Estimating new parameters improved R2 values from 0.37 to 0.61. New competitive index parameters allow the HERB model to more accurately predict the level of yield loss at a given weed density.

Interaction of glyphosate and 2,4-DB was evaluated in greenhouse and laboratory studies with respect to control of four species of annual morningglory. The greenhouse study included smallflower, pitted, palmleaf, and ivyleaf morningglory at three growth stages: seedling, juvenile, and vining. A series of glyphosate rates (0.28 to 1.26 kg ae/ha) and 2,4-DB (0.022 and 0.045 kg ae/ha) were applied alone, and in all possible two-way tank mixtures. Morningglory response to both glyphosate and 2,4-DB applied alone was species- and growth stage-dependent. All combinations were either additive or synergistic for control of pitted, palmleaf, and ivyleaf morningglory. Response of smallflower morningglory ranged from antagonistic to synergistic. Absorption and translocation of 14C-2,4-DB was independent of the addition of glyphosate in all four species. By contrast, absorption of foliar-applied 14C-glyphosate and translocation of 14C from treated leaves to other plant parts were enhanced by the addition of 2,4-DB in all species except palmleaf morningglory. In palmleaf morningglory, 14C-glyphosate absorption and translocation were independent of the addition of 2,4-DB. Absorption and translocation data were in agreement with greenhouse studies.

Experiments were conducted to test the accuracy of a global positioning system (GPS) in measuring the area of simulated weed patches of varying size and to determine the accuracy in navigating back to particular points in a field. Circular areas of 5, 50, and 500 m2 were established and measured using point and polygon features of a GPS. The GPS estimations of the area of those patches had errors ranging from 7 to 45%, 6 to 15%, and 3 to 6%, respectively, when compared to actual measurements. As patch size increased, errors decreased. A curve describing the relationship between GPS error and patch size had an excellent fit (r2 = 0.92). The error remained the same in all measurements across all patch sizes, but composed a smaller percentage of large patches. The GPS had submeter accuracy in navigation to the correct quadrat 73% of the time, located the correct quadrat 27% of the time, and invariably navigated to within 1.58 m of the correct quadrat. The relationship between patch size and measurement error was applied to natural infestations of hemp dogbane.

Twelve grass genotypes were evaluated for competitiveness with leafy spurge and herbage yield in two sites in North Dakota. ‘Rebound’ smooth brome, ‘Rodan’ western wheatgrass, ‘Bozoisky’ Russian wildrye, and ‘Arthur’ Dahurian wildrye reduced leafy spurge stem density an average of 63% after 3 yr in a silty clay soil at Fargo. ‘Reliant’ intermediate wheatgrass reduced leafy spurge stem density every year for 3 yr, including an 85% reduction the second year after planting, and consistently produced high herbage yields. Rebound smooth brome and Reliant intermediate wheatgrass averaged 72% leafy spurge reduction 3 yr after seeding in a loamy sand soil at Jamestown. Reliant intermediate wheatgrass and ‘Manska’ pubescent wheatgrass provided the most consistent herbage production, which averaged about 2,000 kg/ha annually for 3 yr.

Field studies were conducted in 1991 to 1993 to determine the effects of PRE and POST herbicides alone and in factorial combinations on sicklepod control, weed biomass, and soybean seed yields. Herbicides evaluated were metribuzin PRE, metribuzin + chlorimuron PRE, imazaquin PRE and POST, chlorimuron POST, and AC 263,222 POST POST herbicides alone provided better sicklepod control than PRE herbicides alone. However, sequential (SEQ) treatments [PRE followed by (fb) POST] provided better sicklepod control than single herbicide treatments. Metribuzin and metribuzin + chlorimuron alone or used in a SEQ program provided similar PRE control of sicklepod, and both controlled sicklepod better than imazaquin in 1991 and 1992. Chlorimuron alone or in a SEQ program provided better POST control than AC 263,222 or imazaquin alone when soil moisture levels at planting favored weed seed germination. When soil moisture levels at planting were unfavorable for weed seed germination, the residual activity of imazaquin provided the best season-long control. SEQ herbicide applications allowed soybean to attain higher seed yields than single (PRE or POST) herbicide treatments all 3 yr. However, only metribuzin fb chlorimuron in 1991 and 1992 and imazaquin fb imazaquin and imazaquin fb chlorimuron in 1993 allowed soybean to achieve seed yields similar to weed-free soybean. Soybean seed yields were greater with POST than with PRE herbicides 2 of 3 yr, but no single herbicide treatment provided soybean seed yields similar to weed-free soybean.

Common purslane becomes quite permanently established where they are once introduced and will doubtless become weeds wherever they escape from cultivation.—William Darlington (1859)

Thiazopyr at 0.14, 0.28, and 0.42 kg ai/ha and pendimethalin at 1.1 kg ai/ha applied preemergence (PRE) were compared as components in weed management systems for no-till cotton. Mid- and late-season control of mixtures of large crabgrass, goosegrass, and fall panicum by thiazopyr at 0.28 kg/ha was 89 to 97% and 11 to 50%, respectively, compared with 11 to 38% midseason and 0 to 5% late-season control by pendimethalin. Thiazopyr at 0.42 kg/ha and pendimethalin controlled broadleaf signalgrass 44 and 0%, respectively, late in the season. Adding fluometuron PRE at 1.7 kg ai/ha had little to no effect on large crabgrass, goosegrass, and fall panicum control but increased broadleaf signalgrass control 47 to 79 percentage points compared with thiazopyr or pendimethalin alone. Late-season control of annual grasses by thiazopyr or pendimethalin plus fluometuron PRE followed by methazole plus MSMA early postemergence (POST)-directed and cyanazine plus MSMA late POST-directed was at least 95% at two locations and 80% at the third location. Common lambsquarters was controlled 54 and 95% in systems without and with fluometuron PRE, respectively. Acceptable control of ivyleaf, pitted, and tall morningglories at all locations and smooth pigweed at two of three locations was achieved only in systems with POST-directed herbicides. Adding POST-directed herbicides to systems with thiazopyr or pendimethalin plus fluometuron PRE increased cotton yield at two of three locations. Treatments had no effect on fiber quality.

An international symposium devoted specifically to formulation science, the first of its kind to provide multi-industry cross-fertilization, has been announced by the Association of Formulation Chemists (AFC). The conference, Formulations Forum ‘97, will be held in Las Vegas, NV, September 3–5, 1997, at the MGM Grand Hotel. The theme of the meeting is “Formulating in the New Millennium.”

Herbicide systems consisting of PRE, early POST, and late POST options arranged factorially were compared for control of sicklepod in narrow-row soybean with modified acetolactate synthase (ALS) (E.C.4.1.3.18). Other weeds present included common cocklebur and mixed infestations of entireleaf, ivyleaf, pitted, and tall morningglories. PRE options were alachlor or alachlor plus metribuzin plus chlorimuron. Early POST options included chlorimuron, chlorimuron plus thifensulfuron, and no herbicide applied 3 wk after planting. Late POST options were chlorimuron and no herbicide applied 5 wk after planting. POST herbicides were more effective than PRE herbicides on all weeds. Chlorimuron and chlorimuron plus thifensulfuron applied early POST were equally effective on these weeds and usually more effective than chlorimuron applied late POST. There was no advantage of two POST applications compared with a single early POST application. Greatest net returns were obtained in systems using only early POST herbicides. There was no economic advantage from using metribuzin plus chlorimuron PRE in systems that included an early POST herbicide.

Herbicides play an important role in the production of nursery crops by reducing weed problems and improving production efficiency. Herbicides applied to nursery crops may move in runoff water into retention basins, which are used to irrigate container plants. Studies investigated the growth and development of containerized landscape plants subjected to irrigation water containing herbicide residues. Containerized dwarf gardenia, Snow azalea, Buccaneer azalea, Hellers Japanese holly, fountain grass, and daylily were grown in fine pine bark medium in the greenhouse and were irrigated with water containing 1 mg/L and 10 mg/L of oryzalin, oxyfluorfen, and isoxaben. Fountain grass and daylily were the most sensitive to herbicide application with reduced root and shoot growth. Oryzalin was the most phytotoxic to fountain grass followed by oxyfluorfen and isoxaben. Oryzalin and oxyfluorfen at 10 mg/L reduced the growth index of fountain grass. Oryzalin was the most phytotoxic herbicide to daylily, followed by isoxaben and oxyfluorfen. Only the high rate (10 mg/L) of oryzalin reduced the growth index of daylily. Among woody species, the root weights of Hellers holly were reduced by 10 mg/L of isoxaben. The growth of other woody species was not affected by the herbicides.

The effect of annual defoliation on leafy spurge-infested rangeland was investigated over a 5-yr period. Artificial defoliation was conducted once or twice annually at various phenological growth stages of leafy spurge to simulate grazing by herded Angora goats. Single defoliation treatments did not reduce total leafy spurge stem densities. Defoliation twice in a growing season for 4 consecutive yr reduced total leafy spurge stem densities by 55% over nondefoliated controls. Grass foliar cover and yield increased in all defoliation treatments. Despite the increased grass yield on single defoliation treatments, cattle use would likely be limited in these treatments due to the high density of leafy spurge stems. Stem densities of leafy spurge in twice-defoliated treatments should not deter cattle from grazing these sites, thereby increasing the available forage supply. The data suggest that repeated grazing of leafy spurge-infested rangeland within a growing season would be required to reduce stem densities adequately and increase cattle use and production from these sites.

We examined whether image analysis could separate leafy spurge from other plant species and objects by comparing image analysis to the ocular method of estimating cover. Image analysis was acceptably precise at low and medium cover levels. Image analysis was as repeatable as the ocular method at all sites and cover levels and acceptably reliable at low and medium cover levels but estimated cover lower by 12 to 22% than the ocular method at high cover levels. The average error levels of image analysis and the ocular method did not differ. Estimating leafy spurge cover with a 10% error required only 20 quadrats when image analysis was used, while twice as many quadrats were needed when cover was measured ocularly. Image analysis was recommended as a measurement tool because quantification was efficient, the equipment is inexpensive, and the color prints provide a permanent photo record of the study.

Rates and application timings of postemergence herbicides for wild oat control in spring wheat and barley were evaluated at Crookston, MN, from 1994 to 1996. Diclofop, imazamethabenz, and fenoxaprop plus MCPA plus thifensulfuron plus tribenuron were applied to one- to three-leaf wild oat; and difenzoquat, imazamethabenz, fenoxaprop plus MCPA plus thifensulfuron plus tribenuron, and fenoxaprop plus 2,4-D plus MCPA were applied to four- to five-leaf wild oat at 1/2 ×, 3/4 ×, and 1 × rates. Wild oat response to herbicide rate and timing was similar in wheat and barley. Wild oat control with 1/2 × rates generally was less than that with 3/4 × rates, which was lower than or similar to that with 1 × rates. Wild oat biomass was often reduced less with 1/2 × rates than 1 × rates. However, reducing herbicide rates generally did not influence grain yields or net economic return. Grain yields and net economic return were generally greater in herbicide-treated plots than in the nontreated control.

Efficacy of primisulfuron and reduced rates of nicosulfuron on woolly cupgrass, wild-proso millet, and giant foxtail in field corn was evaluated in 1994 and 1995. Nicosulfuron was applied at 18, 27, and 36 g ai/ha alone and with 20 g ai/ha primisulfuron. Woolly cupgrass control from nicosulfuron at 18 and 27 g/ha was less than control from 36 g/ha (79% and 84% vs. 90%, respectively). Woolly cupgrass control was 5% greater when primisulfuron was combined with nicosulfuron at 27 and 36 g/ha than when nicosulfuron was applied alone. Corn grain yields were similar among all nicosulfuron plus primisulfuron treatments applied to control woolly cupgrass in 1994. In 1995, corn grain yield was increased 900 kg/ha when primisulfuron was combined with nicosulfuron at 18 g/ha compared to nicosulfuron applied at the same rate alone. Wild-proso millet control 3 WAT with nicosulfuron at 18 g/ha was less than control with nicosulfuron at 36 g/ha. Wild-proso millet control 8 WAT with nicosulfuron alone was greater than when nicosulfuron at any rate was applied with primisulfuron. No differences in corn grain yields were observed across nicosulfuron rates or combinations with primisulfuron to control wild-proso millet either year. Giant foxtail control and corn grain yield were not affected by nicosulfuron rate or combined applications of nicosulfuron and primisulfuron either year.