The combination of glyphosate and 2,4-D at various rates was evaluated for controlling existing weeds at planting in no-till corn and soybeans. Herbicide combinations in soybeans also included paraquat plus 2,4-D, linuron, or diuron. Standard treatments included glyphosate (0.6 and 1.1 kg ae/ha) and paraquat (0.3 and 0.6 kg ai/ha), and 2,4-D (0.6 kg ae/ha) alone. For corn, the addition of 2,4-D to glyphosate did not improve weed control, although the addition of 2,4-D to paraquat did improve horseweed control. Corn yield with the herbicide combinations was higher than that for the nonselective herbicides alone. Although initial weed control was good in soybeans, weed regrowth in all paraquat alone treatments was substantial, especially with horseweed. The addition of 2,4-D to paraquat improved control of horseweed and tall morningglory. The addition of linuron or diuron to paraquat improved horseweed and common ragweed control, whereas the addition of 2,4-D to glyphosate improved the control of tall morningglory but not the other weed species. Generally, after 4 weeks, all glyphosate treatments provided better horseweed control than all paraquat treatments. Paraquat plus either linuron or diuron and glyphosate alone or in combination with 2,4-D gave the highest soybean yields.

Growth of Douglas fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] was increased by controlling grasses and broadleaf herbs with eight herbicide regimes during the first 3 yr after planting on a well-drained moist site in the Oregon Coast Range. The greatest growth occurred if weeds were controlled in the same growing season that tree seedlings were transplanted to the field; smaller increments came from second- and third-year weed control. Growth increases attributable to early weed control continued through the fifth year, indicating that conditions during establishment strongly influenced later growth. Plots with no herbaceous vegetation had more available soil water than those with competing vegetation, and tree seedlings on these plots experienced less water stress. Irrigation in the third year increased stem diameter of seedlings in that year but had no effect thereafter. Increases in average seedling stem volume at 5 yr after transplanting were linearly related (r2 = 0.77) to the difference in observed xylem potential during the first three growing seasons after transplanting and the xylem potential at which photosynthesis ceased, −2 MPa.

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate postemergence combinations of imazethapyr, imazquin, or chlorimuron with low rates of imazapyr for Johnsongrass and pitted morningglory control. Imazapyr applied alone at rates up to 4 g ai/ha gave little or no control of either weed species. However, the addition of imazapyr to various rates of imazethapyr or imazaquin synergistically increased both johnsongrass and pitted morningglory control 8 weeks after treatment. The rates of imazethapyr or imazaquin required for significant enhancement of johnsongrass control were higher than those required for pitted morningglory control. No synergistic increases in control of either weed species were noted with mixtures of imazapyr and chlorimuron. Although not synergistic in every case, the mixtures of imazapyr at 4 g/ha with imazethapyr, imazaquin, or chlorimuron gave johnsongrass and pitted morningglory control equal to or better than the next higher rate of these herbicides applied alone. Imazapyr did not increase soybean injury or decrease yield provided by chlorimuron, imazaquin, or imazethapyr.

Field studies were conducted during 1983 and 1984 to determine the single and interactive effects of trifluralin, soybean thrips, and the sodium salt of acifluorfen on soybean. Increased soybean injury was observed in 1983 when acifluorfen at 0.6 kg ai/ha was applied to soybeans infested with soybean thrips versus plants where soybean thrips were controlled. Soybean injury measured by percent defoliation and visual injury ratings was reduced when thrips were controlled versus soybeans where thrips were not controlled with carbaryl at 0.9 kg ai/ha in 1983. Soybean thrips alone did not reduce soybean seed yield in this study. Acifluorfen reduced soybean photosynthetic rate, shoot weight, root weight, and seed yield. Trifluralin had no effect on soybean growth parameters measured in this study.

Seedling alfalfa exhibited increased phytotoxicity from bromoxynil when applications were made with temperatures greater than 28 C both in controlled environments and in the field. Treatments applied in the morning were more phytotoxic than treatments made in the late afternoon. In laboratory experiments, inhibition of oxygen evolution occurred within 1 h after treatment. The amount of permanent damage sustained was dependent on the rate of bromoxynil and the length of time the alfalfa was exposed to light or darkness immediately after spraying. Bromoxynil treatments in cool weather and/or in the late afternoon should minimize injury to the crop.

A 3-yr study was conducted to evaluate efficacy and soybean tolerance of cinmethylin. Cinmethylin was applied preemergence alone at 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 kg ai/ha or in combination with metribuzin at 0.3 kg/ha. These treatments did not injure soybeans in field trials in 1984, 1985, and 1986. The combination of cinmethylin at 0.7 kg/ha and metribuzin at 0.3 kg/ha controlled more than 90% of large crabgrass, fall panicum, and yellow foxtail. Redroot pigweed and common lambsquarters control was also excellent. Residual control of all grass species was excellent for 8 weeks after preemergence application, followed by reduced control in two of the three grasses. The combination of cinmethylin and metribuzin at 0.7 and 0.3 kg/ha, respectively, significantly increased soybean yields compared to those of untreated plots. These yields were comparable with those obtained from the combination of alachlor and metribuzin at 2.0 and 0.3 kg/ha, respectively. Cinmethylin treatments had no adverse effects on soybean yield components including pods/plant, seed/pod, and seed weight. Cinmethylin shows potential as a preemergence herbicide for full-season weed control in soybean production.

Gliocladium virens, when grown on peat moss amended with sucrose and ammonium nitrate and then applied to soil, resulted in root necrosis. Herbicidal activity was correlated with fungal production of the phytotoxin viridiol. Viridiol had a wide spectrum of activity; it was particularly effective against annual composite species but was less effective in monocot control. Emergence of most weeds was reduced >90% at application rates of 8.7% (of total volume) or less. Treated seedling dry weights were drastically reduced. Applications of 4.5% reduced root and shoot weight of redroot pigweed by 93 and 98%, respectively. Crops were affected at higher treatment levels; however, the toxicity was readily avoided by applying the mycoherbicide out of the root zone of the crop, instead applying it between the seed and the soil surface. Viridiol production, which confers herbicidal activity, was detected 3 days after incorporation of the fungus-peat mixture. Viridiol production peaked on days 5 and 6 at approximately 25 μg viridiol/100 ml soil, based upon an application rate of 11%, then declined to undetectable levels by the end of 2 weeks.