A continuous-belt herbicide wiper was developed to apply herbicides to weeds that are taller than cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) plants. An endless belt with a sponge attached to the entire length of the belt moves through a reservoir containing a herbicide solution. A variable pressure wheel squeezes the excess liquid out of the sponge and returns it to the reservoir. The herbicide is deposited on the leaves of the weeds as the belt moves in a horizontal plane, perpendicular to the forward movement of the wiper. Control of Walter's sedge (Carex walteriana Bailey), woolgrass [Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth] and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) was obtained when glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine], dalapon (2,2-dichloropropionic acid), and paraquat (1, 1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium ion) were applied using the continuous-belt wiper. No injury to cranberry plants was observed.

Two 1-yr field studies were conducted to evaluate preemergence and preplant incorporated treatments of alachlor [2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)acetanilide], EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate), fluridone {1-methyl-3-phenyl-5-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4(1H)-pyridinone}, and metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] for the control of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.). Preemergence applications of metolachlor at 2.24, 3.36, and 4.48 kg/ha gave the best control with no significant differences observed among rates of metolachlor. Depth of herbicide incorporation did not result in any significant increase in control. Preplant incorporation of metolachlor at all rates, or fluridone at 0.56 and 0.84 kg/ha provided seasonal control of yellow nutsedge. Translocation of 14C-metolachlor applied to the root or shoot of yellow nutsedge was primarily acropetal with some limited basipetal movement. Application of 14C-metolachlor to the root or shoot of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) resulted in mostly acropetal translocation with little movement of 14C from the treatment site.

Methazole [2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-l,2,4-oxadiazolidine-3,5-dione], metribuzin [4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazin-5(4H)-one], and combinations of MSMA (monosodium methanearsonate) with either methazole or metribuzin were applied to bare ground at 0, 1, 2, and 4 weeks before planting with bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. ‘Common’] as sprigs, stolons, and seed. In most instances, the growth of newly planted bermudagrass was as good or better from combination of MSMA (2.2 kg/ha) with either methazole or metribuzin at 0.1 kg/ha than with methazole or metribuzin applied alone at higher rates. MSMA + methazole can be applied safely on day of planting with sprigs and seed, but a 1-week interval between treatment and planting was needed with stolons in 1 of 2 yr. The MSMA + metribuzin combination can also be applied safely to sprigged bermudagrass on day of planting, but a 1-week interval was needed between treatment and planting with stolons and a 2-week interval between treatment and planting with seed to insure minimum bermudagrass injury.

Field studies were conducted to determine the effect of soil surface (upper 5 cm) pH and tillage on weed control and corn (Zea mays L.) yield using simazine [2-chloro-4,6-bis-(ethylamino)-s-triazine] as the herbicide for weed control. Soil pH, weed control, and corn yield were examined under no-tillage and conventional tillage systems with and without added lime and different rates of nitrogen. Increased soil pH significantly increased weed control as compared with added lime vs. no added lime, where the surface soil pH influenced the effectiveness of the applied simazine. Soil pH had a greater effect on weed control under no-tillage than under conventional tillage. Conventional tillage significantly (P<.01) increased weed control, yield, and soil pH over no-tillage. Additions of lime as compared to unlimed treatments resulted in significantly increased weed control (83% vs. 63%), yield (5,930 vs. 5,290 kg/ha) and soil pH (5.91 vs. 5.22). The poorest weed control was observed with no-tillage on unlimed plots. A significant tillage by linear effect of nitrogen interaction for all variables resulted from a greater decrease (P<.01) in weed control and soil pH and a greater increase in yield with increased nitrogen under no-tillage than with conventional tillage.

Greenhouse studies revealed that glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] at 3.4 kg/ha or picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid) at 0.3 kg/ha more effectively reduced further growth of honeyvine milkweed [Ampelamus albidus (Nutt.) Britt.] when treated at a height of 30 cm than did 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] at 1.1 kg/ha or dicamba (3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid) at 0.6 kg/ha. Glyphosate or picloram applications were also more effective than 2,4-D or dicamba applications in reducing amount of regrowth that occurred after treated plants were cut at the soil surface. Glyphosate plus 2,4-D, glyphosate plus dicamba, glyphosate plus picloram or 2,4-D plus picloram combinations also effectively reduced further growth of treated plants and subsequent regrowth after plants were initially harvested. Greenhouse studies revealed that glyphosate plus ethephon [(2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid] at 1.7 plus 0.6 kg/ha or glyphosate plus ammonium sulfate at 1.1 plus 6.7 kg/ha were no more effective than glyphosate alone at 1.7 kg/ha. Dowco 290 (3,6-dichloropicolinic acid) at up to 2.2 kg/ha did not effectively inhibit growth of honeyvine milkweed.

The basis for 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] antagonism of diclofop-methyl {methyl 2-[4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenoxy] propanoate} toxicity to wild oat (Avena fatua L.) was investigated by studying changes in the metabolism of diclofop-methyl in vitro. An esterase from wild oat, which hydrolyzes diclofop-methyl to the acid diclofop, was extracted, partially purified, and the reaction characterized. The rate of hydrolysis of 14C-diclofop-methyl was 0.14 ηmoles/2 h at standard assay conditions of 0.25 mg lyophilized enzyme preparation (19.6% protein) in 0.1 ml phosphate buffer (0.1 M, pH 7.0), substrate 5 μM. The addition of 2,4-D to this reaction did not inhibit 14C-diclofop formation. Higher levels of 2,4-D stimulated enzymic hydrolysis. 14C-diclofop-methyl was rapidly metabolized to 14C-diclofop and polar 14C-conjugates when vacuum-infiltrated into wild oat leaf segments. The addition of 2,4-D caused small increases in the rates of both 14C-diclofop-methyl de-esterification and 14C-diclofop conjugation. It is concluded that 2,4-D does not inhibit the in vitro de-esterification of diclofop-methyl.

Field experiments were conducted to study the effects of varying velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.) densities and planting dates on the growth and yield of soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Amsoy 71’]. Velvetleaf densities ranging from 2.5 to 40 plants/m2 caused reductions in the dry weight of soybean leaves, stems, roots, and pods and seeds, and in the leaf area index, pod number, and seed yield when velvetleaf and soybean plants emerged at the same time. The magnitude of reduction in soybean growth and the time at which the reduction was first observed was dependent on weed density. Soybean growth reductions caused by high velvetleaf densities were less when conditions of high soil moisture content minimized the effects of competition for water. Velvetleaf emerging 21 and 23 days after soybean emergence did not reduce crop growth or yield.

The growth responses of cogongrass [Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.] were studied in a controlled-environment greenhouse with a day/night temperature of 29/23 C, under full available light and 56 and 11% of full light. The cogongrass plants were grown from stem and rhizome propagules originating from an interstate highway median, a pecan [Carya illinoensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] plantation, and a pine (Pinus spp.) forest. After 89 days, the plants from all three populations produced, on average, three times as much total dry weight and leaf area in full available sunlight as in 56% full light and 20 times as much as in 11% full light. The distribution of plant biomass into rhizomes decreased with shading, whereas the distribution into leaves increased. The distribution of leaf biomass as leaf area also increased with shading, with the result that the plants grown in 11% full light had leaf area ratios about 2.5 times greater than those grown in full light. Reductions in dry matter production with shading were due to significant reductions in both net assimilation rate and leaf area duration or total amount of leaf area present. The plants from the shaded and exposed habitats generally did not differ significantly in their responses to shading. Thus, there is little evidence for the presence of sun and shade ecotypes in the populations of cogongrass studied.

Application of NH4+-bearing fertilizer in field and pot experiments increased triallate [S-(2,3,3-trichloroallyl)diisopropylthiocarbamate] activity on oats (Avena sativa ‘Harmon’). The effect was consistent in the growth chamber, but field results were more variable, depending on soil moisture and temperature conditions. Because the pot experiments showed that the major effect was in shoot-zone-treated soils, the increased triallate activity was attributed to a reduction in triallate adsorption to the soil colloids. However, a smaller effect was measured in root-zone-treated soil, thus a physiological effect is also possible.