A study was conducted in 2005 and 2006 to evaluate the response of 10 rice cultivars to penoxsulam applied at 70 g ai/ha to two- to three-leaf rice. A related study was conducted in 2004 and 2005 to compare the rice response to applications of penoxsulam at 35 and 70 g/ha and bispyribac-sodium at 28 g ai/ha. In the first study, all 10 rice cultivars exhibited tolerance to penoxsulam as evidenced by plant height, number of days to 50% heading, and rice grain yield. In the second study, applications of both rates of penoxsulam and bispyribac-sodium reduced mass of rice roots 65 to 71% 2 wk after treatment compared with a nontreated control. However, rice grain yield was higher following application of penoxsulam at 70 g/ha compared with yield of the nontreated control or yield following penoxsulam at 35 g/ha and bispyribac-sodium. Rice recovered from injury observed following herbicide application with no negative impact on grain yield. Results indicate that, even though rice root injury can be severe following application, penoxsulam is safe for application to rice cultivars currently grown in the southern U.S. Rice Belt.

Field experiments were conducted in 1999, 2000, and 2001 to investigate PRE and POST applications of halosulfuron-methyl in combination with clomazone plus ethalfluralin for control of several broadleaf weeds in cucumber and pumpkin. Halosulfuron was applied PRE or POST to cucumber and pumpkin at 9, 18, and 27 g ai/ha in combination with a PRE application of clomazone at 175 g ai/ha plus ethalfluralin at 630 g ai/ha. Halosulfuron applied POST at 27 g/ha in combination with clomazone plus ethalfluralin controlled weed species greater than 62%. Smooth pigweed control by addition of halosulfuron at 27 g/ha PRE or POST was greater than 88%, and common ragweed control was greater than 78% PRE and 88% POST, but control of ivyleaf morningglory and tall morningglory was 43 to 67% PRE and 62 to 76% POST. Cucumber injury with addition of halosulfuron did not exceed 13% PRE or POST, but pumpkin was injured as much as 43% with addition of halosulfuron PRE and 27% by POST applications. In a separate study without clomazone plus ethalfluralin PRE, smooth pigweed up to 13 cm tall was controlled 83% by halosulfuron at 27 g/ha in 2000, but rapidly growing smooth pigweed 15 to 40 cm tall was controlled only 58% in 2001. Cucumber and pumpkin yields were not affected by halosulfuron rate but were higher than yields produced by cucumber and pumpkin treated with only the mixture of clomazone plus ethalfluralin. In these studies, cucumber and pumpkin were tolerant to halosulfuron at 9 to 27 g/ha PRE or POST, making this herbicide acceptable for use in combination with clomazone and ethalfluralin for controlling several common weed species.

Six weed control programs with and without irrigation were investigated in a newly established pecan orchard. Irrigation increased crown diameter growth in only one of seven growing seasons but increased nut yield an average of 35% in the first two bearing years. Weed control program significantly influenced crown diameter beginning in the fourth growing season and continued through season six while also impacting final crown diameter. The use of postemergence (POST) herbicides increased crown diameter a minimum 4 mm vs. preemergence (PRE) herbicides. Mowing neither increased nor decreased crown diameter when used with herbicides; however, when used solely, crown diameter was 29% less. Highest growth rates were obtained with a combination PRE plus POST weed management system. Nut yields were closely linked to growth data. No differences in nut yield were observed between PRE- or POST-herbicide programs alone or in combination with mowing. Mowing alone decreased nut yield 57% vs. herbicide-based approaches. A combination PRE- plus POST-weed control program increased yield 38% vs. all other treatments.

Cogongrass and guineagrass are serious perennial weeds in small-scale farms in lowland subhumid zones of West Africa. Field studies were conducted in 2002 and 2003 at two sites in Ibadan, Nigeria [Ijaye and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)], to evaluate the effect of rimsulfuron on weed communities dominated by cogongrass and guineagrass in corn. At both sites, treatments were rimsulfuron dosages of 0 (nontreated control), 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 g ai/ha. Rimsulfuron did not cause any visible phytotoxicity on the corn at any dosage at either site. There was a rapid increase in weed control as the dosage of rimsulfuron increased from 0 to 20 g/ha. Weed control was not improved at rates higher than 20 g/ha. Rimsulfuron was very effective against sedges, Ipomoea involucrata, Bengal dayflower, gulf leafflower, old-world diamond-flower, and wild jute providing more than 80% control at dosages between 10 and 20 g/ha at Ijaye. Rimsulfuron was less effective for cogongrass, with a maximum of only 38% control observed. At IITA, the herbicide was very effective against guineagrass, Bengal dayflower, nodeweed, coat buttons, redfruit passionflower, and waterleaf; all of which were controlled more than 70% with any rate of rimsulfuron. Regression analysis showed that the dosage of rimsulfuron required to reduce shoot dry biomass by 70% was 5 g/ha for guineagrass and 35 g/ha for cogongrass at 3 wk after treatment (WAT). At crop maturity, the dosage of rimsulfuron required to reduce shoot dry biomass by 70% was 43 g/ha for guineagrass and 200 g/ha for cogongrass. The dry biomass of cogongrass and guineagrass was higher at crop harvest than at 2 WAT regardless of herbicide dosage. Corn grain yield was 1.8 times higher at IITA than at Ijaye. At both sites, corn grain yield increased with increased herbicide dosage. Maximum corn grain yields were obtained at a rimsulfuron dosage of 20 g/ha.

Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted during 2005 and 2006 at Stoneville, MS, to determine control of ragweed parthenium with several preemergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) herbicides registered for use in corn, cotton, peanut, rice, and soybean. Norflurazon, pendimethalin, clomazone, diuron, fluometuron, pyrithiobac, dimethenamid, flumetsulam, imazaquin, s-metolachlor, metribuzin, chlorimuron, atrazine, simazine, flumioxazin, and quinclorac were applied PRE. Ragweed parthenium control was highest with norflurazon (100%) and clomazone (100%) followed by fluometuron (96%), metribuzin (90%), diuron (87%), flumioxazin (84%), chlorimuron (77%), and quinclorac (67%) at 6 wk after treatment (WAT) under greenhouse conditions. Control of ragweed parthenium was less than 58% with all other herbicides. Ragweed parthenium appears to be highly sensitive to pigment and photosynthetic inhibitors compared to herbicides with other modes of action. Glyphosate, glufosinate, paraquat, bentazon, acifluorfen, chlorimuron, halosulfuron, MSMA, bromoxynil, atrazine, 2,4-D, flumioxazin, trifloxysulfuron, and clomazone were applied POST to field-grown rosette and bolted plants. Glyphosate, glufosinate, chlorimuron, and trifloxysulfuron applied at rosette stage provided greater than 93% control of ragweed parthenium at 3 WAT. Halosulfuron, MSMA, bromoxynil, 2,4-D, and flumioxazin controlled 58 to 90% rosette ragweed parthenium at 3 WAT. Ragweed parthenium control with all other POST herbicides was less than 38%. At bolted stage, glyphosate, glufosinate, and trifloxysulfuron controlled 86 to 95% ragweed parthenium and control was 61 to 70% with chlorimuron, halosulfuron, and 2,4-D 3 WAT. Overall, efficacy of POST herbicides was better on rosette plants than on bolted plants. Amino acid synthesis and glutamine synthase inhibitors were more active than herbicides with other modes of action. These results indicate that norflurazon, clomazone, fluometuron, flumioxazin, halosulfuron, chlorimuron, and trifloxysulfuron could provide effective control of ragweed parthenium.

Field experiments were conducted at Manhattan and Hesston, KS, in 2004, and at Manhattan, KS, in 2005, to evaluate cotton response to seven hormonal-type herbicides. Herbicides 2,4-D amine, 2,4-D ester, clopyralid, picloram, fluroxypyr, triclopyr, and dicamba were each applied at 0, 1/100, 1/200, 1/300, and 1/400 of the herbicide use rates on cotton in the six- to eight-leaf stage. Herbicide use rates were 210 and 280 g ae/ha for fluroxypyr and clopyralid and 561 g ae/ha, for 2,4-D amine, 2,4-D ester, dicamba, picloram, and triclopyr. At 14 d after treatment (DAT), all herbicides caused leaf cupping and epinasty, except triclopyr and clopyralid, which caused severe bleaching and chlorosis. The order of visual injury ratings was 2,4-D ester > 2,4-D amine > picloram > dicamba > fluroxypyr > triclopyr > clopyralid. By 56 DAT, slight injury symptoms were observed on plants treated with all herbicides, except all rates of 2,4-D, from which symptoms were severe. All rates of 2,4-D and the highest rate of picloram caused more than 60% flower abortion. Ranking of fiber yield reduction after herbicide treatment was 2,4-D ester > 2,4-D amine > picloram > fluroxypyr > dicamba > clopyralid > triclopyr. This research demonstrated that cotton is extremely susceptible to simulated drift rates of 2,4-D and picloram, whereas clopyralid and triclopyr caused early injury, with minimal effect on cotton yield.

Studies were conducted in 2003 and 2004 to determine the effect of application timing and halosulfuron rate on sweetpotato yield and quality. Halosulfuron was applied 1, 2, and 4 wks after transplanting (WAP) sweetpotato in 2003, and 2, 3, and 4 WAP in 2004. Treatments within each timing included halosulfuron at 13, 26, 39, 52, and 65 g ai/ha plus a weed-free control. Combined over year, site, cultivar and rate, halosulfuron applied at 1, 2, 3, and 4 WAP stunted sweetpotato 32, 15, 11, and 14%, respectively, rated 2 wks after treatment. The stunting observed with the 1 and 2 WAP timings caused a 17 and 10% reduction in yield of No. 1 roots, respectively, compared with the weed-free control. The 3 and 4 WAP timings of halosulfuron did not reduce yield of No. 1 roots. Total yield was reduced approximately 11% at the 1, 2, and 3 WAP application timings. Halosulfuron at 4 WAP did not reduce total yield. Combined over year, site, and cultivar, halosulfuron applied at 39 g/ha did not reduce the weight of No. 1 roots or total crop yield and thus could be an effective POST option for weed control in sweetpotato.

Field studies were conducted 2004 and 2005 to evaluate weed control following POST applications of glyphosate in combination with either S-metolachlor (premix formulation), pyrithiobac, or trifloxysulfuron in conjunction with glyphosate in second-generation glyphosate-resistant cotton (Roundup Ready Flex). These herbicides were applied in combination with glyphosate in a two-application program at the 2-leaf (LF) (followed by glyphosate alone at the 10-LF growth stage), 6-LF (following glyphosate alone at the 2-LF growth stage), or 10-LF (following glyphosate alone at the 2-LF growth stage) cotton growth stages. No differences in weed control between residual herbicide were observed for goosegrass, hemp sesbania, Johnsongrass, Palmer amaranth, redroot pigweed, sicklepod, or smellmelon. Optimum control of barnyardgrass and browntop millet was achieved with glyphosate plus S-metolachlor. No differences were observed among application timings for control of goosegrass, hemp sesbania, Johnsongrass, pitted morningglory, and smellmelon. Control of barnyardgrass, browntop millet, Palmer amaranth, redroot pigweed, and sicklepod was optimized with residual herbicide application at the 2- or 10-LF timing. No yield differences were observed between residual herbicides, and seed cotton yield averaged 2,800 kg/ha. Yield was maximized when residual herbicide was applied at the 2- or 10-LF growth stage (2,960 to 2,730 kg/ha). Analysis based on numerical yield at particular residual-herbicide application timings and calculated yield for each timing based on the percentage of a standard three-application glyphosate program indicated the most consistent residual-herbicide timing for optimizing yield in a reduced-input Roundup Ready Flex weed-control program occurred at the two-leaf growth stage. All reduced-input programs, however, resulted in cotton yield of at least 93% of that obtained with the standard program.

Field studies were established at two Missouri locations in 2004 and 2005 to evaluate the effects of fall and early spring herbicide applications on soil temperature, soil moisture content, and insect injury in no-till corn production systems. Both experiments received applications of simazine plus 2,4-D, rimsulfuron plus thifensulfuron plus 2,4-D, and glyphosate plus 2,4-D in the fall, 45 d prior to planting (45 d EPP), 30 d prior to planting (30 d EPP), and 7 d prior to planting (7 d EPP). During a period from April 1 to April 14, simazine plus 2,4-D applied 45 d EPP resulted in higher soil temperatures at a 5-cm depth compared to the untreated control. However, there were few differences in soil temperature present from April 15 to May 1. Soil moisture readings taken during this same time period correlated with soil temperature readings. Measurements of soil moisture taken at 1 and 3 wk after planting (WAP) revealed significantly lower soil moisture readings in the untreated compared to herbicide treated plots. This lower soil moisture content allowed untreated plots to warm up more rapidly and thereby eliminated any negative impacts that dense stands of winter annual weeds may have had on soil temperature. Evaluations of corn flea beetle and lepidopteron injury taken at the V2, V4, and V6 corn leaf stages revealed significant differences in injury as a result of these treatments. When dense stands of winter and summer annual weeds were left uncontrolled, corn flea beetle injury was significantly lower than in plots treated with a herbicide. However, when a post herbicide application was made to remove all weed species prior to the V6 sampling date, differences in corn flea beetle injury between the untreated and herbicide treated plots were eliminated. Additionally, removal of all weed species led to higher lepidopteron injury in the untreated.

Glyphosate at simulated drift rates representing 12.5, 6.3, and 1.6% of the usage rate of 1,120 g ai/ha (140, 70, and 18 g/ha, respectively) was applied to wheat at first node, boot stage, or at early flowering. At 14 d after treatment (DAT) wheat injury, expressed as bleaching of leaf foliage and growth inhibition, was 40 to 55% for 70 g/ha applied at first node and for 140 g/ha applied at all growth stages. Wheat height 28 DAT was reduced 47% with glyphosate applied at 140 g/ha at first node and was reduced around 26% for 70 g/ha applied at first node and 140 g/ha applied at boot stage. Wheat height was not reduced with glyphosate at 18 g/ha applied at first node or boot stage and with all rates applied at early flowering. Wheat yield was reduced 72% when glyphosate was applied at 140 g/ha at first node, 45% when applied at boot stage, and 54% when applied at early flowering. For 70 g/ha, wheat yield was reduced 25 to 30% for the three application timings. Wheat yield was not reduced for 18 g/ha glyphosate. In another study, six wheat varieties responded the same to glyphosate applied at 140 and 70 g/ha. Wheat height 28 DAT was reduced an average of 34% for 140 g/ha glyphosate and 17% for 70 g/ha applied at first node, but height was not reduced when applied at early flowering. Yield was reduced an average of 58 and 43% for 140 and 70 g/ha applied at first node and 38 and 19% for 140 and 70 g/ha applied at early flowering. In both studies yield reductions in most cases were reflected in reduced spike density, spikelet number per spike, and seed weight.

Field experiments were conducted at two locations in 2003 and 2004 to determine dark tobacco tolerance and weed control from postemergence over-the-top (POT) and postemergence-directed (PD) applications of trifloxysulfuron and halosulfuron. Trifloxysulfuron was applied at 3.6 or 5.3 g ai/ha and halosulfuron was applied at 36 or 53 g ai/ha. Trifloxysulfuron POT injured ‘Narrowleaf Madole’ dark tobacco 16 to 33% and halosulfuron POT caused 32 to 33% injury at 1 wk after treatment (WAT). Tobacco plant height at 1 WAT with POT applications was also reduced by up to 31% at one of two locations. Tobacco injury from POT applications had dissipated to 6 to 12% by 4 WAT. Despite extensive early-season injury, most POT herbicide applications did not significantly reduce tobacco yield, mean grade index, and gross revenue compared to tobacco that only received pretransplant applications of sulfentrazone plus clomazone. Dark tobacco was much more tolerant to PD applications of either herbicide, with no more than 4% injury observed at 1 WAT. Neither herbicide controlled horsenettle more than 57% at either application rate or method. Although trifloxysulfuron and halosulfuron could contribute to tobacco weed control programs by providing postemergence control of several common weed species, PD applications would be the only acceptable method of application due to excessive injury observed from POT applications of these herbicides.

In 2004 and 2005, field research was conducted in Idaho to compare tank mixtures of flumioxazin at the 53 g ai/ha potato use rate with comparable tank mixtures of rimsulfuron at 26 g ai/ha for broad-spectrum weed control. Flumioxazin in two-way tank mixtures with metribuzin, EPTC, pendimethalin, S-metolachlor, or ethalfluralin provided greater than 90% hairy nightshade control, which was comparable with control by similar rimsulfuron two-way tank mixtures. Flumioxazin plus metribuzin or rimsulfuron were the only two-way mixtures with flumioxazin consistently providing 90% or greater redroot pigweed, common lambsquarters, and green foxtail control. Control of these weeds by any of the rimsulfuron two-way mixtures was almost always greater than 90%. Three-way tank mixtures containing flumioxazin or rimsulfuron controlled hairy nightshade, redroot pigweed, and common lambsquarters similarly, and control ranged from 89 to 100%. When metribuzin was not included with flumioxazin in three-way mixtures, control was 80 to 97% and not always comparable with the 89 to 100% control by similar rimsulfuron mixtures. Green foxtail control by flumioxazin or rimsulfuron three-way mixtures usually was similar and greater than 90%.

Annual grasses constitute a major weed problem in winter annual crops in Northern Europe and especially in cropping systems where ploughing is omitted. At the optimum growth stage for control with POST herbicides, grasses have a predominantly vertical leaf orientation. This represents a very difficult spray target using the standard technique where nozzles are mounted more or less vertically downward. In this study, efficacy of the foliar-acting herbicide, haloxyfop, on perennial ryegrass at the two- to three-leaf stage was investigated in field experiments using some alternative configurations of nozzle mounting on the sprayer. Angling the spray either forward or backward relative to the direction of travel increased herbicide efficacy using standard commercially available flat-fan and pre-orifice nozzles. Efficacy increased generally with increasing angling relative to vertically downward and the forward-angled spray improved efficacy most. The largest improvement in efficacy was obtained using a 60° forward-angled spray in combination with a reduced boom height. Using this configuration, herbicide dose could be reduced by approximately 30% without loss of efficacy in comparison with the standard vertical mounting of nozzles. There was no advantage of using combinations of forward- and backward-angled nozzles.

Much research has evaluated herbicide safety on established bermudagrass turf, but information is lacking on seedling response to herbicides. Three field experiments were conducted in Blacksburg, VA, to assess turfgrass and smooth crabgrass response to selected sulfonylurea herbicides during seedling bermudagrass establishment. Herbicides injured bermudagrass 9 wk after treatment in the following order from most to least injurious: flazasulfuron = trifloxysulfuron > rimsulfuron > metsulfuron = sulfosulfuron > foramsulfuron. Herbicides applied 3 wk after seeding (WAS) were generally more injurious than when applied 1 WAS. Flazasulfuron and trifloxysulfuron-sodium controlled smooth crabgrass greater than 90% at 6 WAS, and metsulfuron and rimsulfuron suppressed smooth crabgrass 76 and 84%, respectively. Foramsulfuron, metsulfuron, and sulfosulfuron appear safe to apply 1 and 3 WAS, causing very little chlorosis and no reduction in turf cover. Rimsulfuron is injurious when applied at those timings; however, long-term cover is not reduced. Flazasulfuron and trifloxysulfuron-sodium are not safe to use 1 and 3 WAS unless weed pressure is extreme, and a delay in bermudagrass cover is acceptable.

A 3-yr field experiment was initiated in 2001 to evaluate weed suppression and sweetpotato productivity in three organic sweetpotato production systems. Organic systems were (1) compost and no cover crop with tillage (Org-NC), (2) compost and a cover crop mixture of hairy vetch and rye incorporated before transplanting (Org-CI), and (3) compost and the same cover crop mixture with reduced tillage (Org-RT). A conventional system with tillage and chemical controls (Conv) was included for comparison. Suppression of monocot and dicot weed density and biomass was similar between Org-NC and Org-CI each year, and were frequently similar to Conv. Org-RT was as effective as Org-NC in controlling dicot weed density and biomass each year, but did not suppress monocot weeds. At sweetpotato harvest, an increase in cover crop surface residue biomass in Org-RT was associated with a decrease in cumulative total weed density (R 2 = 0.43, P = 0.0001); however, the amount of that residue was insufficient to suppress late-emerging monocot weeds. Total sweetpotato yield in Org-RT was at least 45% lower than other systems in 2002 and was most likely due to an increase in monocot weed density and biomass concurrent with a decrease in sweetpotato vine biomass. Total sweetpotato yield was similar among all systems in 2001 and 2004; the exception was lowest yields obtained in the Org-RT system in 2002. Organically managed sweetpotato with or without an incorporated cover crop produced sweetpotato yields equal to conventionally managed systems despite difficulties controlling weeds that emerged later in the season.

The effect of N levels, weed control treatments, and their interaction on maize yield and weed growth in sandy soils is not completely understood. Therefore, field experiments were conducted during 2005 and 2006 to determine if management can improve maize competitiveness with weeds, and thus achieve the yield potential of maize in sandy soils. The experiment included three N levels (300, 338, and 375 kg/ha) and five weed control treatments, e.g., hand hoeing twice, hand hoeing three times, fluroxypr + hoeing once, hoeing once + bispyribac-Na, and a nonweeded check. N rates affected dry weight of weeds growing with maize except with large crabgrass. Biomass of common purslane, considered a nitrophilous species, was increased by all N levels. Weeds were controlled by all treatments compared with the nontreated check; however, herbicide treatments were not superior to hand-hoeing treatments. Using more N favored growth and yield of maize more than weeds. Adding N fertilizer also improved most yield parameters. Highest grain yield of maize resulted at 375 kg/ha N. All weed control treatments improved grain yield two- to threefold compared with the nonweeded check. The interaction between N rates and weed control treatments had significant effects on dry biomass of common purslane and barnyardgrass, as well as grain index and biological yield parameters of maize. Grain yields were improved with fluroxypyr applied 2 wk after sowing (WAS) maize followed by one hand hoeing 6 WAS or hoeing at 3 WAS followed by bispyribac-Na applied 6 WAS. However, highest yields were obtained by hoeing early during the growing season.

Field trials were conducted in East Lansing, MI in 2004 and 2005 and in St. Charles, MI in 2004, 2005, and 2006 to compare weed control and sugarbeet tolerance from microrate herbicide treatments that included s-metolachlor and dimethenamid-P. Treatments included the base microrate treatment alone and with full- and split-application rates of s-metolachlor at 1.4 kg/ha or dimethenamid-P at 0.84 kg/ha at the various microrate application timings. All treatments injured sugarbeet. In 2004 and 2006, full rates of both s-metolachlor and dimethenamid-P applied PRE or in the first microrate application injured sugarbeet more than the base microrate treatment. When s-metolachlor or dimethenamid-P were split-applied between PRE and the third microrate application or between the first and the third microrate applications, injury was still greater than from the base microrate treatment. Furthermore, applying dimethenamid-P at one-fourth the full rate in all four microrate applications injured sugarbeet more than the base microrate treatment. A full rate of s-metolachlor or dimethenamid-P applied in either the third or fourth microrate applications or splitting the applications between the second and fourth microrate treatments did not increase sugarbeet injury compared with the base microrate treatment. Control of common lambsquarters and giant foxtail from all treatments containing s-metolachlor or dimethenamid-P, regardless of the time of application, was greater than from the base microrate treatment at all locations. Pigweed spp. control was 94% or greater from all treatments. In 2004, late-season control of giant foxtail was greater from all treatments that included s-metolachlor or dimethenamid-P compared with the base microrate treatment. In 2005, the only treatments that did not improve late-season giant foxtail control compared with the base microrate treatment were the treatments that included a full rate of s-metolachlor or dimethenamid-P applied in the fourth microrate application. Even though some herbicide treatments that included s-metolachlor or dimethenamid-P injured sugarbeet more than the base microrate treatment, recoverable sucrose per hectare was similar among treatments.

A survey of seven production fields in Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio was conducted to assess henbit and purple deadnettle growth and soybean cyst nematode (SCN) development and reproduction on these weeds. Autumn and spring growth of purple deadnettle and henbit was influenced by location within each state. In general, winter annual weeds were larger in size and reached maturity earlier in the spring at the southern sample sites than those in the north. All growth stages of SCN were found to be associated with henbit and purple deadnettle at both autumn and spring sample timings. SCN juveniles were generally found infecting roots at highest abundance in the spring. SCN cyst and egg production also were widespread and occurred to a much higher degree during the autumn than the spring developmental period. The results of this survey indicate that management tactics designed to minimize the potential for SCN reproduction on winter annual weeds would probably be most effective if conducted in the autumn, when the majority of SCN reproduction occurred. However, spring populations of winter annual weeds that harbor SCN juveniles might facilitate additional SCN reproduction and population increase if the weeds are not controlled in a timely manner prior to planting.

Medusahead is an introduced, winter-annual grass covering millions of hectares of the semiarid West. It forms exclusive stands and has a dense thatch cover that resists the establishment of desirable species. Prescribed fire can remove medusahead litter and improve plant establishment. Medusahead control is fundamental to establishing desirable species that will, in turn, resist further invasion. Imazapic is an effective herbicide for control of medusahead, but more information is needed on its effects on desirable species. Our objectives were to test how imazapic application rate and timing affected medusahead, seeded desirable species, and other nontarget vegetation on burned and unburned rangeland in southeast Oregon. We burned existing medusahead infestations at two different sites in June 2003. Following the burn, imazapic was applied at rates of 0, 35, 70, 105, 140, 175, and 210 g ai/ha between July and October of 2003 in a randomized strip-plot design. In November 2003, monocultures of seven desirable species were drill-seeded across the imazapic treated areas. Data on cover and density of medusahead and seeded species were collected in 2004 and 2005. Cover data of nontarget species were collected in the summer of 2005. Medusahead cover was highest in control plots and lowest in plots that received the highest herbicide application rates. Medusahead cover was lower in burned plots. The effect of imazapic on nontarget vegetation was less clear. Seeded species established in the study plots, but their response to herbicide rate showed few consistent patterns; some of the seeded species showed little response to herbicide, whereas others appeared to establish best at different herbicide rates, depending on site and whether the plots were burned or unburned. Site and burn treatment also affected how imazapic rate or application month influenced cover of perennial or annual grasses or forbs.

Field studies were conducted in 2005 at five locations throughout Illinois to determine the effect of maturity date and canopy width characteristics of selected glyphosate-resistant soybean cultivars on competitive ability against weeds. Natural weed populations at all sites were allowed to compete with the soybean cultivars until the V1, V3, V5, or V7 growth stage and then removed with an application of glyphosate. Light-interception readings, weed control ratings, and soybean yield were all measured to compare cultivars. Cultivars of later maturities tended to withstand early season weed competition better and attained higher yields when weeds were removed at later timings than those of earlier maturity. Although canopy width differed moderately among cultivars in some cases, canopy width had no effect on the ability of soybeans to compete with weeds. Thus, choosing soybean cultivars of later maturity might provide more flexibility in weed management and might reduce losses due to weeds, but that benefit needs to be balanced with yield potential.