The distribution of herbicide-resistant weeds such as waterhemp has resulted in a greater need for a more integrated approach to weed management, especially in U.S. soybean production systems. Previous research has shown harvest weed seed control (HWSC) to be an effective method of reducing the amount of weed seed returning to the soil. One form of HWSC is the use of impact mills to destroy weed seed exiting the combine during harvest. In 2019 and 2020, we investigated the efficacy and operating costs of the Seed TerminatorTM impact mill in five Missouri soybean fields that contained significant waterhemp infestations. Results indicated that 22% to 40% of the available waterhemp seed in the field at harvest drops to the soil surface because of shatter whenever the combine reel contacts waterhemp plants. Across all locations, an average of 94% of waterhemp seed exiting the Seed Terminator™ was substantially damaged and considered nonviable. Consecutive seasons of use of the Seed TerminatorTM on the same field in two of the locations resulted in a 96% to 97% reduction of waterhemp in the soil seed bank the spring following the second harvest. The estimated increased operating cost of using a Seed Terminator™ was $14.18 ha–1 compared to harvesting with a conventional combine alone. Engine load increased by 12.5%, fuel consumption was 11.3 L h–1 and 1 L ha–1 greater with the Seed Terminator™, but there was no reduction in productivity when harvesting with a combine equipped with a Seed TerminatorTM compared to a conventional combine. The use of impact mills could play a significant role in reducing soil weed seed banks in soybean production systems in at least the Midwest region of the United States in the future.

Controlling weeds is a critically important task in sugarcane production systems. Weeds compete for light, nutrients, and water, and if they are not managed properly can negatively impact sugarcane yields. Accurate detection of weeds versus desired plants was assessed using hyperspectral and pigment analyses. Leaf samples were collected from four commercial Louisiana sugarcane varieties, and nine weed species commonly found in sugarcane fields. Hyperspectral leaf reflectance data (350 to 850 nm) were collected from all samples. Plant pigment (chlorophylls and carotenoids) levels were also determined using high-performance liquid chromatography, and concentrations were determined using authentic standards and leaf area. In all cases, leaf reflectance data successfully differentiated sugarcane from weeds using canonical discrimination analysis. Linear discriminant analysis showed that the accuracy of the classification varied from 67% to 100% for individual sugarcane varieties and weed species. In all cases, sugarcane was not misclassified as a weed. Plant pigment levels exhibited marked differences between sugarcane varieties and weed species with differences in chlorophyll and carotenoid explaining much of the observed variation in reflectance. The ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b showed significant differences between sugarcane and all weed species. The successful implementation of this technology as either an airborne system to scout and map weeds or a tractor-based system to identify and spray weeds in real-time would offer sugarcane growers a valuable tool for managing their crops. By accurately targeting weeds in sugarcane fields that are emerged and growing, the total amount of herbicide applied could be decreased, resulting in cost savings for the grower and reduced environmental impacts.

Region- and system-specific research is needed to understand the viability of delayed cover-crop termination (i.e., planting green) as an integrated weed management (IWM) tactic in no-till soybean. In a 3-yr field experiment, we evaluated the potential for planting green to facilitate elimination of soil-applied, preemergence residual herbicides within a soybean phase of a 6-yr grain–forage cropping systems experiment in Pennsylvania. This IWM tactic was contrasted with a Standard treatment, which included 14 to 21 d pre-plant termination of cereal rye and a two-pass herbicide program with preemergence herbicides. A 63% increase in cereal rye biomass production was observed within the IWM treatment in 2019, but only a 22% and 33% increase in 2020 and 2021, respectively. In 2020, significantly lower volumetric water content (%VWC) was observed within the IWM treatment in dates closest to planting and greater %VWC at multiple dates in June and July compared to the Standard treatment. No differences occurred in soybean populations, but soybean biomass at the V4 growth stage was reduced in the Standard treatment compared to the IWM treatment, which we attribute to injury from preemergence applications. The Standard treatment resulted in greater soybean yield (2,590 kg ha–1) than the IWM treatment (1,870 kg ha–1) in 2020, but yields were similar in other years. The IWM treatment resulted in 58% fewer herbicide inputs, as measured by the number of active ingredients applied, compared to the Standard over the 3-yr study. Yet, peak weed biomass did not differ between treatments. However, the IWM treatment resulted in greater total horseweed density and the number of horseweed plants that exceeded recommended size-based height thresholds (10 cm) compared to the Standard treatment just prior to postemergence applications (35–42 d after planting) in 2020 and 2021, underscoring the importance of integrating surface mulch residues with effective herbicide sites of action.

The development of glufosinate-resistant soybean cultivars has created opportunities for use of glufosinate applied postemergence for weed control. Four field experiments were conducted in 2021 and 2022 to ascertain the effect of glufosinate rate and the addition of ammonium sulfate on annual weed control in glyphosate/glufosinate/2,4-D–resistant soybean. An increased glufosinate rate of 500 from 300 g ai ha−1 improved control of common ragweed, common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, and foxtail species and resulted in decreased density and dry biomass of common lambsquarters and foxtail species. The addition of ammonium sulfate to glufosinate increased control of common lambsquarters, 2 and 8 wk after application (WAA), and of foxtail species, 2, 4, and 8 WAA, but did not improve control of common ragweed and redroot pigweed. Increasing the dose of glufosinate from 300 to 500 g ai ha−1 improves control of common ragweed, redroot pigweed, common lambsquarters, and foxtail species; however, the benefit of the addition of ammonium sulfate to glufosinate is weed species-specific.

Allowing the use of two additional modes of action (MOAs), Enlist™ corn is a novelty in the continuum of herbicide-resistant crop development efforts that have occurred since the 1990s. Knowledge of Enlist corn tolerance to labeled herbicides and other herbicides within the same MOA for various use and/or exposure scenarios is not well established. Four site-year field experiments for preemergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) applications were conducted at sites in Fayetteville (2021 and 2022) and Tillar (2020 and 2021), Arkansas, to evaluate Enlist corn response following PRE or POST applications of synthetic auxin herbicides or those that inhibit acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase). A non-Enlist and an Enlist corn hybrid were used for each herbicide treatment to establish differential tolerance. Injury response to PRE application varied among site-years; clethodim was the only herbicide that occasionally caused significant (7% to 17%) injury to Enlist corn. None of the PRE treatments affected plant height, stand, or yield of Enlist corn; these responses were generally similar or better for Enlist corn compared to non-Enlist corn. Enlist corn showed significant injury to POST applications of florpyrauxifen-benzyl (>10%), fluazifop-P-butyl and quizalofop-P-ethyl (>5%), and clethodim and sethoxydim (>75%) 1 wk after application (WAA). These initial injury responses to clethodim and sethoxydim were generally reflected in Enlist corn yield; however, the minimal injury from fluazifop-P-butyl and quizalofop-P-ethyl did not affect yield. Injury to non-Enlist corn with POST-applied ACCase-inhibiting herbicides 2 WAA was >80%, resulting in a proportionate yield reduction. Even though florpyrauxifen-benzyl caused more initial injury to non-Enlist corn, yield reduction in non-Enlist corn was occasionally less than of Enlist corn, with both hybrids experiencing >75% yield reduction. In summary, Enlist corn may occasionally show transient injury even to labeled herbicides when applied POST, and even though the injury from florpyrauxifen-benzyl is initially mild, it nonetheless results in substantial yield loss.

Weed control in corn is a major challenge due to increasing problems with highly dominant weed species and herbicide resistance evolution. Common lambsquarters and johnsongrass constitute up to 80% to 90% of the weed population in many spring crops, such as soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), and corn, in Serbia. Currently, acetolactate synthase–inhibiting herbicides, such as the systemic selective sulfonylurea nicosulfuron, are most commonly used for chemical weed control of those species. A better understanding of the impact of nozzle type and adjuvant use on nicosulfuron efficacy can help to improve control of common lambsquarters and johnsongrass and minimize herbicide resistance development. Field trials were conducted in Serbia from 2020 to 2022 to evaluate the impact of two adjuvants (a non-ionic surfactant [NIS] and a mineral fertilizer ammonium sulfate [AMS]) and two nozzle types (drift-reducing nozzles and flat-fan nozzles) on common lambsquarters and johnsongrass control using nicosulfuron. Satisfactory biomass reduction of common lambsquarters (83% to 87%) and johnsongrass (83% to 97%) was achieved after nicosulfuron application. Adding a NIS adjuvant increased the biomass reduction for common lambsquarters (94% to 98%) and johnsongrass (90% to 100%) independently of the nozzle type used. Selection of nozzle type did not show consistent effects on common lambsquarters and johnsongrass control. Nicosulfuron efficacy was increased with NIS adjuvant for both nozzle types compared to nicosulfuron solo for both species, and Extended Range (XR) TeeJet® nozzles on average resulted in a higher efficacy for common lambsquarters compared to Turbo TeeJet® induction. Adding a mineral AMS adjuvant resulted in lower biomass reduction for both nozzle types and weed species (65% to 78% and 61% to 91% for common lambsquarters and johnsongrass, respectively). Corn grain yield was predominantly influenced by annual meteorological conditions and adjuvant type added to nicosulfuron. This research suggests that addition of the non-ionic adjuvant is an essential factor for successful control of common lambsquarters and johnsongrass in corn and enables use of drift-reducing nozzles.

Three suspected resistant (R1, R2, and R3) corn marigold populations collected from winter cereal fields located in central Greece were studied to confirm and elucidate the mechanisms of resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors and their competitive ability against barley. Whole-plant dose–response assays proved that the three suspected R populations were highly cross-resistant to the ALS inhibitors tribenuron, pyroxsulam + florasulam, and imazamox, whereas their control with synthetic auxin plus ALS inhibitors co-formulated mixtures was increased in the order of tritosulfuron + dicamba < florasulam + clopyralid < tribenuron + mecoprop-P < florasulam + aminopyralid. The ALS gene sequence revealed a point mutation in 11 plants of the R1, R2, and R3 populations, which resulted in the substitution of Pro-197-Thr or Trp-574-Leu. By contrast, all three sequenced plants of the susceptible (S) population were found with the wild-type allele encoding Pro-197 and Trp-574. This is the first report of ALS-inhibitor resistance in corn marigold. The competition study between barley and four densities of the S, R2, or R3 populations indicated similar biomass rates for all three populations, suggesting lack of association between the competitive ability of the R populations and the target-site resistance mechanism, which was also confirmed by the similar biomass reduction rates of barley grown in competition with S or R populations.

Resistant plants of Sumatran fleabane with unusual rapid necrosis (RN) symptoms after application of 2,4-D were characterized in previous studies. Field observations indicated variability in the occurrence of the RN caused by 2,4-D, but the causes of the variation are unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of environmental conditions, plant growth stage, and simultaneous and sequential herbicide mixtures with other auxin mimics on the occurrence of RN caused by 2,4-D. Application at temperature of 12 C delayed the symptoms and decreased the intensity of the RN but still resulted in plant survival to 2,4-D. The absence of light after herbicide application caused a slight delay in the symptoms, but the production of hydrogen peroxide and the size of the necrosed area were not affected by the light treatments before and after 2,4-D application. Changes in plant photosynthesis through inhibiting photosystem II do not prevent the occurrence of RN symptoms. The auxinic herbicides dicamba, triclopyr, and halauxifen-methyl do not cause RN symptoms and are effective at controlling the resistant biotype when applied without 2,4-D, but the effectiveness of these herbicides was reduced when sprayed on the resistant biotype either together, 4 h, or 24 h after 2,4-D. The RN phenotype does not occur for dicamba and triclopyr, even in advanced plant growth stages and high doses on the resistant biotype. The herbicides dicamba and triclopyr effectively controlled resistant plants, especially when sprayed at the initial growth stages. The results of this study identify environmental effects, plant development effects, and herbicide interactions that interfere with the occurrence of RN symptoms caused by 2,4-D in Sumatran fleabane. These data provide insights about the mechanisms behind the RN symptoms caused by 2,4-D and are important for identifying the causes of variability of the herbicide symptomology and performance under experimental and field conditions.

Methiozolin is commonly used for the safe and selective removal of annual bluegrass from creeping bentgrass golf greens. Studies were conducted in 2013 and 2014 with the objective of assessing fertility programs consisting of synthetic fertilizers and biostimulants, with and without the plant growth regulator trinexapac-ethyl, to aid putting green canopy recovery following annual bluegrass removal via methiozolin. Additional studies were conducted to compare recovery of creeping bentgrass following an aggressive core aerification event with fertility programs with and without methiozolin. In all cases, the addition of 7 kg ha−1 of N-P-K from fertilizer or biostimulant biweekly to greens increased turfgrass recovery time by 1 to 3 wk compared to a standard green’s fertility program alone. Creeping bentgrass treated with biostimulants recovered equivalent to or quicker than creeping bentgrass treated with synthetic fertilizer (SF) in all cases. In the presence of methiozolin treatments, trinexapac-ethyl reduced time to 90% recovery (T90) by 0.25 to 0.5 wk at two locations, and increased T90 recovery time by 0.1 wk at one location. Otherwise, plots treated with SF plus trinexapac-ethyl were equivalent to plots treated with SF only. Methiozolin slowed turfgrass recovery time at one location where severe drought stress occurred but not at the other location that did not experience drought stress. These results suggest that turf managers should increase fertilizer treatments but will not need to discontinue trinexapac-ethyl use to maximize creeping bentgrass recovery following annual bluegrass control with methiozolin. These data also suggest that methiozolin has the potential to negatively affect creeping bentgrass recovery when drought stress is experienced.

A dose-response trial was conducted in two experimental runs at the Purdue University Horticulture Greenhouses, West Lafayette, IN, in 2021/2022 to determine the effect of mesotrione rate on simulated dormant ‘Redefined Murray Mitcham’ peppermint. Peppermint was established in 20-cm-diam polyethylene pots, it was then harvested, and pots were placed in a cooler (4 C) for 1 mo. Potted peppermint plants were removed from cold storage and treated with one of five mesotrione rates: 0 (nontreated control), 53, 105, 210, or 420 g ai ha–1. As mesotrione rate increased from 53 to 420 g ai ha–1, predicted peppermint injury increased from 35% to 80% at 2 wk after treatment (WAT), 36% to 95% at 4 WAT, 9% to 82% at 6 WAT, and 8% to 90% at 8 WAT; and peppermint height decreased from 74% to 42% of the nontreated control (7 cm) 2 WAT, 74% to 17% of the nontreated control (20 cm) 4 WAT, 81% to 15% of the nontreated control (28 cm) 6 WAT, and 88% to 19% of the nontreated control (37 cm) 8 WAT. Mesotrione rates from 53 to 420 g ai ha–1 reduced peppermint dry weight from 40% to 99%, respectively. Results from this experiment showed that mesotrione applied even at half of the recommended field use rate for corn (53 g ai ha–1) was not safe for peppermint due to a reduction in aboveground biomass.

Prostrate water primrose is a troublesome weed in rice paddy fields. A study was conducted to determine the influence of environmental and agronomic factors on its emergence. The efficacy of herbicides on this species was also examined. The germination percentage of mature seeds remained above 90% within 180 d after harvest, indicating a low primary dormancy of this species. Light stimulated seed germination. Seeds buried deeper than 0.5 cm did not form seedlings. These results suggest that stale seedbed practices and deep tillage operations can mitigate the occurrence of this species in paddy fields. The optimum temperature for germination varied from 25/15 C to 35/25 C. The osmotic potential and salt concentration needed to inhibit 50% of maximum germination were −0.4 MPa and 197 mM, respectively. Seeds were tolerant to flooding and did not germinate at pH 8 to 10. The preemergence herbicides oxadiazon, oxadiargyl, and butachlor had excellent control efficacy on prostrate water primrose, with a 95.4% to 100% reduction in seedling number and a 99.2% to 100% reduction in biomass, respectively. The postemergence herbicides MCPA-Na + bentazone, bentazone, MCPA-Na, and fluroxypyr applied at the 2- to 3-leaf stage of prostrate water primrose provided a 90.6% to 100% reduction in seedling number and a 99.3% to 100% reduction in biomass. The results of this study can help in developing sustainable and effective integrated weed management strategies for controlling prostrate water primrose in paddy fields.

Downy brome is a troublesome facultative winter-annual grass weed that invades agricultural and nonagricultural lands in western North America and can cause substantial crop yield losses particularly in no-till winter wheat. Glyphosate-resistant (GR) downy brome was identified in southern Alberta in 2021, representing the first confirmation of a GR grass weed in Canada. This study was designed to evaluate alternative herbicides and herbicide mixtures applied postemergence (POST) for control of GR and glyphosate-susceptible (GS) downy brome populations at the seedling stage under a controlled environment. The GR downy brome did not exhibit cross-resistance to other herbicides applied POST. Quizalofop alone or in combination with imazamox, imazamox + bentazon, or imazamox/imazethapyr, and glufosinate mixed with either clethodim or tiafenacil resulted in ≥80% visible control, plant mortality, and reduction in biomass of both GR and GS downy brome populations 21 d after treatment. Diligent stewardship of these remaining herbicide options is warranted since downy brome populations with resistance to herbicides that inhibit acetyl-CoA carboxylase or acetolactate synthase have been reported in neighboring states.