Woody plant herbicide screening techniques were evaluated to expedite the screening process and decrease amounts of herbicide active ingredient required. Rapid greenhouse screening of woody plant seedlings was performed in less than 6 months, and rapid seed screening was performed in less than 20 days. A traditional field screen, requiring 10 months from application to final evaluation, was performed for comparison and regression modeling purposes. Imazapyr and triclopyr were used as test chemicals and linear regressions were generated to predict traditional field screen results from rapid screens. Significant regressions were produced that predicted field responses of loblolly pine, sweetgum, and yellow-poplar with the use of both herbicides and either rapid screening technique. This indicated that rapid screening techniques could determine herbicide efficacy and/or species spectrum in much less time with significantly less herbicide. Rapid greenhouse screens of triclopyr produced more statistically significant regressions than those using imazapyr. Rapid seed screens could estimate species spectrum within 5 days after treatment. These results indicate that rapid greenhouse screen and rapid seed screen techniques can provide woody plant herbicide developers initial efficacy and spectrum of control data in a cost- and-time effective manner.

Johnsongrass control in fallowed sugarcane fields was evaluated with glyphosate and the graminicides quizalofop, fluazifop, and clethodim applied in soybean compared with nonsoybean tillage and glyphosate programs. Glyphosate was applied to glyphosate-resistant soybean as a single early postemergence (EPOST) treatment around 30 d after planting (DAP) at rates of 840, 1,120, or 2,240 g ai/ha; as sequential treatments EPOST and late postemergence (LPOST) around 60 DAP at 560 followed by (fb) 560 or 1,120 fb 1,120 g/ha; or as a single LPOST treatment at 2,240 g/ha. Quizalofop at 77 g ai/ha, fluazifop at 420 g ai/ha, and clethodim at 280 g ai/ha were also evaluated as single EPOST treatments. In 1996 johnsongrass control 7 d after EPOST treatment (DAT) was at least 90% for glyphosate treatments but control was 73 to 77% for the graminicides. In 1997 johnsongrass control 7 DAT was at least 82% for all herbicide treatments. Excellent johnsongrass control approximately 50 DAT was achieved both years with all the glyphosate and graminicide treatments. In the nonsoybean fallow weed control programs where plots were tilled twice or three times fb one or two glyphosate applications, complete control of johnsongrass was obtained both years. In 1996 when glyphosate was applied EPOST or EPOST fb LPOST, soybean yields were equivalent and averaged 3.3 times that of the single LPOST glyphosate application. Soybean yields where the graminicides were used and where glyphosate was applied as a single LPOST treatment were no greater than the nontreated control. Economic analysis on the basis of soybean yield data and variable costs of herbicides, seed, field application, seedbed preparation, tillage, labor, fuel, repairs, and custom harvest expense in 1996 showed a positive net return only for glyphosate applied EPOST at 840 g/ha ($99.82/ha) or 1,120 g/ha ($46.94/ha) and for glyphosate applied at 560 g/ha EPOST fb LPOST ($10.41/ha). Although showing a negative net return, glyphosate applied EPOST at 2,240 g/ha ($−8.32/ha) or EPOST fb LPOST at 1,120 g/ha ($−50.97/ha), the loss was less than that for nonsoybean fallow tillage and glyphosate programs ($−155.70/ha and $−157.78/ha). In 1997, when soybean was not harvested because of environmental conditions, variable costs exceeded those of the nonsoybean programs, indicating that planting soybean strictly as a cover crop would not be economically advantageous. Sugarcane growth and yield the year following the fallow programs was not negatively affected by production of soybean regardless of herbicide program.

A replacement series study was conducted to describe the aggressivity between cucumber, smooth pigweed, and livid amaranth. Cucumber was three times more competitive than smooth pigweed or livid amaranth, under the conditions of this study. However, there was equal competition and no antagonism between smooth pigweed and livid amaranth. Where cucumbers were planted in mixture with either of the two weeds, the relative yield total values were approximately 10 to 20% higher than the monocultures. Cucumber was a superior competitor when grown in mixture with smooth pigweed or livid amaranth, and the following aggressivity hierarchy exists: cucumber > livid amaranth = smooth pigweed. Results from the additive field study indicated that amaranth dry weights were significantly affected by smooth pigweed and livid amaranth density. Dry weight of amaranth was decreased by 48% at Gainesville and 25% at Live Oak, at 18 plants/m2. Despite differences between the Gainesville and Live Oak results, the dry weight data were similar for both smooth pigweed and livid amaranth at each location.

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of application rate, growth stage, and tank-mixing azimsulfuron or bentazon on the activity of cyhalofop, clefoxydim, and penoxsulam against two morphologically distinct Echinochloa species from rice fields in Greece. Mixtures of penoxsulam with MCPA were also evaluated. Cyhalofop (300 to 600 g ai/ha) applied at the three- to four-leaf growth stage provided 62 to 85% control of early watergrass but 41 to 83% control of late watergrass averaged over mixture treatments. Control ranged from 37 to 80% for early watergrass and from 35 to 78% for late watergrass when cyhalofop was applied at the five- to six-leaf growth stage averaged over mixture treatments. Mixtures of cyhalofop with azimsulfuron or bentazon reduced efficacy on both species irrespective of growth stage or cyhalofop application rate compared with cyhalofop alone. Clefoxydim (100 to 250 g ai/ha) applied alone at the three- to four-leaf growth stage provided 98 to 100% control of early watergrass and 91 to 100% control of late watergrass; when clefoxydim was applied alone at the five- to six-leaf growth stage the control obtained was 91 to 100% for early watergrass and 79 to 100% for late watergrass. Mixtures of clefoxydim with azimsulfuron or bentazon reduced efficacy on late watergrass at the early growth stage and on both species at the late growth stage. Penoxsulam (20 to 40 g ai/ha) applied alone provided 94 to 100% control of both species at both growth stages. Mixtures of MCPA with penoxsulam reduced efficacy on late watergrass at the early growth stage and on both species at the late growth stage. Mixtures of penoxsulam with azimsulfuron or bentazon reduced efficacy only on late watergrass at the late growth stage.

The objectives of this research were to evaluate herbicide safeners and water repellents for their efficacy in reducing injury caused by isoxaflutole to corn at four application timings (PRE, spike, two-leaf, and four-leaf), and to evaluate the retention of the combinations of isoxaflutole, herbicide safeners, and water-repellent adjuvants. The safeners R-29148 and furilazole decreased injury from isoxaflutole when applied PRE. Corn injury increased from POST applications at the two-leaf and four-leaf stage of isoxaflutole mixed with safeners compared with isoxaflutole alone. The safeners may have acted as adjuvants to increase isoxaflutole absorption. The water-repellent adjuvants did not reduce injury when applied POST with isoxaflutole. However, the combination of safener plus the water repellent DC 1-6184 reduced corn injury from POST applications of isoxaflutole. The water repellent DC 1-6184 reduced spray retention of spray solutions containing isoxaflutole or isoxaflutole plus safener.

Biotypes of smallflower umbrella sedge and ricefield bulrush resistant to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides have been reported in several rice areas of the world. Here, we present results of a study conducted on whole plants of seven smallflower umbrella sedge and four ricefield bulrush biotypes collected in Italian, Spanish, and Californian rice fields to evaluate cross-resistance to ALS herbicides in these important weeds of temperate rice. The following herbicides were tested: bensulfuron-methyl, halosulfuron, cinosulfuron, imazamox, and bispyribac-sodium. The smallflower umbrella sedge and ricefield bulrush biotypes studied exhibited different cross-resistance patterns, some of which have not been previously reported. The Italian smallflower umbrella sedge biotype was cross-resistant to bensulfuron-methyl, cinosulfuron, imazamox, and bispyribac-sodium, but was susceptible to halosulfuron. One smallflower umbrella sedge biotype from California was also resistant to bensulfuron-methyl, imazamox, and bispyribac-sodium, but had a lower level of resistance to halosulfuron. In contrast, the second smallflower umbrella sedge biotype from California was strongly resistant to halosulfuron and was also resistant to bensulfuron-methyl and bispyribac-sodium, but moderately resistant to imazamox. The Spanish smallflower biotype was resistant to the sulfonylurea herbicides bensulfuron-methyl and halosulfuron. Different responses were observed in ricefield bulrush. The Italian biotype was resistant to the sulfonylureas only, whereas the biotype from California exhibited broad cross-resistance to all the ALS herbicides tested. Knowledge on cross-resistance is needed to formulate herbicide use and weed management strategies for delaying the evolution of resistance to ALS herbicides in rice systems.

Response of creeping bentgrass, annual bluegrass, and Kentucky bluegrass to foliar, soil, or foliar plus soil applications of bispyribac-sodium was evaluated in greenhouse studies. Soil-alone and foliar plus soil applications of bispyribac-sodium at 148 or 296 g ai/ha resulted in greater injury and shoot dry weight reduction of all species 28 d after treatment (DAT) compared to foliar-alone treatments. Creeping bentgrass was less injured than annual or Kentucky bluegrass regardless of application placement. Further studies evaluated foliar and root absorption and translocation of 14C-bispyribac-sodium in creeping bentgrass, annual bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and roughtstalk bluegrass. Foliar absorption into creeping bentgrass was less than that of other species at most harvest timings from 4 to 72 h after treatment. Annual and roughstalk bluegrass translocated greater amounts of foliar-absorbed 14C to the crown and shoots compared to creeping bentgrass. Annual and roughstalk bluegrass accumulated approximately 47% more 14C per dry weight of plant tissue than creeping bentgrass and 74% more than Kentucky bluegrass after 72 h in nutrient solution containing 14C-bispyribac-sodium. Annual and roughstalk bluegrass translocated approximately 80% of root-absorbed 14C to shoots, whereas creeping bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass translocated slightly less (66% of absorbed for both species). These studies suggest that bispyribac-sodium is readily absorbed by roots and translocated to shoots which may contribute to its total activity within a plant. In addition, creeping bentgrass displayed lower amounts of foliar and root absorption and subsequent translocation than annual and roughstalk bluegrass which may contribute to greater bispyribac-sodium tolerance displayed by creeping bentgrass.

Sulfentrazone was applied POST at 13, 26, or 53 g ai/ha alone or in combination with metribuzin at 280 or 420 g ai/ha in field trials conducted with ‘Russet Burbank’ potatoes in 2002 to 2004. Sulfentrazone alone provided less than 84% redroot pigweed, common lambsquarters, and kochia control, although control usually improved to 90% or greater when metribuzin was included. Hairy nightshade control reached 90% only when the highest rates of both herbicides were applied in combination. Sulfentrazone alone did not provide any volunteer oat control, whereas control was 85% when the highest metribuzin rate was included. Potato crop injury, consisting of chlorosis, interveinal blackening of the leaves, eventual necrosis, leaf malformation, and plant stunting, increased as the sulfentrazone rate increased. In contrast, injury decreased as metribuzin rate increased from 0 to 420 g/ha, when averaged across sulfentrazone rates. Reduction in injury levels and increased weed control translated to improved tuber yields as metribuzin rate increased. However, when sulfentrazone was combined with the highest metribuzin rate, potato injury was still relatively high at 26 and 18% at 1 and 4 wk after treatment, and acceptance of sulfentrazone applied POST with metribuzin by potato growers is unlikely.

Blessed thistle is an important medicinal crop in Europe and recently has become more significant in North America. A limiting factor in blessed thistle production is weed interference. Field experiments were conducted near Plovdiv, Bulgaria, to study the effect of selected herbicides on weed control, crop productivity, and crop quality. Seed yields of blessed thistle were increased with metribuzin alone at 0.5 kg ai/ha, pendimethalin alone 1.32 kg ai/ha, pendimethalin at 1.32 kg ai/ha plus metribuzin at 0.5 kg ai/ha, trifluralin at 0.84 kg ai/ha plus linuron at 1.0 kg ai/ha, and in the hand-weeded control compared to the nonweeded control (nontreated check). Pendimethalin and metribuzin were safe both alone and in combination for weed control in blessed thistle. Bentazon at 0.96 kg ai/ha inhibited blessed thistle development and reduced seed yields compared to the untreated check. Generally, weed control increased the content of silymarin and decreased the amount of seed oil. Overall, seeds contained 0.26 to 0.36% taxifolin, 0.69 to 0.99% silydianin plus silycristin, 1.31 to 1.78% silybin, and 0.27 to 0.39 % isosilybin.

Field trials were conducted to evaluate weed control and soybean tolerance with co-application of pyraflufen-ethyl and glyphosate. Pyraflufen-ethyl applied at 11, 23, or 45 g ai/ha in combination with glyphosate did not affect control of barnyardgrass, browntop millet, redroot pigweed, sicklepod, or smellmelon compared to glyphosate alone or co-applied with chlorimuron. Initial benefit (7 DAT) to pitted morningglory control with pyraflufen-ethyl plus glyphosate compared to glyphosate alone or co-applied with chlorimuron was not observed 28 DAT. Hemp sesbania control was increased by pyraflufen-ethyl at 45 g/ha plus glyphosate and glyphosate plus chlorimuron relative to glyphosate applied alone. Pyraflufen-ethyl plus glyphosate resulted in significant visual soybean injury, and a reduction in soybean yield was observed with pyraflufen-ethyl at 45 g/ha relative to glyphosate applied alone or in combination with chlorimuron. Results from a weed-free study confirmed crop injury and yield reduction potential with pyraflufen-ethyl plus glyphosate. Overall results suggest no benefit with respect to weed control or crop tolerance to pyraflufen-ethyl inclusion in a glyphosate-resistant soybean weed control program over that observed with currently registered co-application of glyphosate and chlorimuron.

Turf managers traditionally avoid seeding cool-season turfgrass in spring due to summer annual weed interference and poor growing conditions for cool-season grasses. Siduron is the most accepted herbicide for weed control in spring-seeded tall fescue, but it has low residual activity and does not control many weeds other than crabgrass. Isoxaflutole, mesotrione, and quinclorac were evaluated as alternatives to siduron. Single applications of these herbicides controlled crabgrass equivalent to or better than siduron. Sequential applications of isoxaflutole, mesotrione, or quinclorac effectively controlled smooth crabgrass without injuring tall fescue. Isoxaflutole and mesotrione controlled broadleaf plantain, henbit, and yellow woodsorrel; quinclorac marginally controlled henbit; and siduron did not control broadleaf weeds. Turfgrass cover 9 wk after seeding was dependent on environment and equivalent between treatments except at a location with predominately broadleaf weeds where siduron treatments resulted in less cover due to weed infestation. Sequential applications of isoxaflutole, mesotrione, and quinclorac provide an effective, safe option for chemical weed control during establishment of cool-season turfgrass.

Control of glyphosate-resistant (GR) horseweed in no-till cotton has become a serious challenge for midsouth producers. Control of GR horseweed prior to no-till cotton planting (burndown) was examined with glufosinate applied at a standard rate (0.47 kg ai/ha) 30, 21, and 14 d before planting (DBP) and at 0.35 and 0.58 kg ai/ha 14 DBP. Glufosinate at 0.47 kg ai/ha was also tank-mixed with 2,4-D, dicamba, or flumioxazin 30 DBP, and with diuron, pendimethalin, prometryn, or glyphosate at 14 DBP. Glufosinate applied at the standard rate 21 or 30 DBP did not control GR horseweed (<55%), but did provide better control (85%) when applied 14 DBP. The high rate of glufosinate (0.58 kg ai/ha) applied 14 DBP controlled GR horseweed. Tank mixtures of glufosinate with dicamba or 2,4-D at 30 DBP controlled GR horseweed. Tank mixtures of glufosinate with either prometryn or diuron provided initial burndown and residual weed control. Tank mixtures of glufosinate + pendimethalin or flumioxazin did not increase control of existing horseweed, but did provide residual control 56 days after application.

Weed control in organic vegetable production systems is challenging and accounts for a large portion of production costs. Six methods to prepare a stale seedbed were compared on certified and transitional organic land in Salinas, CA, in 2004. Weed control operations occurred on raised beds 2 to 3 d before planting baby spinach or a simulated vegetable planting. A flamer and an herbicide application of 10% v/v of a clove oil mixture (45% v/v clove oil) at 280 L/ha (iteration 1) or 15% v/v of a clove oil mixture (45% clove oil) at 467 L/ha (iterations 2 and 3) were used to control weeds without disturbing the soil. Top knives on a sled, a rolling cultivator, and a rotary hoe were used to control weeds while tilling the bed top. A bed shaper–rototiller combination was also used, which tilled the entire bed. Broadleaf weed control was 36% with clove oil, 63% with the rotary hoe, and significantly higher (87 to 100% control) with the remaining treatments in iteration 1. Broadleaf weed control was consistently lower (72 to 86% control) with the flamer than all other treatments (95 to 100% control) in iterations 2 and 3. The difference between sites can probably be attributed to differences in weed size. The flamer and the clove oil herbicide had the lowest number of weeds emerging with the crop following stale seedbed formation. The most expensive technique was clove oil at $1,372/ha. The estimated cost of forming the stale seedbed with the remaining weed management tools ranged from $10 to $43/ha.

During dry weather, preplant irrigation of raised beds followed by shallow tillage to create a smooth planting bed is necessary to establish a good lettuce stand. Depletion of germinable weed seeds in the top 5 cm of soil by the sequence of preplant irrigation, followed 7 to 14 d later by shallow tillage to prepare a seedbed, reduces weed density in the subsequent crop. Preplant irrigation and tillage reduces weed density and, when used together with preplant herbicide, provides effective weed control in the cropping season. Preplant and in-crop weed densities resulting from furrow or sprinkler preplant irrigation, followed by shallow tillage and lettuce planting 7 or 14 d later, were compared with the no preplant irrigation control. During the 14-d preplant period, up to 127 weeds/m2 emerged and were removed by shallow tillage before crop planting. Preplant irrigation and shallow tillage reduced in-crop weed density by up to 77% and reduced hand-weeding and crop-thinning time by up to 50% compared with the no preplant irrigation and no herbicide control. Delaying tillage for 14 d following preplant irrigation provided sufficient time for adequate heat unit accumulation (>120 growing degree days, base 10 C), allowing for many weeds to germinate and be killed by shallow tillage. However, 7 d between preplant irrigation and tillage resulted in less heat unit accumulation (<50 growing degree days, base 10 C) and less weed germination before tillage. Preplant irrigation together with pronamide at either 0.67 or 1.34 kg ai/ha reduced weed density compared with the no preplant irrigation. Effective use of preplant irrigation and preplant weed removal may increase the consistency of weed control with lower pronamide rates. Preplant irrigation followed by shallow tillage is an effective cultural practice to control in-crop weeds for conventional lettuce production.

Fifty-five soybean cyst nematode (SCN)–infested production fields across Indiana were surveyed in March 2004 to assess broadleaf winter weed prevalence. The most frequently occurring weeds were common chickweed (87%), speedwell (83%), buttercup (58%), and henbit (53%). Henbit and wild garlic were present at the highest average densities, both occurring at greater than 50 plants/m2. Based on relative abundance indices, common chickweed and henbit were the most prevalent winter weeds in this survey. As a composite, winter weed hosts of SCN were found in 93% of fields and occurred at an average density of 151 plants/m2. No correlation existed between weed density and SCN egg counts. Frequency, uniformity, density, and diversity indices for individual weed species were generally higher in the southern region of Indiana than in the north. Thus, the region of highest risk for SCN reproduction and population increase on winter weeds in Indiana appears to be in the southern part of the state.

Look at a field of almost any grain and the top of the crop will be almost as tabletop flat as the ground below. Modern genetics produce almost perfectly uniform crop varieties and hybrids with identical, “cookie-cutter” individual plants. But one crop stubbornly refuses to cooperate with breeders. Look at a field of mature hybrid grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. bicolor] and you will see rugged individualists sticking up above the fruited plain of sameness like grain elevators towering over a small Midwestern town. These “off type” sorghum plants can be mutants, or the result of the random outcrossing of parent plants in seed production fields from the pollen of volunteer plants from a previous year's crop, nearby grain, or forage sorghums. They may also come from crosses with weedy types growing nearby such as johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.] or the dreaded shattercane [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet ex Davidse] (Clark and Rosenow 1992). Just what is shattercane? Where did this “black sheep” of the Sorghum clan come from? And why is it such a widespread weed today?