Growth chamber experiments were conducted to assess the effects of foliage-only, soil-only, and foliage-plus-soil placements of amicarbazone on annual bluegrass and creeping bentgrass growth. Evaluated herbicide treatments included amicarbazone at 49 or 147 g ai ha−1, as well as bispyribac-sodium at 74 g ai ha−1 for comparative purposes. Data from this research agree with previous reports of amicarbazone plant uptake. Amicarbazone is absorbed via above- and belowground pathways; however, plant growth is inhibited more by root uptake. Compared to foliage-only amicarbazone placement, soil-only placement more than doubled reductions in aboveground biomass and root mass 56 d after treatment (DAT), whereas no differences were detected between placements including soil contact. Across all evaluated parameters in this research, amicarbazone (49 g ha−1) impacted creeping bentgrass growth similarly to bispyribac-sodium, whereas annual bluegrass growth was inhibited more by amicarbazone, suggesting it provides a more efficacious chemical option for end-user applications.

Research from the 1980s reported sweep cultivation being a cost-effective component in an integrated system to manage weeds in peanut. Previous weed management research conducted on organic peanut indicated that repeated cultivation with a tine weeder was an effective component in that production system. Studies were conducted in Tifton, GA, from 2014 through 2017 to determine whether tine weeding can be integrated with herbicides in conventional peanut production to supplement herbicides. Experiments evaluated a factorial arrangement of eight herbicide combinations and two levels of cultivation using a tine weeder. Herbicides were labeled rates of ethalfluralin PRE, S-metolachlor PRE, imazapic POST, ethalfluralin PRE + S-metolachlor PRE, ethalfluralin PRE + imazapic POST, S-metolachlor PRE + imazapic POST, ethalfluralin PRE + S-metolachlor PRE + imazapic POST, and a nontreated control. The herbicides chosen were based on knowledge of the weed species composition at the research sites and their common use in peanut. Cultivation regimes were cultivation with a tine weeder (six times at weekly intervals) and a noncultivated control. Benefits of tine weeding supplementing control from herbicides varied according to herbicide and weed species. For example, annual grasses were effectively controlled (88% to 97%) by ethalfluralin or S-metolachlor and did not need cultivation to supplement control provided by the herbicides. However, imazapic alone did not effectively control (54% to 75%) annual grasses and needed supplemental control from cultivation with the tine weeder. Similarly, imazapic effectively controlled (84% to 93%) smallflower morningglory and did not require cultivation to supplement control from the herbicide. However, cultivation with the tine weeder improved smallflower morningglory control (76% to 95%) when supplementing ethalfluralin or S-metolachlor. Peanut yields did not respond to any of the herbicide combinations integrated with cultivation using the tine weeder. During the time period when peanut was cultivated, there was greater total rainfall and more days of rainfall events in 2014 and 2017 compared with the other years. Rainfall and wet soils reduced the performance and weed control benefits of the tine weeder. This highlights the risk of depending on cultivation for weed control.

Crop management practices such as tillage can influence the dissipation of herbicides in soil. This study aimed to determine the effects of tillage systems on soil dissipation of prosulfocarb (PSC) using two assessment methods: bioassay and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. PSC was applied on plots cultivated under three tillage systems (moldboard plowing, tine tillage at 8- to 10-cm soil depth, and direct drilling) at different rates (0, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000 and 8,000 g ai ha−1) and two spraying times, representing early and late sowing time of winter cereals in Denmark. The experiment was conducted over 2 yr. The soil was analyzed for PSC residues by HPLC and a bioassay, using silky windgrass as the indicator plant. Neither technique revealed an effect of tillage systems on PSC dissipation, but the LD50 values estimated based on the bioassays were generally lower under direct drilling (11.7 d) than with plowing (17.5 d). Moreover, LD50 estimates based on bioassay results were generally lower than those estimated with HPLC analyses. Half-life values estimated with HPLC were low and not within the range of values reported in the literature (ca. 20 d), suggesting enhanced degradation of PSC. In addition to influencing the performance of PSC against problematic weed species, an enhanced dissipation rate could also hamper the benefits of PSC in an antiresistance strategy.

Water is the primary carrier for herbicide applications. Spray water qualities such as pH, hardness, temperature, or turbidity can influence herbicide performance and may need to be amended for optimum weed control. Water quality factors can affect herbicide activity by reducing solubility, enhancing degradation in the spray tank, or forming herbicide-salt complexes with mineral cations, thereby reducing the absorption, translocation, and subsequent weed control. The available literature suggests that the effect of water quality varies with herbicide chemistry and weed species. The efficacy of weak-acid herbicides such as glyphosate, glufosinate, clethodim, sethoxydim, bentazon, and 2,4-D is improved with acidic water pH; however, the efficacy of sulfonylurea herbicides is negatively impacted. Hard-water antagonism is more prevalent with weak-acid herbicides, and trivalent cations are the most problematic. Spray solution temperature between 18 C and 44 C is optimum for some weak-acid herbicides; however, their efficacy can be reduced at relatively low (5 C) or high (56 C) water temperature. The effect of water turbidity is severe on cationic herbicides such as paraquat and diquat, and herbicides with low soil mobility such as glyphosate. Although adjuvants are recommended to overcome the negative effect of spray water hardness or pH, the response has been inconsistent with the herbicide chemistry and weed species. Moreover, information on the effect of spray water quality on various herbicide chemistries, weed species, and adjuvants is limited; therefore, it is difficult to develop guidelines for improving weed control efficacy. Further research is needed to determine the effect of spray water factors and develop specific recommendations for improving herbicide efficacy on problematic weed species.

Six field experiments were conducted to investigate any interaction between pyroxasulfone and flumioxazin on soybean tolerance and control of multiple-herbicide-resistant (MHR) waterhemp in soybean during 2016 and 2017 in Ontario, Canada. There was a synergistic increase in soybean injury with the co-application of pyroxasulfone and flumioxazin at all rates evaluated at 2 wk after emergence (WAE), the two highest rates evaluated (134/106 and 268/211 g ai ha–1) at 4 WAE, and the highest rate (268/211 g ai ha–1) evaluated at 8 WAE. Soybean injury with all pyroxasulfone and flumioxazin treatments was transient and had no adverse effect on soybean grain yield. Pyroxasulfone applied preemergence at 45, 89, 134, and 268 g ai ha–1 controlled MHR waterhemp up to 72%, 89%, 92%, and 95%, respectively. Flumioxazin applied preemergence at 35, 70, 106, and 211 g ai ha–1 controlled MHR waterhemp up to 78%, 90%, 93%, and 96%, respectively. Pyroxasulfone/flumioxazin applied preemergence at 45/35, 89/70, 134/106, and 268/211 g ai ha–1 controlled MHR waterhemp up to 92%, 96%, 98%, and 100%, respectively. There were no significant antagonistic or synergistic interactions for the control of MHR waterhemp with pyroxasulfone/flumioxazin at rates evaluated except at 268/211 g ai ha–1, which provided a synergistic increase in MHR waterhemp control at 4 WAE. The MHR waterhemp biomass and density reductions followed a trend similar trend to visible control. Pyroxasulfone/flumioxazin at 268/211 g ai ha–1 caused a synergistic response in biomass reduction (9% difference). Based on these results, there is an additive increase in MHR waterhemp control and potential for a synergistic increase in soybean injury with the co-application of pyroxasulfone plus flumioxazin.

Cantaloupe and watermelon growers in the southeastern United States use a system of hybrid transplants grown on narrow low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mulch-covered seedbeds with overhead irrigation and use the mulch cover for only one crop. LDPE mulches are costly to remove from the field and dispose. Biodegradable mulches that eliminate removal and disposal costs would be of significant benefit, provided that weeds are adequately suppressed. Cotton gin trash is a biodegradable waste product, composed of fiber fragments and seed pieces. Using a proprietary process, cotton gin trash can be chopped, pressed, and heated into a loose mat and stored on a continuous roll. Preliminary studies were conducted in 2010 and 2011 to determine if rolled cotton fiber mulch made from gin trash could be applied as a seedbed cover using conventional application equipment and adequately suppress weeds. Mulching materials (rolls 91 cm wide) were applied with a mulch layer that produced a finished seedbed 40 cm wide. ‘Athena' cantaloupe and ‘Crimson Sweet' watermelon were transplanted using a waterwheel transplanter. Mulching materials included rolled cotton fiber mulch sprayed with boiled linseed oil after mulch application, rolled cotton fiber mulch sprayed with black latex paint, black LDPE, and bare ground. Herbicide treatments included ethalfluralin, halosulfuron, and glyphosate applied as directed spray and nontreated with herbicides. Rolled cotton fiber mulch was easily applied with a conventional mulch layer with no modification and minimal adjustment, producing no tears or holes. Biodegradable cotton fiber mulch treated with boiled linseed oil or black latex paint suppressed weeds equally well as LDPE and all were better than bare-ground plots. Herbicides improved control of all weeds over the nontreated control and this effect was independent of weed suppression provided by seedbed mulches. Cantaloupe and watermelon yields were not affected by seedbed mulches, but were increased by weed control provided by herbicides.

Selective postemergence herbicides were applied broadcast to control wild-proso millet in soybeans early postemergence (early post), postemergence (post), and late postemergence (late post) when wild-proso millet was 2 to 8 cm tall, 3 to 15 cm tall, and 3 to 31 cm tall, respectively. CGA-82725, fluazifop, haloxyfop, and sethoxydim applied early post controlled 75% or less late-season wild-proso millet. Interrow cultivation following early post fluazifop applications improved wild-proso millet control and soybean yields. Higher rates of CGA-82725, haloxyfop, and sethoxydim applied post controlled 91 to 98% late-season millet, but resulting soybean yields were less than the hand-weeded check. Fenoxaprop, fluazifop, fluazifop-P, haloxyfop, quizalofop, and sethoxydim applied late post provided 93 to 99% late-season millet control and soybean yields equal to hand-weeded checks. Wild-proso millet emerging after early post or post herbicide applications contributed to reduced effectiveness from those treatments. However, most wild-proso millet emerged before late post applications and were controlled. Other herbicides including BAS-51702, clethodim, cloproxydim, and SC-1084 applied late post also controlled wild-proso millet in soybeans.

Herbicides were evaluated alone, in combinations, or as sequential treatments on direct-seeded tomato each year from 1982 through 1984. Diphenamid at 4.5 kg ai/ha or napropamide at 1.1 to 2.2 kg ai/ha alone are registered but frequently do not control weeds adequately, particularly when yellow nutsedge and/or Florida pusley is common. Combinations or sequential treatments are necessary to overcome these weed problems in cropping systems. Metolachlor at 0.8 to 3.4 kg ai/ha injured direct-seeded tomato in proportion to the rate applied. Pendimethalin at 0.6 kg ai/ha also injured tomatoes. Fluazifop at 0.3 to 0.6 kg ae/ha and sethoxydim at 0.2 to 0.5 kg ai/ha effectively controlled annual grasses without injuring tomato seedlings. These herbicides would reduce competition and would increase harvesting efficiency where grass weeds are a problem.

Field experiments were conducted from 1992 through 1994 to determine the effect of selected graminicides when applied in combination with pyrithiobac for johnsongrass control in cotton. Quizalofop-P, clethodim, sethoxydim, and fluazifop-P were applied at rates recommended for rhizome johnsongrass control with or without pyrithiobac at 70 g ae/ha. At 14 DAT johnsongrass control without pyrithiobac was more than 85% for all graminicides all years except sethoxydim in 1993. When graminicides were applied in combination with pyrithiobac, johnsongrass control was 86% or less and was lower than when each respective graminicide was applied alone. At 21 DAT, similar differences were apparent. Seed cotton yield, determined only one year, was not affected by reductions in johnsongrass control when either quizalofop or clethodim were used in combination with pyrithiobac. Pyrithiobac applied alone controlled johnsongrass 20 to 44% 14 DAT depending on year.

This study was conducted to compare foliar absorption and translocation of dicamba applied to plants as an aqueous solution or as dicamba-treated soil deposits. When applied as an aqueous solution, 65 to 95% of 14C-dicamba was absorbed by pea, alfalfa, and grape; whereas, limited absorption (0.4 to 4.7%) occurred from dicamba-treated soil. Based on dose-response evaluation, the low levels absorbed from treated soil are unlikely to cause crop damage. 14C-dicamba translocation was more than 80% of absorbed 14C in pea, alfalfa, and grape. Acropetal translocation exceeded basipetal translocation.

In a two-year study involving two sites in western Canada, the dissipation of bromoxynil octanoate alone at 0.35 or 0.42 kg phenol equivalent (pe)/ha and the tank mixture of MCPA iso-octyl ester at 0.28 kg ae/ha plus bromoxynil octanoate at 0.28 kg pe/ha was monitored in postemergence-treated triticale. Initial foliar residues on the day after application (three- to four-leaf stage of the crop) were of the order of 14 and 5 mg/kg for MCPA and bromoxynil, respectively. Residues of both herbicides decreased to less than the limit of quantification (0.025 mg/kg) of the analytical method 21 d after application. At crop maturity, herbicide residues were non-detectable in the straw and seed. There was little or no effect on the dissipation of bromoxynil residues due to tank mixing with MCPA.

Diflufenzopyr is a synergist that has improved the efficacy of certain auxin-type herbicides such as dicamba on many broadleaf weed species. However, little is known regarding the activity of diflufenzopyr with other auxin-type herbicides. Russian knapweed is an invasive creeping perennial that is susceptible to certain pyridine carboxylic acids, which are auxin-type herbicides. The objective of this research was to determine if the addition of diflufenzopyr to three pyridine carboxylic acid herbicides enhances long-term control of Russian knapweed in Wyoming. All treatments were applied in the fall. Treatments included aminopyralid (0, 0.05, 0.09, and 0.12 kg ae/ha), clopyralid (0, 0.16, 0.21, 0.31, and 0.42 kg ae/ha) and picloram (0, 0.14, 0.28, 0.42, and 0.56 kg ae/ha), applied with and without diflufenzopyr (0.06 and 0.11 kg ae/ha). Twelve mo after treatment (MAT), diflufenzopyr had no significant impact on Russian knapweed control with either aminopyralid or picloram, and had significant but inconsistent impacts on knapweed control with clopyralid. At 24 MAT, diflufenzopyr did not enhance Russian knapweed control with either aminopyralid or clopyralid and was slightly antagonistic with picloram. These results indicate that the addition of diflufenzopyr does not improve Russian knapweed control with fall applications of either aminopyralid, clopyralid, or picloram.

Field studies were conducted in 1992 and 1993 to evaluate the efficacy of EPTC plus R-29148 (EPTC+) plus cyanazine and alachlor plus cyanazine. Materials were applied PPI and PRE to corn at 25, 50, 75, and 100% of labeled rates in an aqueous solution (sprays) and as herbicide-impregnated fertilizer. EPTC+ plus cyanazine at all rates applied as sprays or as herbicide-impregnated fertilizer controlled 89% or more of giant foxtail. Velvetleaf and common lambsquarters control was less when alachlor plus cyanazine was applied as herbicide-impregnated fertilizer than when applied as sprays. When sprayed, alachlor plus cyanazine applied PPI controlled 95% giant foxtail only at the 100% rate without cultivation, but at all rates with cultivation. Alachlor plus cyanazine applied as impregnated fertilizer at 50, 75, and 100% labeled rates controlled 88% or more of giant foxtail when these treatments received a interrow cultivation. PRE treatments of alachlor plus cyanazine applied as herbicide-impregnated fertilizer were less effective in 1992 than in 1993 because of lack of timely precipitation following application.

This “Outcomes Paper” was developed in response to one of the objectives of the First International Weed Control Congress:

Field studies were conducted from 1986 through 1989 to determine the feasibility of using clomazone in a winter wheat-corn-fallow rotation. Clomazone at 1.1 kg ai/ha did not control emerged downy brome in autumn nor did it control redroot pigweed and tumble pigweed that emerged after a spring application of paraquat at 0.6 kg ai/ha. However, clomazone plus atrazine at 0.6 plus 2.2 kg ai/ha provided weed control in winter wheat stubble from October to corn harvest 12 mo later. Corn yields from this treatment were equal to or greater than the conventional practice of applying atrazine plus glyphosate at 2.2 plus 0.4 kg ae/ha in the fall followed by a spring application of metolachlor plus dicamba at 2.8 ai plus 0.3 kg ae/ha. When kochia densities were high, clomazone plus atrazine controlled triazine-resistant kochia better than metolachlor plus dicamba. Atrazine at 2.2 kg/ha applied in autumn followed by clomazone at 0.8 kg/ha in April generally caused more corn injury than when the same rate of clomazone was applied in autumn with the atrazine. The percent of bleached corn plants varied with planter, year, time of application, and rate of clomazone applied. The optimum time to apply clomazone at 0.6 kg/ha was in autumn with atrazine. This treatment caused some corn bleaching but produced the highest corn yield over 3 yr. In a dry autumn and spring, less clomazone injury occurred with a planter equipped with row cleaners than those without. The injury pattern associated with planters was inconsistent when precipitation was average and no injury occurred in a wet autumn and spring.

Fall application of a PRE herbicide offers professional lawncare applicators additional flexibility in scheduling necessary weed control operations. A 3-yr field study was established on common Kentucky bluegrass in Urbana, IL to examine the effectiveness of fall- or spring-applied prodiamine and DCPA for spring large and smooth crabgrass control. Prodiamine was effective for crabgrass control in turf (≥ 91% control) when applied in spring at ≥ 0.4 kg/ha or when it was applied in the fall at ≥ 0.6 kg/ha (≥ 82% control). In most cases, fall-applied prodiamine at the 0.8 kg/ha rate (≥ 91% control) controlled crabgrass as well as spring-applied DCPA at the 11.8 kg/ha rate (≥ 94% control). Little reduction in turf quality (≥ 8.3) occurred when prodiamine was applied in the fall at 0.8 kg/ha or less. Only when prodiamine was applied at 2.2 kg/ha was there significant quality loss (7.3) with spring applications. In a second experiment to evaluate split fall and spring prodiamine applications for crabgrass control, all split applications had 100% crabgrass control which was not significantly different from single applications of ≥ 1.4 kg/ha.

The U. S. Plant Introduction Collection of cowpea germplasm and a collection of cowpea cultivars were evaluated for bentazon tolerance in the field. Most accessions were intermediate in bentazon tolerance; however, several highly tolerant and highly susceptible accessions were identified. Tolerant and susceptible selections from the field experiment were evaluated in greenhouse experiments. The most susceptible selections were killed or severely injured by bentazon at 2 kg ae ha−1; the most tolerant selections were not severely injured by bentazon at 16 kg ha−1.

An experiment compared 2 yr of mowing, mulching, spot treatment with glyphosate, or no maintenance for reed canarygrass control and measured their effect on the establishment of red alder and arroyo willow. At one site, pretransplant control of reed canarygrass was poor, and mulching or no maintenance gave 9 and 14% control, respectively, at 5 mo after planting (MAP), but glyphosate spot treatment and mowing resulted in 89% and 72% control, respectively. The highest leafiness percentage by 24 MAP for arroyo willow and red alder at that site occurred in spot-treated plots (59 and 6%, respectively). Tree protection resulted in 30% more arroyo willow saplings with leaves at 24 MAP, at an average height of 68 cm at 17 MAP. Over the 2-yr trial at that site, mowing required far more time (30.6 min/plot) than either mulching or spot spraying (18.6 and 13.5 min/plot, respectively). At a second site, pretransplant weed control was excellent and maintenance programs controlled reed canarygrass from 88 to 98% by 5 MAP. Tree leafiness of red alder was improved 20% at 24 MAP by tree protection, with protected trees being 107 cm tall compared with 64 cm when left bare. Over the 2-yr trial at that site, mulching required 14.8 min/plot, compared with 12.9 and 7.6 min/plot for mowing and spot treatment. Annual spot treatment of reed canarygrass regrowth with glyphosate may be the most cost-effective means of achieving successful reestablishment of native broadleaf trees in northwestern riparian systems.

The submersed macrophyte, sago pondweed, frequently grows to nuisance levels in water conveyance systems throughout the western United States and can cause problems in lakes, reservoirs, and other water bodies. The liquid dipotassium and dimethylalkylamine salt formulations of endothall were evaluated for controlling sago pondweed using short exposure times (3 to 24 h) under controlled environmental conditions (14:10 h light:dark; 21.5 C). Endothall treatments ranged from 1 to 10 mg ai/L (dipotassium salt) and 0.5 to 5 mg ae/L (dimethylalkylamine salt). Sixteen concentration and exposure time (CET) combinations were evaluated in each study. At 4 wk after treatment, all CET combinations significantly reduced shoot biomass (43 to 99%) of sago pondweed compared with the untreated reference. Reduction in shoot biomass was greater in plants that received higher herbicide doses and longer exposure times. In addition, more than half of the endothall CET combinations controlled sago pondweed by at least 90%, with some providing > 98% control. At the endothall CETs evaluated, regrowth of sago pondweed could occur after 4 wk, and some level of retreatment might be required to maintain plant control throughout the growing season. Results indicate that endothall shows promise as an alternative vegetation management tool in flowing-water environments.

Absorption of 14C-bentazon from the leaf surfaces of common cocklebur and velvetleaf was rapid and most occurred within 4 h after foliar application. Greater 14C in the epicuticular wax (ECW) did not correlate with higher radioactivity in the leaf tissue. There was significantly less ECW on the “mature” leaves of common cocklebur and “juvenile” leaves of velvetleaf. However, the “mature” leaves exhibited greater 14C absorption for both species. The use of 28% urea ammonium nitrate increased 14C-absorption when compared with crop oil concentrate and with no adjuvant.