Field experiments were conducted from 2004 through 2006 to evaluate cressleaf groundsel control following fall or early-spring preplant herbicide applications. Glyphosate, glyphosate + imazethapyr, glyphosate + 2,4-D ester, paraquat, paraquat + simazine, chlorimuron + tribenuron, and pendimethalin + glyphosate + 2,4-D ester applied in the fall controlled at least 93% of the cressleaf groundsel. Glyphosate, glyphosate + imazethapyr, glyphosate + 2,4-D ester, chlorimuron + tribenuron, and pendimethalin + glyphosate + 2,4-D ester applied in the spring provided at least 94% control of the cressleaf groundsel. Chlorimuron + tribenuron provided at least 98% control, regardless of application timing. These results indicate that herbicides applied in the fall or early spring can control cressleaf groundsel. However, certain herbicides provide greater control when applied in the fall compared with spring.

Leafy spurge is an exotic perennial weed that infests more than 1 million ha in North America and reduces rangeland carrying capacity. Experiments were initiated on range sites in Nebraska and North Dakota in 1994 and 1995 to determine the response of leafy spurge and other vegetation to AC 263,222. Herbicide treatments evaluated included AC 263,222 at 0 to 280 g ai/ha, picloram at 560 g ai/ha plus 2,4-D at 1,120 g ae/ha, and quinclorac at 1,120 g ai/ha. In Nebraska, a single application of AC 263,222 in the fall at 140 g/ha provided ≥ 90% leafy spurge control 11 to 12 mo after treatment. At Jamestown, ND, leafy spurge control increased to almost 90% and stem density declined to two shoots/m2 12 mo after the second consecutive fall application of AC 263,222 at 140 g/ha. At Hankinson, ND, leafy spurge control was ≤ 50% when AC 263,222 was applied in the fall only, but increased to > 80% when AC 263,222 was applied in the fall and again at 70 or 140 g/ha in the spring. There were no differences in herbage biomass of established cool- and warm-season grasses where AC 263,222 at 140 g/ha, picloram plus 2,4-D, quinclorac, or no herbicide was applied in the fall. In contrast, application of AC 263,222 in the fall and again in the spring usually reduced cool-season grass biomass.

Clethodim was applied to tall fescue to determine the effects of application timing (fall, early spring, mid-spring), rate (0, 5.6, 11.2, or 22.4 g ai ha−1), and use of crop oil (0 or 2.3 L ha−1) on seedhead density and forage yield and quality of tall fescue. Increasing the rate of clethodim or adding crop oil reduced seedhead density and forage yield, and generally improved forage quality. There was no effect of application date in 1988 and 1990, but seedhead density and forage yield decreased from the November to the March application date in 1989.

Weed control research includes comparisons of herbicides, spray volumes, carriers, and application times in tall crops such as grain sorghum and corn. To accomplish this, a plot sprayer was constructed on a 15-kW tractor with 1.5-m clearance. Ten spray cans held spray mixes that were propelled by compressed air supplied by a two-cylinder single-stage compressor. Using this sprayer, two people could spray up to 66 plots per h to evaluate herbicides, growth regulators, and insecticides in tall weeds and crops using different speeds, controlled droplet applicators, rope wicks, or air-assist nozzles at low- and high-spray volumes.

A select few of our present-day weeds are descended from much grander primeval forms. Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense L. ♯ EQUAR) and related species are “degenerate” herbaceous plants whose tree-sized ancestors dominated forests in the Carboniferous period about 300 million years ago. Indeed, early equisetums contributed significantly to the formation of coal beds (12).

Field studies compared the grain yield of four two-row spring barley cultivars at four sites when sown at two-row spacing in competition with two densities of rigid ryegrass. The sites chosen had low background populations of rigid ryegrass. Although the four cultivars sown differed in their grain yield, row spacing did not influence cultivar performance. Doubling the row spacing decreased barley grain yield at three of the four sites. The impact of row spacing on grain yield was more noticeable when doubled to 48 or 50 cm compared with 36 cm. Rigid ryegrass competition reduced barley grain yield at two of the four sites. At both locations the influence of weed competition on barley grain yield was the same at both narrow and wide row spacing and at one location the impact of weed competition was modified by cultivar. Planting barley in wide rows was found to favor rigid ryegrass production through an increase in both rigid ryegrass biomass production and tiller number. The development of farming systems for barley on the basis of a row spacing greater than 25 cm is likely to be associated with an increase in weed productivity unless good integrated weed management principles are implemented. Modifications to the current system may allow an increase in row spacing without any yield loss or increased weed seed set.

Metham was applied in the dormant season to established cranberry for the control of false lily-of-the-valley. Rates of 108 to 214 kg ai/ha controlled false lily-of the-valley, but there were inconsistent results between years and fields. Soil temperature, organic matter content, and amount of water used for incorporation appeared to be important factors in determining results. The phytotoxicity of metham sodium to cranberry was sporadic, ranging from moderate at 214 kg ai/ha to severe at 108 kg ai/ha. The 142 kg ai/ha rate usually resulted in an acceptable level of crop injury. Sanding the bog after application reduced phytotoxicity and heat stress increased it.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine yellow nutsedge response to selective placement of a 5-cm layer of norflurazon-treated soil above, below, or above plus below pregerminated nutsedge tubers. Norflurazon at 1.68 kg ai/ha applied postemergence (POST) as a foliar, soil, or foliar plus soil treatment was also evaluated. Soil concentrations of norflurazon at 1.5 mg/kg (w/w) applied below or above plus below nutsedge tubers reduced yellow nutsedge shoot numbers at least 69%, shoot height at least 71%, shoot dry weights at least 77%, and root tuber dry weights at least 89%. Yellow nutsedge growth reduction with norflurazon was greatest when norflurazon was placed in the soil profile below or above plus below the yellow nutsedge tubers. Placement of norflurazon above yellow nutsedge tubers did not reduce shoot number, height, or dry weight until the foliar portion of plants were removed 39 d after treatment. POST application of norflurazon did not reduce initial yellow nutsedge shoot number regardless of application method. Foliar-only POST application of norflurazon was less effective for reducing numbers of emerged yellow nutsedge than application to soil only or soil plus foliage.

In field studies, mefluidide {N-[2,4-dimethyl-5-[[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl] amino] phenyl] acetamide} was most effective as an enhancing agent for bentazon [3-(1-methylethyl)-(1H)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazin-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide] and/or acifluorfen {5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoic acid} when applied as a tank mixture compared to sequential applications. The influence of mefluidide rate on weed control was not consistent. Additives improved the control of several weed species evaluated, but mefluidide generally was only equal to petroleum oil concentrate (phytobland petroleum oil plus emulsifiers in an 83:17 ratio) as an enhancing agent for bentazon and/or acifluorfen.

Mean Idaho suction trap collections of Myzus lythri, an aphid which infests purple loosestrife, reflected weed distribution and were used successfully to predict undocumented weed populations. To our knowledge, this is the first time insect survey records have been used to document the range of an introduced weed.

Leafy spurge viable seed production and germination were reduced by 2,4-D applied during flower development and seed formation, in the field. Viable seed production was reduced when 2,4-D was applied at all growth stages after the start of flower bud development. The number of viable seed from untreated plants was 173, while, the number of viable seed from plants treated 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, or 35 d after the start of flower bud development was <1, 4, 7, 31, 53, and 62; respectively. Leafy spurge seed germination was higher in gibberellic acid than in water for seed collected from untreated plants and from plants treated with 2,4-D 7, 14, and 21 d after bud initiation. This research shows that 2,4-D must be applied prior to flower bud development to prevent seed production.

Stipa clandestina Hackel, a native of northern Mexico, has been found in Texas and may become a serious weed problem for range managers in the southwest. Its sharply pointed leaves and tussock-forming habit make it unpalatable to cattle, but in Mexico it tends to increase with heavy grazing or disturbance. Actively growing plants can be killed by applying a foliar spray of either glyphosate or hexazinone.

The Arable Area Payments Scheme of the European Union has been in operation since 1992, paying farmers to set aside a portion of their arable land from production for 1 to 5 yr. Management of the land is prescribed, both in terms of timing and type. The scheme is potentially beneficial to the environment, as set-aside land can be used to improve bird, mammal, and insect habitats. However, environmental and agronomic objectives frequently conflict, particularly in the area of weed management. To predict weed growth and succession, a tool was required to model vegetation at set-aside sites using the key environmental factors, location, and soil that could account for differences in the weed species likely to be invasive. To this end, a Geographical Information System has been developed that links modeled species distributions to a model of successional change. The system has a simple menu structure allowing speedy manipulation of the data and models to predict the effects of management on the weed communities at known geographical locations.

The impact of three till-plant and two weed management systems on weed seed reserves of soil, yearly weed problems, and corn production was assessed under center-pivot irrigation for 3 consecutive years. Annual weeds were controlled in disced, bedded, and strip rotary till-plant systems with a moderate or intensive level of herbicides. Weed seed of seven annual weed species were identified, with common lambsquarters and stinkgrass, comprising 45 and 41%, respectively, of the initial 305 million seed/ha in the upper 25 cm of the soil profile. After the third cropping year, overall decline in total seed number in soil was 45% when averaged over till-plant and weed management systems. Grain yields did not differ between weed management systems, but the disced till-plant system produced 16% less grain than the bedded and strip rotary till-plant systems over 2 yr.

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate seedling rice tolerance to haloxyfop and to determine soil moisture effects on root, shoot, and root plus shoot uptake. Visible injury to rice at 4 wk after treatment increased with each increase of haloxyfop rate from 40 to 160 g ai/ha, regardless of growth stage. Less injury was observed at equivalent rates in four-leaf than in younger rice. Similarly, equivalent haloxyfop rates reduced shoot fresh weight of one- to three-leaf rice more than shoot fresh weight of four-leaf rice. There was no interation between soil moisture levels (19 and 24%) and haloxyfop activity. Fresh weights were less when haloxyfop at 40 or 80 g/ha was absorbed by both roots and shoots than when absorption was by either roots or shoots alone. However, at 80 g/ha fresh weight was similar whether haloxyfop was absorbed by roots or shoots alone. Root uptake, in the presence of 160 g/ha haloxyfop, did not contribute to reduced fresh weight with root plus shoot treatments because of the initial foliar activity incurred.

Field and greenhouse studies were conducted in 2000, 2001, and 2002 to evaluate the response of imidazolinone-resistant (IR) corn and selected weeds to trifloxysulfuron applied postemergence (POST). Treatments included a nontreated control and S-metolachlor applied preemergence at 1,075 g ai/ha followed by (fb) trifloxysulfuron POST at 0, 3.8, 7.5, 11.2, and 15 g ai/ha. IR corn visible injury was less than 6% from field applications of trifloxysulfuron. Visual symptoms were transient, and IR corn yield was not affected by trifloxysulfuron. Common ragweed, common lambsquarters, annual grass species (giant foxtail and large crabgrass), and carpetweed were controlled at least 95% by S-metolachlor fb trifloxysulfuron applications. Morningglory species (ivyleaf morningglory, pitted morningglory, and tall morningglory) were controlled at least 97% in 2000 and greater than 77% in 2001 from S-metolachlor fb trifloxysulfuron. Jimsonweed was not adequately controlled. S-metolachlor alone controlled annual grass species 90% but did not control the broadleaf weeds that were present. Wheat was planted following IR corn harvest, and non-IR corn was planted the following spring. No visible response was observed to rotational wheat or non-IR corn crops. Rotational non-IR corn yield was not affected by trifloxysulfuron and was not different from the yield of corn treated with S-metolachlor alone. In greenhouse studies, IR corn was injured 10% at 10 d after treatment with 380 g/ha trifloxysulfuron POST, but recovery was rapid. Based upon results, trifloxysulfuron may be used as an herbicide in IR corn, and rotational wheat and non-IR corn may be planted at normal intervals after cotton harvest.