Three field studies were conducted during 1998 to 2002 at Stoneville, MS, to examine the efficacy of glufosinate and glyphosate on redvine and trumpetcreeper control in glufosinate- and glyphosate-resistant soybean. Glyphosate at 2.52 kg ae/ha applied approximately 3 wk before planting soybean reduced trumpetcreeper density (45 to 52%) but not redvine compared with no glyphosate in both glufosinate- and glyphosate-resistant soybean. However, glyphosate applied preplant reduced biomass of both species in glufosinate-resistant soybean. Glyphosate early postemergence (EPOST) followed by (fb) late postemergence (LPOST) had no effect on redvine density but reduced trumpetcreeper density (70%) compared with the no-herbicide control. There were no differences in densities and biomass of redvine and trumpetcreeper and soybean yield among isopropylamine, diammonium, and aminomethanamide dihydrogen tetraoxosulfate salts of glyphosate. Overall, trumpetcreeper is more susceptible to glyphosate than redvine. Glufosinate EPOST with or without acifluorfen or glufosinate EPOST fb LPOST had no effect on densities of redvine and trumpetcreeper but reduced biomass 45 to 76% and 35 to 58%, respectively, compared with the nontreated control. These results show that glyphosate preplant and POST in-crop applications can reduce trumpetcreeper density but not redvine, and glufosinate POST applications can suppress growth of both species.

Split application of herbicides for wild oat control may minimize wild oat competition with wheat while reducing the number of wild oat seeds returned to the soil. Field experiments were conducted in 2000 and 2001 to evaluate the effects of CGA-184927, fenoxaprop-P, flucarbazone, and ICIA 0604 at labeled and reduced rates on wild oat control, wild oat seed rain, and wheat yield. Each herbicide was applied once at 25, 33, and 100% of the labeled rate at the two-leaf stage of wild oat or split applied at 50 and 66% of the full rate as two equal applications. Excellent full-season wild oat control was obtained with CGA-184927, flucarbazone, and ICIA 0604 applied twice at reduced rates. ICIA 0604 or CGA-184927 split applied at 25 and 33% rates (totaled 50 and 66% of the full rate) provided wild oat control equal to one application of labeled rates. Wild oat seed rain was similar among all herbicide treatments, except plots treated with fenoxaprop-P once at 25 and 33% rates where seed rain was higher and equal to 47% of untreated plots. Wheat yields and net returns were highest and similar after treatment with CGA-184927 or ICIA 0604 applied either once at the labeled rate or split applied at 25 or 33% rates.

Corn and soybean were planted in narrow and wide row spacings to determine the effect of glyphosate application timing and row spacing on crop yield. Glyphosate was applied when average weed canopy height reached 5, 10, 15, 23, and 30 cm. Weeds present in these studies included velvetleaf, redroot pigweed, common ragweed, common lambsquarters, jimsonweed, barnyardgrass, fall panicum, giant foxtail, yellow foxtail, green foxtail, and eastern black nightshade. Under highly competitive growing conditions (below normal rainfall and high weed density), corn yield was first reduced when weeds reached 10 and 15 cm in height with corn planted in 38- and 76-cm rows, respectively. Under similar conditions, soybean yield was first reduced when weeds reached 15 and 23 cm with soybean planted in 19- and 38-cm rows, respectively. Yield losses occurred only in the untreated control when soybean was planted in 76-cm rows. When growing conditions were less competitive (adequate rainfall and lower weed density), yield losses occurred only when weeds reached 30 cm or more in corn and only in the untreated control in soybean. Corn and soybean yields were higher when planted in narrow rows in three of 4 yr but were more susceptible to early-season weed interference than corn and soybean in wide rows. Corn yield was affected more by weed interference than was soybean yield. The product of weed height by weed density, as the independent variable, resulted in the best linear fit for both corn and soybean yields. High weed densities increase the risk of yield loss and must be considered when determining the appropriate timing for total postemergence herbicide applications such as glyphosate. Sequential glyphosate applications in corn did not increase yield.

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate control of 90- to 100-cm-tall ragweed parthenium in a noncropped situation in Haryana State, India, during 2000 and 2001. Atrazine, 2,4-D ethyl ester, atrazine plus 2,4-D, metribuzin, metsulfuron, chlorimuron, glufosinate with and without surfactant, glyphosate with and without surfactant, and glyphosate formulations MON 8793 and 8794 were sprayed on ragweed parthenium. Also, the effect of water quality was studied with flat-fan and flood-fan nozzles using glyphosate and its formulation MON 8793 against ragweed parthenium and associated weeds. Glyphosate MON 8793 and 8794 at 3.6 kg ae/ha provided excellent control of ragweed parthenium followed by glyphosate at 2.7 or 5.4 kg/ha, with no recovery until 18 wk after treatment (WAT). Addition of 0.1% v/v surfactant (MON 0818) to glyphosate at 2.7 kg/ha provided similar control to that of glyphosate alone at 5.4 kg/ha. Other herbicides failed to provide satisfactory control of ragweed parthenium. In the water quality study, glyphosate at 2.7 and 5.4 kg/ha and glyphosate MON 8793 at 2.7 and 3.6 kg/ha provided similar control of ragweed parthenium at 18 WAT. Glyphosate was antagonized less by tap water (0.45 mM Ca) than canal (0.7 mM Ca) and hand-pump water (1 mM Ca). Neither glyphosate nor glyphosate MON 8793 provided good control of purple nutsedge, velvetleaf, garden spurge, threelobe false mallow, jimsonweed, giant milkweed, Indian jujube, or tropical spiderwort, but crowfootgrass, green foxtail, sprawling signalgrass, and spiny amaranth were controlled. Glyphosate at 5.4 kg/ha and glyphosate MON 8793 at 3.6 kg/ha provided more than 80% control of bermudagrass at 8 WAT, which was significantly better than the 2.7 kg/ha rate. Flat-fan nozzles provided better efficacy of applied herbicides than flood-fan nozzles at 4 WAT on ragweed parthenium.

Field trials were conducted in 2000 and 2001 in New Jersey to evaluate quinclorac and siduron for large crabgrass control in summer-seeded creeping bentgrass (‘L-93’). Bentgrass was surface seeded on June 30 and June 26 in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Treatments consisted of preemergence (PRE) applications of siduron at 3.4, 5.0, and 6.7 kg ai/ha and PRE and postemergence (POST) applications of quinclorac at 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.7 kg ai/ha. POST applications were timed to a crabgrass growth stage of three leaves to one tiller. All POST quinclorac applications included methylated seed oil at 1% (v/v). Percent crabgrass cover in untreated plots at 30 d after planting (DAP) averaged 10 and 50% in 2000 and 2001, respectively. All PRE treatments, with the exception of quinclorac applied at 0.4 kg/ha in 2001, reduced crabgrass cover by 80% or more at 30 DAP. Crabgrass control decreased in late August when siduron and quinclorac were applied at the lower rates in 2001. PRE quinclorac applications at the rate of 0.6 kg/ha or higher in 2000 or 1.7 kg/ha in 2001 caused significant thinning of the bentgrass stand at 30 DAP. All POST quinclorac treatments provided excellent crabgrass control in 2000, but the 0.8-kg/ha or higher rate was required to reduce crabgrass infestation levels by at least 80% in 2001. All POST quinclorac applications caused significant chlorosis to the creeping bentgrass in both years. However, significant thinning of the bentgrass stand was not evident, with the exception of 1.7 kg/ha, in 2001. These studies suggest that PRE applications of siduron should be used for the highest level of creeping bentgrass safety in summer restoration projects. The use of quinclorac should be limited to POST applications to control escaped crabgrass once the newly emerging creeping bentgrass has become well established.

A fixed-plot management study for control of acetolactate synthase (ALS)–resistant common cocklebur in soybean was initiated in 1994 at Fayetteville, AR. Three susceptible and three imazaquin-resistant common cocklebur plants were transplanted into the field, and seed (burs) were distributed throughout the plots in the fall of 1994. Herbicide treatments included imazaquin, chlorimuron, and chlorimuron plus metribuzin applied each year from 1995 through 1999 and herbicide rotations containing ALS inhibitors and herbicides with alternative modes of action. Effectiveness of management systems and the dynamics of the development of common cocklebur resistance, including development of resistance to imazaquin and chlorimuron, were evaluated. Imazaquin controlled susceptible common cocklebur populations in 1995 but not the resistant population, resulting in significant soybean yield reduction. By the end of the 1996 season, the resistant biotype dominated imazaquin plots, and a high level of cross-resistance to chlorimuron was observed in the population. Resistant populations were reduced by non-ALS herbicide programs of sulfentrazone plus clomazone applied preemergence (PRE), metribuzin plus clomazone applied PRE followed by bentazon applied postemergence (POST), and transgenic herbicide programs of glyphosate and glufosinate applied POST. Rotating ALS inhibitors with non–ALS-inhibiting heribicides may slow the development of resistance, but resistant individuals may eventually dominate the population.

Corn and soybean were planted in narrow- and wide-row spacings to study the effects of glyphosate application timing and row spacing on light interception and subsequent weed growth. Corn planted in narrow rows (38 cm) had greater light interception than corn planted in wide rows (76 cm) from 35 to 55 d after crop emergence. Soybean planted in narrow rows (both 19 and 38 cm) had greater light interception throughout the growing season than soybean in 76-cm rows. At maximum canopy closure, narrow-row soybean (both 19 and 38 cm) intercepted more light than narrow-row corn. Biomass of weeds emerging after glyphosate application was greater when soybean was planted in 76-cm than in 19- or 38-cm rows. However, weed biomass was generally similar in both row spacings of corn. Sequential glyphosate applications reduced weed biomass in corn each year compared with a single glyphosate application at the 5-cm weed height. Sequential glyphosate applications that followed initial glyphosate application to 10- or 15-cm-tall weeds did not reduce weed biomass compared with a single application.

Herbicides with residual activity more effectively control infestations of yellow starthistle, a facultative winter annual, because seed banks quickly furnish replacement plants after nonresidual herbicide treatments. Picloram has been applied to rosettes in fall or spring, but new infestations of yellow starthistle are often discovered when plants are more noticeable in bud or flower stages. Eradication, containment, and revegetation are facilitated if weed seed rain can be stopped. This study evaluated whether registered rates (0.14, 0.28, and 0.42 kg ae/ha) of picloram, alone and with 2,4-D at 1.12 kg ae/ha, can prevent seed production when applied to yellow starthistle at bud or flower stage. Picloram applied at bud stage curtailed both seed production and germination, reducing seed production by 42 to 86% and viability by 80 to 99%. Neither the picloram rate nor the addition of 2,4-D to the spray solution affected the percentage of nonviable seeds. The addition of 2,4-D further decreased germination of developed seeds only at the lowest picloram rate. At flower stage, picloram and 2,4-D neither killed mature plants nor consistently reduced the quantity and quality (viability) of seeds. Bud stage was the phenological limit for effective reduction of viable seed by picloram, which caused both bud abortion and lower seed germination.

The difficulty of measuring fecundity of weeds with shatter-prone seeds can be overcome by postanthesis application of nontoxic glues to seedheads. Such glues reduced seed losses of redroot pigweed to <5% of total seed production compared with 12 to 14% for nontreated plants.

Bensulide and dithiopyr may be used in late summer–fall as a preventative treatment to reduce the potential of annual bluegrass encroachment onto newly constructed or renovated creeping bentgrass putting greens. In 1999, no herbicide treatment reduced bentgrass cover or root mass 1 mo after treatment (MAT). In April of 2000, root mass was lower with bensulide applied at 11.2 kg/ha in October and 22.4 kg/ha applied at both timings or by dithiopyr applied at all rates and timings compared with the untreated bentgrass. In April, bentgrass cover was reduced by bensulide applied at 22.4 kg/ha and dithiopyr applied at 0.4 and 0.8 kg/ha at both timings. In contrast to 1999, significant reductions in root mass were observed 1 MAT in 2000 with bensulide applied at 22.4 kg/ ha and all rates of dithiopyr. Reductions in root mass and bentgrass cover continued into April of 2001 with dithiopyr at 0.4 or 0.8 kg/ha applied at either application timing. Bentgrass cover was lower than the untreated with dithiopyr applied at 0.8 kg/ha until August of 2001. These results suggest that bensulide may be used on creeping bentgrass greens in late summer–fall with a greater degree of safety than dithiopyr.

White bean producers have a limited number of herbicide options available for annual grass and broadleaf weed control. Tolerance of two white bean cultivars to preemergence (PRE) applications of S-metolachlor, S-metolachlor + imazethapyr, flumetsulam + S-metolachlor, cloransulam-methyl, clomazone, clomazone + imazethapyr, and clomazone + S-metolachlor at the maximum labeled rate in soybean (1×) and twice the labeled rate (2×) were studied at two Ontario locations (Exeter and Ridgetown) in 2001 and 2002. S-Metolachlor, clomazone, and clomazone + S-metolachlor generally had no negative effect on plant height, dry weight, maturity, and yield. S-Metolachlor + imazethapyr and clomazone + imazethapyr reduced plant height, dry weight, and yield as much as 21, 42, and 24%, respectively. Flumesulam + S-metolachlor and cloransulam-methyl reduced plant height, dry weight, and yield as much as 39, 58, and 43%, respectively. White beans are tolerant to PRE applications of S-metolachlor, clomazone, and clomazone + S-metolachlor. White beans are sensitive to PRE applications of S-metolachlor + imazethapyr, flumetsulam + S-metolachlor, clomazone + imazethapyr, and cloransulam-methyl.

Biennial wormwood has become an important weed for soybean producers in the northern Great Plains states of the United States. Research was conducted at Fargo, Leonard, and Wyndmere, ND, in 2000 and 2001 to evaluate postemergence control of biennial wormwood in soybean. Biennial wormwood densities at Fargo, Leonard, and Wyndmere were 290, 290, and 130 plants/m2 in 2000 and 22, 670, and 88 plants/m2 in 2001, respectively. Across years, biennial wormwood control with postemergence herbicides 4 wk after treatment was 81 to 97% at Fargo, 5 to 89% at Leonard, and 2 to 95% at Wyndmere. Biennial wormwood control was greater at Fargo than at the other locations probably because of smaller seedling size at the time of treatment. Bentazon split applied at the rate of 560 g ai/ha followed by 560 g/ha approximately 12 d after the first treatment generally provided the least amount of injury to soybean, the greatest control of biennial wormwood, and the fewest escaped plants. Lactofen at 220 g ai/ha or split applied at 110 g/ha followed by 110 g/ha approximately 12 d after the first treatment provided 84% or greater biennial wormwood control at Fargo but less than 40% control at Leonard and Wyndmere. The 4.5:1 bentazon plus acifluorfen premix full-rate and split treatments provided slightly better control than the 2:1 bentazon plus acifluorfen premix full-rate and split treatments. High levels of biennial wormwood control can be achieved with a better understanding of seedling emergence patterns and by targeting postemergence herbicide applications to seedlings less than 5 cm tall.

Field studies were conducted in Alabama in 1998 and 1999 to evaluate fomesafen preemergence (PRE) in glyphosate-resistant cotton. Fomesafen (0.3 and 0.4 kg ai/ha), fluometuron (1.4 kg ai/ha), and pyrithiobac (0.05 kg ai/ha) were applied alone or in tank mixtures. Glyphosate (0.4 kg ae/ha) was applied postemergence over-the-top (POT) and postemergence directed (PD). Regardless of PRE treatment, POT followed by (fb) PD applications of glyphosate were necessary for greater than 82% sicklepod control at midseason. In the absence of glyphosate, fomesafen, and fomesafen-containing tank mixtures controlled common cocklebur and Ipomoea species 77 and 72%, respectively, 14 d after PD application. However, two applications of glyphosate were needed for >94% season-long control of common cocklebur and Ipomoea species because of continued germination throughout the growing season. Postemergence applications of glyphosate added a 1,000 kg/ha seed cotton yield increase to all PRE treatments at both locations. Common cocklebur, Ipomoea species, and sicklepod control was not significantly increased by the addition of fomesafen PRE tank mixtures fb glyphosate postemergence as compared with glyphosate postemergence only.

Field experiments were conducted from 1999 to 2001 to evaluate preemergence (PRE) activity of cloransulam on broadleaf weed species and to determine the effectiveness of cloransulam as a PRE herbicide in glyphosate-resistant soybean weed management systems. Cloransulam PRE controlled prickly sida, velvetleaf, and morningglory species even at reduced rates (recommended rate 36 g ai/ha) but only suppressed growth of Palmer amaranth, hemp sesbania, and sicklepod. Cloransulam applied PRE provided initial control or suppression of most weeds, but late-season control declined appreciably. Adding metribuzin to cloransulam PRE generally improved control of hemp sesbania, Palmer amaranth, annual grasses, and morningglory species, leading to soybean yield increases. Control of weeds was greater on a silt loam soil compared with a silty clay soil. Delayed herbicide activation by rainfall or irrigation reduced control of hemp sesbania and prickly sida and affected efficacy more than soil texture. Single postemergence (POST) applications of glyphosate or fomesafen plus fluazifop-P provided 90% or less control of most weed species. When glyphosate POST or fomesafen plus fluazifop-P POST followed PRE applications of cloransulam or cloransulam plus metribuzin PRE, control of all weeds was generally greater than 85%. The highest soybean yields were recorded from treatments that contained sequential PRE followed by (fb) POST herbicide applications. Composition of weed flora determined the effect of herbicide program on soybean seed yield. No yield benefit was gained from the sequential program when the dominant species was Palmer amaranth, which was controlled by glyphosate. When hemp sesbania was the dominant species, PRE herbicides fb glyphosate POST increased yield compared with total POST glyphosate.

Field experiments were conducted near Scottsbluff, NE, in 2001 and 2002 to compare economic aspects of glyphosate applied to different glyphosate-resistant sugar beet cultivars with that of conventional herbicide programs applied to near-equivalent, non–glyphosate-resistant conventional cultivars. Glyphosate applied two or three times at 2-wk intervals, beginning when weeds were 10 cm tall, provided excellent weed control, yield, and net economic return regardless of the glyphosate-resistant sugar beet cultivar. All conventional herbicide treatments resulted in similar net economic returns. Although the conventional sugar beet cultivars ‘HM 1640’ and ‘Beta 4546’ responded similarly to herbicide treatments with respect to sucrose content, ‘Beta 4546RR’ produced roots with 1% more sucrose than ‘HM 1640RR’. When averaged over herbicide treatments, a producer planting Beta 4546RR could afford to pay US $185/ha more for glyphosate-resistant technology as could a producer planting HM 1640RR. When averaged over cultivars and herbicide treatments, it is estimated that a producer could afford to pay an additional US $385/ha for glyphosate-resistant technology without decreasing net return.

Maintaining crop residues on the soil surface has changed cropping practices in the Central Great Plains. Where previously winter wheat–fallow was the prevalent rotation, producers now grow warm-season crops in sequence with winter wheat and fallow. Controlling weeds during fallow with herbicides eliminates the need for tillage, thus conserving more crop residues. However, producers are considering subsurface tillage as an option to manage herbicide-resistant weeds. We reviewed the impact of subsurface tillage with the sweep plow on weed dynamics and crop growth compared with no-till systems. Cropping systems studies show that rotations can be designed to reduce weed community density severalfold; tillage lessens this rotational effect by burying weed seeds and prolonging their survival in soil. Crop residues on the soil surface reduce weed seedling establishment in no-till systems, but tillage eliminates this effect. Crops also yield less after tillage compared with no-till in this semiarid climate. Tillage may help in managing herbicide resistance, but it also may increase weed density as well as reduce crop yield.

Flights of pigeons were whirling over head, violets and stellarias were sprouting beneath the feet, and such was the January of Savannah.

Life in the South; from the Commencement of the War, C. C. Hopley, 1863.

Evaluation of economic outcome associated with a given weed management system is an important component in the decision-making process within crop production systems. The objective of this research was to investigate how risk-efficiency criteria could be used to improve herbicide-based weed management decision making, assuming different risk preferences among growers. Data were obtained from existing weed management trials in corn conducted at the University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center at Waseca. Weed control treatments represented a range of practices including one-pass soil-applied, one-pass postemergence, and sequential combinations of soil and postemergence herbicide application systems. Analysis of risk efficiency across 23 herbicide-based weed control treatments was determined with the mean variance and stochastic dominance techniques. We show how these techniques can result in different outcomes for the decision maker, depending on risk attitudes. For example, mean variance and stochastic dominance techniques are used to evaluate risk associated with one- vs. two-pass herbicide treatments with and without cultivation. Based on these analyses, it appears that a one-pass system is preferred by a risk-averse grower. However, we argue that this may not be the best option considering potential changes in weed emergence patterns, application timing concerns, etc. The techniques for economic analysis of weed control data outlined in this article will help growers match herbicide-based weed management systems to their own production philosophies based on economic risk.

Herbicide treatments (4:1 ratio of 2,4-D amine:picloram) at 0.7 and 1.4 kg ae/ha at early postemergence (10- to 15-cm horsenettle height), midpostemergence (early flower), and late postemergence (fruit initiation) applied both early and late in the growing season provided >80% horsenettle control. Horsenettle density at season's end in all treated plots was less than 0.25 stems/m2, whereas untreated plots contained about 5 stems/m2. Horsenettle control the next spring was between 47 and 66% for all rates and application timings, and horsenettle density in treated plots was less than 3 stems/m2 as opposed to about 6 stems/m2 in the untreated plots. Clover drilled into the treated area the year after herbicide application was injured, indicating clover establishment the season after application of this package mixture would be difficult.

The activity of emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulation of pendimethalin was studied using a petri dish bioassay based on root response of corn, oat, sorghum, and sugar beet grown in soil. Furthermore, the oat bioassay was used to determine the activity of EC, microencapsulated (ME), and water-dispersible granule (WDG) formulations of pendimethalin. Also, field persistence in soil of these pendimethalin formulations was studied with petri dish and pot bioassays, based on root response of oat and sugar beet. All bioassays indicated that activity of all pendimethalin formulations was increased with increasing herbicide concentration. In silty clay loam soil, oat and sugar beet exhibited the highest sensitivity to EC-pendimethalin concentrations and corn the lowest; sorghum showed intermediate herbicide sensitivity. EC of pendimethalin showed the highest activity on oat and ME pendimethalin the lowest; WDG-pendimethalin showed similar activity to that of ME pendimethalin. Field persistence was significantly increased with increasing rate of application, but it was slightly increased by the ME formulation.