The activity of soil-applied chlorimuron in yellow and purple nutsedge was studied in greenhouse and laboratory experiments. Soil-applied chlorimuron decreased tuber sprouting by 80% in yellow nutsedge and by 30% in purple nutsedge at 60 g ai/ha. Chlorimuron decreased shoot emergence by 53 to 83% and shoot growth by 85 to 99% in both species at rates as low as 10 g/ha. Previous exposure of tubers to chlorimuron-treated soil reduced tuber resprouting by 20 to 25% in herbicide-free soil at 60 g/ha in both species. There was no rate response in shoot emergence from tubers previously exposed to chlorimuron, but shoot dry weight decreased by 60 to 81% in both species at 60 g/ha. At 12 h after application, 47% of the total 14C applied to the shoot in yellow nutsedge and 32% of that applied in purple nutsedge were absorbed. However, less than 1% of the total 14C applied was translocated out of the shoot and into the roots and tuber in either species. In both species, 1.3% of the 14C applied to the roots and tuber was absorbed and 0.1% was translocated out of the roots and tuber into the shoot at 12 h after application. The pattern of root- and tuber-absorbed 14C distribution indicated that the 14C absorbed by the tuber remained in the tuber and that absorbed by the roots was translocated to the shoots.

Oxadiazon (10 μM) caused rapid, light-dependent membrane damage to cucumber cotyledon discs. Electrolyte leakage was detected within 1 h of exposure to light, as were cytoplasmic vesiculation and breakage of the tonoplast and plasmalemma. The ultrastructure of chloroplasts was not affected until the cytoplasm was dispersed. Photosynthetic inhibitors had no effect on activity and, after a period of dark incubation with oxadiazon, there was little effect of temperature on the light-caused membrane destruction. Porphyrin synthesis inhibitors (gabaculine and 4,6-dioxoheptanoic acid) almost completely prevented the herbicidal activity of oxadiazon. Oxadiazon treatment caused accumulation of protoporphyrin IX, a photodynamic pigment. Oxadiazon caused physiological effects on cucumber cotyledons that were virtually identical to those of p-nitro-diphenyl ether herbicides like acifluorfen and its methyl ester, which have recently been shown to also cause protoporphyrin IX accumulation.

Removing the epicuticular wax from mature pads (cladophylls) of Lindheimer pricklypear increased picloram absorption by four- to sixfold in the laboratory, while the addition of surfactant had little effect on absorption. Absorption decreased with increasing pH of the picloram solution, indicating that picloram diffused through the cuticle as the undissociated molecule. Picloram entered detached pads at the areoles more readily than through the surrounding cuticle. In the glasshouse, whole plants consisting of an old, mature pad supporting a young, growing pad absorbed picloram very slowly whether picloam was applied as a spray to old or young pads or to the soil. About 90 and 80% of the applied picloram remained on the waxy surface of old and new pads, respectively, and about 2% of the applied picloram was recovered from within the epicuticular wax after 30 days. Picloram concentrations within pads treated in the glasshouse were greater when the herbicide was applied to new pads (4.6 μg/g) than old pads (1.9 μg/g) after 30 days. More picloram was translocated basipetally from treated new pads to untreated old pads than in the opposite direction, but concentrations in untreated pads were low (<1 μg/g). Little picloram was absorbed by roots, compared to pads, and little was translocated into or out of roots. These results conflict with the view that the effectiveness of picloram for pricklypear control is attributable to extensive root uptake and acropetal transport. However, observations of plants 6 months after treatment indicated that soil applications were more effective than sprays in the glasshouse.

Picloram release by leafy spurge roots, as affected by picloram rate, plant growth stage, and time intervals after treatment, was quantified under field conditions. Picloram was pipe-wick applied to leafy spurge in the vegetative, flowering, and seed-filling growth stages. Percent leafy spurge control was evaluated and picloram residues were determined in soil samples from 0- to 13-, 13- to 26-, and 26- to 39-cm depths taken 1, 2, and 3 weeks after treatment. Leafy spurge was controlled (frequently >85%) by all picloram concentrations applied, although control tended to increase as solution concentration increased. Picloram release from roots was greater from plants treated in the flowering and seed-filling stages than from plants in the vegetative stage. Picloram release from roots generally was correlated with application rate, averaging 490, 820, and 1420 ppbw in soil for the 30, 60, and 120 g ae/L application rates, respectively. Picloram release from roots occurred rapidly with 86% of the picloram detected in the 0- to 13-cm soil depth present by 1 week after treatment. Picloram was detected at all soil depths sampled, but over 84% was in the upper 13 cm and 8% was in both the 13- to 26- and 26- to 39-cm depths. Leafy spurge shoots emerged through a 7.5- and 15-cm depth of picloram-treated soil at concentrations up to 1000 ppbw within 14 to 21 days after the untreated control. Picloram soil residue had little effect on leafy spurge root growth.

Tolerance of species to foliar applications of the ethyl ester of chlorimuron as determined in greenhouse studies with 21-day-old seedlings was: soybean = peanut > prickly sida > sicklepod > Florida beggarweed > common cocklebur. Absorption of foliar-applied 14C-chlorimuron 72 h after application was similar in soybean, peanut, sicklepod, common cocklebur, and prickly sida, but much less in Florida beggarweed. Slight symplasmic and apoplasmic translocation of the herbicide was evident in all species. Metabolism of chlorimuron 72 h after application was greatest in soybean and least in common cocklebur. Species tolerance to chlorimuron was directly correlated (r2 = 0.93) to the amount of unmetabolized chlorimuron (dpm/g dry wt) in the plant. Peanut exhibited increased tolerance to chlorimuron with age; this result was attributed to reduced absorption and translocation and more extensive metabolism of the absorbed herbicide by older plants.

Relative humidity after application, spray additives, and solution pH affected both foliar absorption and translocation of 14C-picloram to leafy spurge roots. 14C-picloram absorption increased from 11 to 34% and translocation increased from 5 to 21% as time at posttreatment humidity increased from 0 to 48 h. Absorption and translocation were not different when pre- or posttreatment temperatures were 30/18 or 18/10 C (day/night). 14C-picloram absorption and translocation to the roots were 18 and 6%, respectively, when applied alone, and increased to 46 and 12%, respectively, when applied with ammonium sulfate at 2.5 kg/ha. Absorption and translocation were unaffected by ammonium nitrate. Foliar absorption and translocation of 14C-picloram in leafy spurge were unaffected by pH of unbuffered spray solution but increased at least 50% when applied in a solution buffered at pH 4.8 with trisodium citrate. Foliar absorption in detached leafy spurge leaves increased from 26 to 51% of applied 14C as the citrate buffer concentration increased from 0.01 to 0.1 mM, respectively.

Common cocklebur, jimsonweed, and velvetleaf were grown with soybeans in the field to determine how soybean interference affects weed canopy architecture. Common cocklebur had more leaves within the soybean canopy than jimsonweed or velvetleaf. At the end of the season, common cocklebur leaf area was distributed evenly below and above the top of the soybean canopy, while nearly all the jimsonweed and velvetleaf leaf area was above the soybean canopy. Common cocklebur exhibited more shade tolerance than jimsonweed or velvetleaf by also maintaining leaves in the shade within the soybean canopy. Differences among these weeds in leaf distribution within the soybean canopy were not related to differences in abscission of the lower leaves but to a differential response of lower axillary buds to soybean shading. Growth from lower axillary buds in jimsonweed and velvetleaf was strongly inhibited by soybean interference, but interference had little effect on lower axillary bud growth in common cocklebur. Axillary bud growth in the lower canopies of both common cocklebur and soybeans, and their similarity in height, caused these plants to compete for the same aboveground niche. However, common cocklebur had more extensive axillary growth along the lower stem than soybeans, which may allow it to compete for resources in this niche more aggressively than soybeans. Velvetleaf and jimsonweed did not share the same aboveground niche with soybeans due to the placement of their leaves above rather than within the soybean canopy. The lower branching characteristics and apparent shade tolerance of common cocklebur may be important factors in the superior competitive ability with soybeans compared to jimsonweed and velvetleaf.

The effects of bristly starbur interference with peanuts were studied from 1980 through 1983 on a Dothan sandy loam (Plinthic Paleudults). Peanut seed yields, which included kernels plus hulls, were reduced as bristly starbur densities increased from 2 to 64 plants/7.5 m of row. Full-season interference from 8, 16, 32, and 64 bristly starbur plants/7.5 m of row reduced peanut seed yields 14, 26, 43, and 50%, respectively. The seed yield of peanuts maintained weed free for 6 weeks after crop emergence was reduced by no more than 3% compared to peanuts maintained weed free for the entire season. Weed interference for 2 weeks after crop emergence reduced seed yield by an average of 4% over the 3-yr period, based on prediction equations. Bristly starbur interference for 13 weeks after crop emergence reduced peanut forage dry weight yield by 54%. Similarly, peanut interference for 13 weeks after emergence reduced bristly starbur forage dry weight yield by 32%. Bristly starbur density in the forage dry weight studies averaged 35/7.5 m of row. These bristly starbur were confined to a 35-cm band over the drill. Peanut density averaged 72/7.5 m of drill.

The purpose of this study was to investigate seed dispersal and germination of seeds in the soil as factors in establishment of big sagebrush seedlings. Seed dispersal began at seed maturity in December. Under the shrub canopy the dispersal of seeds was greater to the east. Between shrubs the dispersal of seeds tended to be uniform. For 6 months of each year there were no detectable germinable seeds in the litter and surface soil at the sites sampled. Germinable seeds in the soil increased rapidly during seed dispersal but were not detected by June of the next season. Enrichment of bioassay samples with GA3 or KNO3 did not enhance emergence of big sagebrush seedlings. Big sagebrush seedlings were found at very low densities in areas previously burned in wildfires. This suggests the presence of viable big sagebrush seeds in the soil at a very low density.

Florida beggarweed seeds were collected in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina from plants differing in morphological characteristics. Seedlings were transplanted into peanut rows in field studies at Tifton, GA, and Jay, FL, in 1986 and 1987, and frequent observations of vegetative and reproductive characteristics were made. The competitiveness of the Florida beggarweed selections was evaluated by comparing pod weights from peanut plants grown in rows adjacent to the individual weed selections with pod weights of weed-free peanuts. There were significant differences among selections of Florida beggarweed in days to maximum height, maximum node formation, maximum branching, and initial flowering and fruiting at both locations. Selection GA-1 generally reached these growth stages earliest, was shorter, narrower, had fewer nodes, and produced less dry matter and fewer seeds than GA-2, which was generally the latest maturing selection. GA-4 produced fewer branches and smaller seeds than the other selections. Peanut pod weights adjacent to Florida beggarweed plants were reduced 12 to 18% in 1986 and 10 to 24% in 1987 compared to weed-free checks. Florida beggarweed selection GA-2 was the most competitive and GA-4 was among the least competitive both years. The variation of measured parameters among Florida beggarweed selections in this study may contribute to the survival and adaptability of this weed with changing environmental conditions, cultural practices, and control measures.

Field infestations of a seed-feeding insect developed from overwintered populations reduced viability of velvetleaf seed to 17.5 and 15.5% at two locations in central Missouri, compared to 95.5 and 87.5% at insect-free sites. Insect feeding enhanced the proportion of seedborne microorganisms in seed up to 98% compared to the average fungal infection of 8% for seed not exposed to the insect. There was a strong negative correlation between fungal infection associated with insect feeding and percent velvetleaf seed viability. The insect transmits microorganisms externally just as pollen is carried by various other insect species and not by ingestion and regurgitation. The effectiveness of the insect on reducing seed viability and seed production in central Missouri is mainly limited by the time required to build up populations capable of significantly affecting early-season velvetleaf seed production.

Experiments were conducted in 1985 to 1987 to evaluate the effects of conventional and no-tillage systems on the weed control provided by clomazone applied preemergence in soybeans. The persistence of clomazone in soil of the two tillage systems was also determined. Increasing the clomazone rate from 0.8 to 1.4 kg/ha did not increase weed control. Clomazone controlled 80% or more of jimsonweed, velvetleaf, and giant foxtail. Common cocklebur control ranged from about 50 to 70% in no-till and from 80 to 90% in conventional tillage. Generally, soybean pods/plant and yields were lower from clomazone treatments than from handweeded treatments due to inadequate common cocklebur control. Over 40% of the clomazone applied did not reach the soil surface; it was either intercepted by wheat straw, volatilized, or both. Clomazone persisted longer in conventional tillage than in no-tillage in. However, in 1986, clomazone was equally persistent in the two tillage systems. The half-life of clomazone was 34 and 6 days in 1985 in conventional and no-tillage, respectively, and in 1986, 18 and 16 days in conventional and no-tillage, respectively. Significant clomazone concentrations were not found below 10 cm in the soil profile. Corn planted without tillage (no-till) approximately 1 yr after clomazone application was not injured and yields were not reduced due to prior clomazone use.

Field experiments were established to investigate the effects of tank-mixing sethoxydim or quizalofop with imazaquin, chlorimuron, or lactofen for barnyardgrass control in soybeans. Sequential applications, where the grass herbicide was applied 24 h before or after the broadleaf weed herbicide, were also evaluated. There was an antagonistic decrease in barnyardgrass control when sethoxydim or quizalofop was tank mixed with any of the broadleaf weed herbicides. Antagonism was also observed when either grass herbicide was applied 24 h after imazaquin or lactofen, but not with chlorimuron. Control was not affected when the grass herbicide was applied 24 h before the broadleaf weed herbicide. In greenhouse experiments, the effects of tank-mixing sethoxydim, quizalofop, fluazifop-P, haloxyfop, fenoxaprop, or clethodim with imazaquin, lactofen, chlorimuron, acifluorfen, fomesafen, bentazon, or 2,4-DB were also evaluated for barnyardgrass control. Although acifluorfen provided 45% barnyardgrass control, tank-mixing it with fluazifop-P, haloxyfop, or fenoxaprop was antagonistic. Antagonism also occurred when chlorimuron was tank mixed with any of the grass herbicides except fenoxaprop. Barnyardgrass control by all of the grass herbicides applied in the field or greenhouse was most severely antagonized by tank mixes containing imazaquin.

Tillage and pendimethalin either alone or in combination were compared for weed management in two potato cultivars. The best weed management program consisted of a combination of pendimethalin and tillage. Pendimethalin alone did not adequately control weeds. Multiple cultivations gave better control than pendimethalin alone but not as good as pendimethalin and cultivation combined. The net returns using tillage, pendimethalin, and tillage plus pendimethalin for weed control averaged –$86, –$208, and $ 143/ha, respectively. Independent of their effect on weeds, cultivation had a significant negative effect and pendimethalin a significant positive effect on potato yields. Each cultivation reduced yields by 1.7% and pendimethalin increased yields by 4%. The cultivar ‘Red Pontiac’ was a better competitor with weeds than ‘Red Norland’.

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the interactions of tillage systems with imazaquin and imazethapyr on weed control and soybean injury and yield. Control of jimsonweed, common cocklebur, ivyleaf morningglory, velvetleaf, and giant foxtail from imazaquin and imazethapyr in conventional tillage was generally equal to or greater than control in no-tillage. However, under limited rainfall, weed control in no-tillage was generally equal to or greater than control in conventional tillage. Reductions in soybean heights due to herbicide treatment were evident in both tillage systems in 1985 and 1986 but not in. Soybean yields were reduced in 1985 from imazaquin at 140, 210, and 250 g/ha and imazethapyr at 105 and 140 g/ha. Yields were not reduced in 1986 and. Imazaquin and imazethapyr appear to provide adequate control of jimsonweed, common cocklebur, ivyleaf morningglory, velvetleaf, and giant foxtail in conventional and no-till systems.

The objectives of this research were to compare the weed control efficacy of liquid, granular, and microencapsulated formulations of preemergence herbicides in moldboard plow, chisel plow, ridge tillage, and no-tillage corn and soybean production systems, and to determine whether herbicide formulation can influence herbicide interception and retention on surface corn residue. Common lambsquarters populations were threefold higher in corn than in soybeans. A mixed population of giant foxtail and green foxtail was highest in the chisel plow and lowest in the ridge tillage system as were total weed numbers. Percent weed control was not influenced by tillage when considered across all herbicide treatments. Weed control was not influenced by herbicide formulation in the moldboard plow, chisel plow, or ridge tillage systems, but granular herbicide applications provided better weed control than liquid applications in the no-tillage system and across various rates of corn residue in an experiment with no tillage variables. Two- to threefold less granular-applied herbicide was intercepted by surface corn residue at the time of application compared to liquid-applied herbicide. Increasing amounts of postapplication rainfall decreased the difference among formulations with regard to both total soil reception of the herbicide and resultant weed control. There was no consistent advantage for the microencapsulated formulation over the other herbicide formulations. Surface corn residue controlled many weeds without the aid of a herbicide and actually contributed to overall weed control even where herbicides were applied. This suggests that the binding of preemergence herbicides on surface crop residue may not be the cause of weed control failures in reduced-tillage systems as is often assumed to be the case.

In greenhouse experiments, sago pondweed plants were grown from three different size classes of tubers and treated with four levels of fluridone. Results indicate that although fluridone significantly reduced mean plant weight, the extent of the reduction in weight depended on the size of tuber from which the plant was grown. Mean plant weight was greater for plants exposed to fluridone (up to 0.5 mg/L) for 7 days, if the plants were initially from larger tubers (51 to 60 or 101 to 200 vs. 11 to 20 mg fresh weight). Mean plant length and the number of ramets/plant were affected in a similar manner. The results underscore the importance of specifying the size of tubers used in growth studies and contribute to understanding of the roles that biological factors play in regulating aquatic plant response to herbicide treatment.

The effect of wheat straw incorporation on imazaquin concentration and biological activity in soil solution was determined as a function of herbicide rate and time of incubation. Etowah silt loam, amended with wheat straw (2 g/kg) or unamended, received imazaquin (0, 31, 62, or 124 μg ai/kg oven-dry soil). Soils incubated at 25 C were subsampled 0, 12, 24, 48, and 96 h after treatment and soil solutions were analyzed for imazaquin, pH, and electrical conductivity. Wheat straw amendment, imazaquin rate, and time of incubation influenced the concentration of imazaquin in the soil solution. Imazaquin concentration in soil solution exhibited gradual linear declines with time. Relative length of sunflower radicles declined with increased imazaquin rate. Regression of relative radicle length on activity of imazaquin anion in soil solution indicated differential response in the presence of wheat straw-amended versus unamended soil.

The availability and persistence of imazaquin, imazethapyr, and clomazone were studied in a Cisne silt loam (1.3% organic matter) and a Drummer silty clay loam (5.8% organic matter). Availability of all three herbicides to bioassay species was greater in the Cisne soil than in the Drummer soil. Corn root growth was more sensitive to imazaquin and imazethapyr than corn shoot growth. Shoot and root growth of wheat was inhbited by similar clomazone concentrations. In field experiments conducted in 1984, 1985, and 1986, all three herbicides were more persistent in the Drummer silty clay loam than in the Cisne silt loam. Clomazone and imazethapyr were detected by liquid or gas chromatographic analysis in the Drummer soil 3 yr following application. Crop injury occurred 5 months after application of imazaquin and clomazone to the Drummer soil. In the Cisne soil, only imazethapyr caused crop injury 5 months after application. Herbicide residues found below 7.5 cm were greater in the Drummer soil than in the Cisne soil.

Three approaches to data analysis were compared to describe competitive interactions between wheat and Italian ryegrass. Replacement series were performed using the two species at total densities of 100, 200, and 400 plants/ m2, and separate monoculture experiments for each species at densities from 33 to 800 plants/m2. Approaches to data analysis included: 1) conventional analysis of replacement series experiments, 2) development of synthetic no-interaction responses from monoculture experiments for comparison with results from mixtures, and 3) responses of the reciprocal yield of individual plants to variation in densities of the two species. Wheat was the superior competitor to ryegrass; however, the three approaches varied in ability to quantify this competitive relationship. The conventional replacement series analysis was least sensitive in describing the influences of either density or proportion on the plant association. The synthetic no-interaction approach provided the most detailed analysis of the influence of proportion on the species interaction. The reciprocal yield approach provided the simplest and most sensitive analysis of the joint influences of density and proportion. The latter approach also provided the most quantitative analysis of the influence of density on the species interaction. Plant density and species proportion are important variables for interpreting the process of plant competition.