Field studies were conducted in 1991 and 1992 to determine potential soybean injury due to 2,4-D ester at 560, 1120, and 1680 g ai/ha applied 0, 7, and 14 d before planting (DBP). Delayed emergence and increased injury of soybean were observed as 2,4-D rate increased and interval between application and planting decreased. Delay in emergence ranged from 0 to 67% and 0 to 50% in 1991 and 1992, respectively. Injury at 15 days after planting (DAP) combined over years ranged from 0 to 61%. Minimal (0 to 8%) delay in emergence and minimal (0 to 5%) injury at 15, 30, 45, and 60 DAP occurred when 2,4-D at 560 or 1120 g/ha was applied 7 or 14 DBP. No significant yield reduction occurred due to 2,4-D rate, application timing, or their interaction.

Common waterhemp is a significant weed problem in Midwestern cropping systems partly because of its potential for multiple emergence events during the growing season. The effects of shade and time of emergence on this weed have not been characterized. In the field, common waterhemp vegetative and reproductive growth were evaluated under different irradiance levels at two emergence times. In full sunlight a common waterhemp plant emerging in late May produced 720 g of biomass and over one million seeds, and a plant emerging in late June produced 350 g of biomass and over 730,000 seeds. Plant biomass and seed production were lower as irradiance levels were decreased to 40, 68, and 99% shade. Mortality was high for common waterhemp grown in 99% shade; however, surviving plants produced some viable seed. Common waterhemp plants grown under reduced irradiance had higher leaf area ratios and lower relative growth rates.

Field experiments were conducted in central Iowa to determine the growth of common waterhemp emerging after postemergence herbicide applications in soybean. Common waterhemp survival declined as emergence was delayed in relation to soybean. Ninety percent of plants emerging at approximately the same time as soybean survived, whereas only 13% of plants emerging approximately 50 d after planting (DAP) survived to maturity. Biomass accumulation declined rapidly as emergence was delayed in relation to soybean. Delaying emergence from 14 to 28 DAP resulted in a 50 to 80% reduction in shoot biomass. Common waterhemp emerging 50 DAP produced only 1 to 10% of the biomass of plants emerging at the same time as soybean. Plants emerging with soybean produced approximately 300,000 to 2.3 million seeds plant−1 depending on the location. Fecundity of common waterhemp plants was closely related to biomass accumulation and declined rapidly with delayed emergence. Although common waterhemp emerging after the V4 stage of soybean (40 DAP) are unlikely to affect crop yield because of high mortality levels and reduced growth, these plants may contribute significant seeds to the soil seed bank.

Field studies were conducted in 2001 and 2002 to determine the effect of tillage on the emergence of common waterhemp from the soil seedbank. Emergence of common waterhemp was three times greater in no-till than chisel-till cultivation. Tillage did not affect the initial time of emergence; however, the time to 50% emergence was longer in no-till than chisel till. Duration of emergence did not differ among tillage systems. Common waterhemp seed was concentrated near the soil surface in no-till plots, whereas seed in the chisel-till plots were primarily found between 9 and 15 cm. The delayed and increased emergence in no-till cultivation may contribute to the greater problems in managing common waterhemp in no-till plots compared with plots where tillage is used.

Four experiments were conducted in central Iowa during 2001 and 2002 to determine the effects of weed emergence time and corn row spacing on common waterhemp growth and fecundity. Four common waterhemp emergence cohorts were established in each experiment and corresponded to the VE, V3, V5, and V8 stages of corn grown in rows spaced 38 and 76 cm apart. Common waterhemp mortality averaged 20, 56, 97, and 99% for the first, second, third, and fourth cohorts, respectively. Mean mature common waterhemp height for the first cohort was 140 cm, whereas plants emerging at the V8 corn stage were only 5 cm tall. Biomass of the first cohort was 20% less in 38-cm rows than in 76-cm rows, but later cohorts were not affected by row spacing. Biomass and seed production of waterhemp emerging at the V3, V5, and V8 corn stages decreased 80, 97, and 99%, respectively in comparison with the first cohort. Overall results indicate that common waterhemp biomass, survival, and fecundity decline sharply with delayed emergence relative to corn, but weeds emerging at or before the V5 corn stage may still contribute significantly to the seed bank.

This report describes two cases of central anticholinergic syndrome, the first after general anaesthesia and the other during a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit. The symptoms in both patients resolved soon after physostigmine administration. There was a delay in the diagnosis of central anticholinergic syndrome, which resulted in acute lung injury and unanticipated intensive care unit admission. It is suggested that in cases of abnormal mental recovery after anaesthesia or sedation, the diagnosis of central anticholinergic syndrome should be considered.