Seed of three weed species collected from the grain bins of combines while standing hard red winter wheat was harvested germinated better than hand-harvested seed. Combine-harvested curly dock seed germinated from 4 to 24% more than hand-harvested seed. Curly dock seed harvested with a commercial-type combine germinated better than those harvested with a small-plot combine. Harvesting slimleaf lambsquarters and Venice mallow seed with a commercial-type combine also enhanced germination compared to hand-harvested seed.

This study was conducted to gain insight into the soil seedbank dynamics of Venice mallow in two irrigated Colorado soils. Venice mallow plants produced an average of 3100 seeds per plant under noncompetitive irrigated conditions. Venice mallow seeds collected from three regions of Colorado and stored at 25 C averaged 95% dormancy and less than 4% nonviable seeds 6 mo after harvesting. Percent nonviable seeds in soil remained relatively constant over 2 yr. Most seeds germinated within the first 3 mo after burial in the first crop production year. Seed dormancy decreased to an average of 40% after 3 mo of burial in cultivated soil at Fruita and Rocky Ford, and thereafter remained relatively constant for 21 mo. Fruita seeds underwent less in situ germination than seeds from Greeley or Rocky Ford. Innate seed dormancy was lower at Fruita (27%) than at Rocky Ford (39%). Enforced dormancy remained constant over a 21-mo period and was similar for both locations (32%). Seeds buried for 2 yr at Fruita underwent greater in situ germination (42%) than at Rocky Ford (27%). At Fruita, the level of enforced dormancy was higher and the level of innate dormancy lower at the 20-cm than the 2-cm depths. Venice mallow seed dormancy likely is due to an impermeable hard seed coat.

Postemergence herbicides alone and in combination were evaluated for Venice mallow control in corn and onion in Colorado during 1986 and 1987. Season-long control of 88 to 98% in corn was obtained with bromoxynil plus cyanazine or atrazine; 2,4-D amine plus dicamba or bromoxynil; or linuron, bromoxynil, or dicamba applied alone. Oxyfluorfen plus bromoxynil in a split application controlled Venice mallow 80 to 99% all season in onions. Uncontrolled Venice mallow caused higher yield reductions in onions than in corn.