Only a limited number of herbicides are available to provide postemergence (POST) control of selective monocot weeds in grain sorghum crops. The herbicides currently labeled for use with grain sorghum have strict use restrictions, low efficacy on johnsongrass, or weed resistance issues. To introduce a new effective herbicide mode of action for monocot control, multiple companies and universities have been developing herbicide-resistant grain sorghum that would allow producers to use herbicides that inhibit either acetolactate synthase (ALS) or acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) for POST monocot control. An experiment was conducted in Fayetteville, AR, in 2020 and 2021, to determine the effectiveness of two ALS-inhibiting herbicides and nine ACCase-inhibiting herbicides on TamArk™ grain sorghum, conventional grain sorghum, and problematic monocot weed species. Grain sorghum and monocot weeds (johnsongrass, broadleaf signalgrass, barnyardgrass, and Texas panicum) were sprayed when TamArk grain sorghum reached the 2- to 3-leaf stage. TamArk grain sorghum was tolerant of all ACCase-inhibiting herbicides tested, exhibiting ≤10% injury at all evaluation timings, except clethodim and sethoxydim, and had no resistance to the ALS-inhibiting herbicides that were evaluated. Additionally, all ACCase inhibitors except diclofop and pinoxaden controlled all monocots tested by >91% at 28 d after application (DAA). Conversely, the two ALS inhibitors, imazamox and nicosulfuron, provided ≤81% control of broadleaf signalgrass 28 DAA but still controlled all other monocots by >95%. TamArk grain sorghum has low sensitivity to multiple ACCase-inhibiting herbicides and thus provides an effective POST option for monocot weed control. In addition, unwanted volunteer TamArk plants can be controlled with cledthodim, sethoxydim, nicosulfuron, or imazamox. Although the ALS-inhibiting herbicides imazamox and nicosulfuron were not useful on TamArk grain sorghum, they are effective options for monocot control on Igrowth™ and Inzen™ grain sorghum crops, respectively.

Data from surveys are used to help quantitatively diagnose the relative importance of chemical and nonchemical management practices, identify weed problems, and provide potential solutions. However, to our knowledge, such surveys have not been conducted in Argentina. In 2016, advisors and crop producers from cropping areas across Argentina were surveyed through email with the objectives to identify the main weed species problems and assess the use of chemical and nonchemical weed management practices in different crop production areas in Argentina. Fleabane, pigweed, johnsongrass, fingergrass, goosegrass, barnyardgrass, and ryegrass were considered the most important weeds. More than 53% of the producers used only chemical options; 86% used chemical fallow (i.e., keeping weed free with chemical application); 62% used full herbicide rates; 46% used proper herbicide timing; 41% used multiple modes of action; and 32% used rotation of herbicide modes of action. The main nonchemical practices used were crop rotation (45%); avoiding seed production during (31%) and after (25%) the crop cycle; narrow row spacing (19%); and cultivars with greater competitive ability (18%). Less than 15% of the people surveyed used increased crop densities or altered date of sowing. There is a high dependence on chemical control in the main crops grown in Argentina. Extension efforts are needed to emphasize the importance of integrated weed management.

Postdispersal processes play an important role in the regulation of weed population dynamics. Experiments were conducted at two locations in Arkansas to understand postdispersal loss of five arable weed species important to this region—barnyardgrass, johnsongrass, pitted morningglory, Palmer amaranth, and red rice—between seed dispersal in autumn and the production of fresh seeds the subsequent autumn. Total seed loss through predation, decay, germination (fatal or successful), and loss in viability was estimated, and the influences of residue level and seed burial depth (near ground vs. 5 cm deep) were also examined. On average, the active (i.e., viable) seedbank proportion in spring (5 mo after dispersal) ranged from 8 to 11% (barnyardgrass), 10 to 11% (johnsongrass), 20 to 23% (pitted morningglory), 4 to 6% (Palmer amaranth), and 5 to 10% (red rice) across the two locations. At 1 yr after dispersal, 0.7 to 1.5% of barnyardgrass, 7 to 8% of johnsongrass, 5 to 9% of pitted morningglory, about 1.5% of Palmer amaranth, and 0.2 to 0.7% of red rice were part of the active seedbank for the two locations. There was no evidence to suggest that establishing a vegetation cover (such as a rye cover crop) after harvest of the main crop could accelerate seed predation. Burial depth did not influence seed decay, but most (45 [pitted morningglory] to 99% [Palmer amaranth]) of the seeds retrieved from the predator feeding stations were found buried in the soil substrate, and thus, not available for most predator species. This suggests that practices that allow weed seeds to lie on the soil surface (such as no-till planting in autumn) are highly valuable in encouraging seed predation. The high levels of seed loss observed in this study indicate that seedbank management should be a vital component of integrated weed management strategies.

Three field experiments were conducted in 2010 and 2012 in a soybean production field near West Memphis, AR, containing glyphosate-resistant johnsongrass. The goal of this research was to develop effective herbicide programs for glyphosate-resistant johnsongrass in glufosinate-resistant soybean. Control of the resistant johnsongrass was greater with glufosinate at 590 and 740 g ai ha−1 than at 450 g ha−1. Sequential glufosinate applications were more effective than a single application, irrespective of rate. A PRE application of flumioxazin at 71 g ai ha−1 immediately after planting provided no more than 26% johnsongrass control 6 wk after soybean emergence (WAE). The addition of clethodim at 136 g ai ha−1 to sequential applications of glufosinate at 450 g ha−1 improved control over sequentially applied glufosinate alone. Herbicide programs containing imazethapyr or imazamox in combination with glufosinate followed by clethodim plus glufosinate controlled johnsongrass at least 94% at 10 WAE and provided three distinct mechanisms of action, a highly effective resistance management strategy. Results from this research indicate that a high level of glyphosate-resistant johnsongrass control can be achieved through the use of several herbicide options in glufosinate-resistant soybean.

Johnsongrass is one of the most troublesome weeds of the world and is listed as a noxious weed in Arkansas. Reduced johnsongrass control with the recommended application rate of glyphosate (840 g ae ha−1) was reported in a continuous soybean field near West Memphis, AR, in the fall of 2007. A greenhouse study was conducted (1) to confirm and characterize glyphosate resistance in the johnsongrass biotype from West Memphis and (2) to determine whether resistant and susceptible biotypes have differential glyphosate absorption or translocation. Dose–response studies revealed that the resistant biotype was five- to seven-fold less sensitive to glyphosate than the susceptible biotype. Glyphosate absorption was similar in resistant and susceptible biotypes at 72 h after treatment (HAT). However, the treated leaf of the resistant biotype retained 28 percentage points more absorbed 14C glyphosate compared to the susceptible biotype at 72 HAT. Additionally, the resistant biotype had less 14C glyphosate translocated to the aboveground tissue below the treated leaf and to roots compared to the susceptible biotype at 24 and 72 HAT. Reduced translocation and increased retention of glyphosate in treated leaves is a probable mechanism of resistance in this glyphosate-resistant johnsongrass biotype.

There is an urgent need to accelerate the development and implementation of effective organic-compliant herbicides that are environmentally safe and that help the producer meet increasing consumer demand for organic products. Therefore, greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of acetic acid (5%), acetic acid (30%), citric acid (10%), citric acid (5%) + garlic (0.2%), citric acid (10%) + garlic (0.2%), clove oil (45.6%), and corn gluten meal (CGM) compounds as natural-product herbicides for weed control. The herbicides were applied to the broadleaf weeds stranglervine, wild mustard, black nightshade, sicklepod, velvetleaf, and redroot pigweed and to narrowleaf weeds crowfootgrass, Johnsongrass, annual ryegrass, goosegrass, green foxtail, and yellow nutsedge. The herbicides were applied POST at two weed growth stages, namely, two to four and four to six true-leaf stages. CGM was applied PPI in two soil types. Citric acid (5%) + garlic (0.2%) had the greatest control (98%) of younger broadleaf weeds, followed by acetic acid (30%) > CGM > citric acid (10%) > acetic acid (5%) > citric acid (10%) + garlic (0.2%), and clove oil. Wild mustard was most sensitive to these herbicides, whereas redroot pigweed was the least sensitive. Herbicides did not control narrowleaf weeds except for acetic acid (30%) when applied early POST (EPOST) and CGM. Acetic acid (30%) was phytotoxic to all broadleaf weeds and most narrowleaf weeds when applied EPOST. Delayed application until the four- to six-leaf stage significantly reduced efficacy; acetic acid was less sensitive to growth stage than other herbicides. These results will help to determine effective natural herbicides for controlling weeds in organic farming.

This research explored the use of downy brome (BROTE) as a cover crop in irrigated corn. Although BROTE is a difficult weed to control, it could not be maintained as a cover crop in no-till irrigated corn for more than one season. A 10-fold reduction in BROTE occurred in the second year of corn. By the fourth year, only one BROTE plant could be found at the two locations. Because BROTE did not persist across years, soil coverage decreased 5 to 18% in the later location-years. At one location, normal herbicide rates decreased Johnsongrass biomass more than 22-fold both years it was applied. Increasing herbicide input decreased Palmer amaranth density more than 3-fold, but only in a single location-year. In three of six location-years, level of herbicide input had no significant effect on evapotranspiration (ET). Increased BROTE biomass decreased ET 0.033 to 0.083 cm/d during the first season at both locations. Increased irrigation increased corn yield by 240 to 1,900 kg/ha in five of six location-year combinations. Half rates of in-season herbicides reduced yield only in one of six location-years. High BROTE density reduced ET but did not translate into increased crop yield. In three of six location-year combinations, high BROTE density decreased yield by 300 to 1,000 kg/ha. In a single location-year, increased surface residues provided by BROTE increased yield by 560 kg/ha. Increased irrigation inputs decreased water use efficiency (WUE) by 6.3 kg/ha-cm in a single location-year and increased WUE by 10.8 to 121.6 kg/ha-cm in four of six location-years. Increased herbicide inputs increased WUE by 10.3 kg/ha-cm in one location-year. BROTE density had no significant effect on WUE at location 1. At location 2 in the first 2 yr, WUE was increased 9.4 to 22.2 kg/ha-cm.

Field experiments were conducted in 2009 and 2012 at Fayetteville, AR, to compare four herbicides across three application timings for johnsongrass control and to evaluate the effect of late-season herbicide applications on johnsongrass control, fecundity, seed viability, and progeny emergence. In the first experiment, glyphosate at 840 g ae ha−1 and clethodim at 68 and 136 g ai ha−1 provided 75 to 94% control of 15- to 60-cm tall johnsongrass and up to 98% stand reduction 4 wk after treatment (WAT). Glufosinate and nicosulfuron were generally effective on ≤30-cm tall johnsongrass; however, efficacy declined as johnsongrass size increased. In the second experiment, glyphosate at 840 g ha−1 provided at least 89% johnsongrass control when applied at boot or after panicle emergence and up to 95% stand reduction 3 WAT. Applications of glyphosate at 420 and 840 g ha−1, clethodim at 68 and 136 g ha−1, and glufosinate at 740 g ai ha−1 at the boot stage reduced viable seed production of treated plants 94 to 99%. Irrespective of rate, glyphosate and clethodim applied at boot stage reduced progeny emergence by 77 to 95% and 100-seed weight of treated plants 62 to 96% compared to the nontreated check. This research demonstrates the importance of herbicide selection, particularly for controlling johnsongrass plants larger than 30 cm. Additionally, the results demonstrate the benefits of a single application of glyphosate or clethodim at the boot stage of johnsongrass for decreasing the soil seedbank and reducing the success of johnsongrass progeny in future years.

In 2008, a population of johnsongrass collected from a soybean field near West Memphis, AR, in Crittenden County was confirmed resistant to glyphosate. This was the first documented case of glyphosate-resistant johnsongrass in Arkansas. The purpose of this study was to determine the geographical distribution of glyphosate-resistant johnsongrass in Arkansas crops and screen for resistance to additional herbicides. A total of 141 johnsongrass accessions were collected from 14 counties in Arkansas in the fall of 2008, 2009, and 2010 and screened for resistance to four of the most commonly used POST herbicides for johnsongrass control—imazethapyr, glyphosate, clethodim, and fluazifop. One accession potentially resistant to glyphosate (J12) and another with apparent resistance to imazethapyr (J14) were further evaluated in a dose–response experiment. The lethal dose required to kill 50% of the plants from the putative glyphosate-resistant and imazethapyr-resistant accessions was higher than that of a biotype known to be susceptible to these herbicides. The J12 accession had an LD50 of 1,741 g ae ha−1 glyphosate, which was 8.5-fold greater than the susceptible biotype. The J14 accession had an LD50 of 73 g ai ha−1 imazethapyr, which was 3.7-fold greater than the LD50 of the susceptible biotype. All other accessions were effectively controlled by the four evaluated herbicides. Widespread herbicide-resistant johnsongrass was not found in Arkansas, although accession J12 was resistant to glyphosate and J14 resistant to imazethapyr.