Control of waterhemp is becoming more difficult in Ontario because biotypes have evolved resistance to four herbicide sites of action (SOA), including groups 2, 5, 9, and 14. The objective of this study was to compare PRE, POST, and PRE followed by (fb) POST herbicide programs for their effect on control, density, and biomass of multiple-herbicide–resistant (MHR) waterhemp as well as corn injury and grain yield. Two separate field studies, each consisting of five field trials, were conducted over a 2-yr period (2018 and 2019) in fields where corn was grown in Ontario, Canada. The first experiment evaluated MHR waterhemp control with an inhibitor of 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) applied PRE, PRE fb glufosinate applied POST, and glufosinate applied POST. The second experiment evaluated MHR waterhemp control with a non-HPPD inhibitor applied PRE, then PRE fb a POST application of atrazine + mesotrione, and then atrazine + mesotrione applied POST. Atrazine + isoxaflutole caused 3% to 5% corn injury at environment 1 (E1); no corn injury was observed with PRE and POST herbicide programs at environments E2, E3, E4, and E5. In general, atrazine/bicyclopyrone/mesotrione/S-metolachlor and dimethenamid-P/saflufenacil applied PRE controlled MHR waterhemp ≥95% 12 wk after POST application (WAA). A POST application of glufosinate following atrazine + tolpyralate PRE, and a POST application of atrazine + mesotrione following atrazine/dicamba or atrazine/S-metolachlor PRE, improved control at 4, 8, and 12 WAA in most environments. In general, PRE fb POST applications resulted in better control of MHR waterhemp throughout the growing season than single PRE and POST applications (P < 0.05). We conclude that herbicide programs based on multiple effective SOAs may offer effective control of MHR waterhemp where field corn is grown. It is advisable that when choosing an herbicide application program that excellent control of MHR waterhemp should be the goal given its high fecundity and competitive ability.

Field experiments were conducted from 2011 to 2013 near Ridgetown and Exeter, Ontario, Canada to evaluate the tolerance of seven identity-preserved (IP) soybean cultivars to protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO)-inhibiting herbicides flumioxazin, saflufenacil/dimethenamid-P, and sulfentrazone applied PRE; fomesafen applied POST; as well as PRE followed by (fb) POST application. Ridgetown sites demonstrated excellent tolerance (< 10% injury) to PRE treatments, whereas PRE sulfentrazone caused up to 36% injury at 1 and 2 wk after application (WAA) at Exeter. Of the PRE fb POST treatments evaluated, those containing saflufenacil/dimethenamid-P and sulfentrazone were most injurious to soybean, with cultivar being a further determinant of injury. At Exeter 1 WAA, cultivars ‘S03W4’ and ‘S23T5’ showed 23 to 27 and 45 to 46% injury for saflufenacil/dimethenamid-P and sulfentrazone when followed by POST fomesafen, respectively. Sulfentrazone application (PRE alone or fb fomesafen) consequently reduced S03W4 yield up to 38% and S23T5 up to 25%, whereas saflufenacil/dimethenamid-P fb fomesafen reduced S03W4 by 18%. In general, PRE fb POST caused more injury than PRE treatments; however, injury diminished over time and no significant reduction to soybean yield could be attributed to adding POST fomesafen. On the basis of this study, the injury from PPO herbicides applied PRE is active ingredient, cultivar, and environment specific. Although PPO herbicides have the potential to cause unacceptable crop injury in some IP soybean cultivars, selecting a tolerant cultivar will minimize yield losses.