A pre-launch survey of broadleaf weeds was conducted to predict the weed management efficacy of a novel genetically engineered sugar beet with resistance traits for glyphosate, dicamba, and glufosinate. We targeted problematic broadleaf weed species prevalent in the sugar beet system, including kochia, common lambsquarters, Palmer amaranth, and redroot pigweed across sugar beet areas in Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming. The results revealed that a significant percentage of kochia populations in Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming exhibited resistance to glyphosate (94%, 98%, and 75%, respectively) and dicamba (30%, 42%, and 17%, respectively). Palmer amaranth populations had resistance frequencies for glyphosate and dicamba of 80% and 20% in Colorado and 20% and 3% in Nebraska, respectively. No resistance to the tested herbicides was identified in common lambsquarters or redroot pigweed. Glufosinate resistance was not identified for any species. Kochia and Palmer amaranth populations from Colorado and Nebraska exhibited glyphosate resistance primarily through 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene amplification. However, one glyphosate-resistant kochia population from Wyoming lacked EPSPS gene amplification, indicating the presence of an alternative resistance mechanism. We identified the previously characterized IAA16 G73N substitution in a dicamba-resistant kochia population from Nebraska. However, dicamba-resistant kochia populations from Colorado did not possess this substitution, suggesting an alternative, yet-to-be-determined resistance mechanism. The widespread prevalence of glyphosate and dicamba resistance, coupled with the emergence of novel resistance mechanisms, poses a significant challenge to the long-term efficacy of this novel genetically engineered sugar beet technology. These findings underscore the urgent need for integrated weed management (IWM) strategies that diversify effective herbicide sites-of-action and incorporate alternative weed management practices within cropping systems.

Off-target movement of growth regulator herbicides can cause severe injury to susceptible plants. Apart from not spraying on windy days or at excessive boom heights, making herbicide applications using nozzles that produce large droplets is the preferred method for reducing herbicide drift. Although large droplets maintain a higher velocity and are more likely to reach the leaf surface in windy conditions, their ability to remain on the leaf surface is poorly understood. Upon impact with the leaf surface, droplets may shatter, bounce, roll off, or be retained on the leaf surface. We examined how different nozzles, pressures, and adjuvants impact spray droplet adsorption on the leaf surface of common lambsquarters and soybean. Plants were grown in a greenhouse and sprayed in a spray chamber. Three nozzles (XR, AIXR, and TTI) were evaluated at 138, 259, and 379 kPa, respectively. Dicamba (0.14 kg ae ha−1) was applied alone and with methylated seed oil (MSO), a non-ionic surfactant, silicone-based adjuvant, crop oil concentrate, or a drift reduction adjuvant. A 1,3,6,8-pyrene tetra sulfonic acid tetra sodium salt was added as a tracer. Dicamba spray droplet adsorption when using the XR nozzle, which produced the smallest spray droplets, was 1.75 times greater than when applied with the TTI nozzle with the largest spray droplets. Applying dicamba with MSO increased adsorption on leaf surfaces nearly 4 times the amount achieved without an adjuvant. The lowest application pressure (138 kPa) increased dicamba spray volume adsorbed more than 10% compared to the higher pressures of 259 and 379 kPa. By understanding the impacts of these application parameters on dicamba spray droplet adsorption, applicators can select application parameters, equipment, and adjuvants that will maximize the amount of dicamba spray volume retained on the target leaf surface while minimizing dicamba spray drift.

Potato producers in Canada’s Atlantic provinces of Prince Edward Island (PE) and New Brunswick rely on photosystem II (PSII)-inhibiting herbicides to provide season-long weed control. Despite this fact, a high proportion of common lambsquarters populations in the region have been identified as resistant to this class of herbicides. Crop-topping is a late-season weed management practice that exploits the height differential between weeds and a developing crop canopy. Two field experiments were conducted in Harrington, PE, in 2020 and 2021, one each to evaluate the efficacy of a different crop-topping strategy, above-canopy mowing or wick-applied glyphosate, at two potato phenological stages, on common lambsquarters viable seed production and potato yield and quality. Mowing common lambsquarters postflowering decreased viable seed production (72% to 91%) in 2020 but increased seed production (78% to 278%) in 2021. Mowing had minimal impact on potato marketable yield across cultivars in both years. In contrast, treating common lambsquarters with wick-applied glyphosate had variable impacts on seed output in 2020 but dramatically reduced seed production (up to 95%) in 2021 when treatments were applied preflowering. Glyphosate damage to potato tubers was not influenced by timing and resulted in a 14% to 15% increase in culled tubers due to black spotting and rot. Our results highlight the importance of potato and common lambsquarters phenology when selecting a crop-topping strategy and demonstrate that above-canopy mowing and wick-applied glyphosate can be utilized for seedbank management of herbicide-resistant common lambsquarters in potato production systems.

Widespread occurrence of herbicide-resistant weeds and more variable weather conditions across the United States has made weed control in many crops more challenging. Preemergence (PRE) herbicides with soil residual activity have resurged as the foundation for early season weed control in many crops. Field experiments were conducted in Janesville and Lancaster, Wisconsin, in 2021 and 2022 (4 site-years) to evaluate the weed control efficacy of solo (single site of action [SOA]) and premix (two or more SOAs) PRE herbicides in conventional tillage corn. Treatments consisted of 18 PRE herbicides plus a nontreated check. At the Janesville-2021 site, S-metolachlor + bicyclopyrone + mesotrione, atrazine + S-metolachlor + bicyclopyrone + mesotrione, and clopyralid + acetochlor + mesotrione provided >72% giant ragweed control. At the Janesville-2022 site, none of the PRE herbicides evaluated provided >70% giant ragweed control due to the high giant ragweed density and the lack of timely rainfall. At the Lancaster-2021 site, atrazine, dicamba, and flumetsulam + clopyralid provided <45% waterhemp control, but the remaining treatments provided >90% control. At the Lancaster-2022 site, the efficacy of some PRE herbicides was reduced due to the high waterhemp density; however, most herbicides provided >75% control. At the Lancaster-2021 and Lancaster-2022 sites, only dicamba and S-metolachlor did not provide >75% common lambsquarters control. Group 15 PRE herbicides provided >75% control of giant foxtail. Across weed species, PRE herbicides with two (78%) and three (81%) SOAs provided greater weed control than PRE herbicides with a single SOA (68%), indicating that at least two SOA herbicides applied PRE result in better early season weed control. The efficacy of the PRE herbicide treatments evaluated herein varied according to the soil seedbank weed community composition and environmental conditions (i.e., rainfall following application), but the premixes were a more reliable option to improve early season weed control in conventional tillage corn.

Atrazine and S-metolachlor are the herbicides most relied on by growers to control weeds in sweet corn crops grown in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) in southern Florida. Alternative weed management programs are needed. Field experiments were conducted in 2021 and 2022 to evaluate the efficacy of 1) pyroxasulfone (183 and 237 g ha−1) alone or as a premix with carfentrazone-ethyl (13 and 17 g ha−1) or fluthiacet-methyl (6 and 7 g ha−1), S-metolachlor (1,790 g ha−1) alone or in combination with atrazine (3,360 g ha−1) applied preemergence(PRE); 2) mesotrione (105 g ha−1), topramezone (25 g ha−1), and tembotrione (92 g ha−1) applied postemergence alone or in combination with atrazine (560 and 2,240 g ha−1) or bentazon (1,120 g ha−1); and 3) mechanical cultivation alone at the fourth and the fourth followed by the sixth leaf stages of sweet corn. PRE-applied herbicides did not provide acceptable control of fall panicum, common lambsquarters, or common purslane probably due to a lack of incorporation into the soil because of limited rainfall. POST-applied topramezone alone or in combination with atrazine or bentazon resulted in effective fall panicum control (>91%). Topramezone alone provided 83% and 88% control of common lambsquarters and common purslane, respectively, whereas atrazine added to topramezone resulted in >94% control of both weed species. Mesotrione and tembotrione plus atrazine provided excellent control (>93%) of both broadleaf weed species but poor fall panicum control (<72%). Mechanical cultivation alone did not effectively control any weeds. Overall, treatments that contained topramezone resulted in greater sweet corn yield. These results show that a combination of topramezone, mesotrione, and tembotrione with atrazine resulted in improved broadleaf weed control. Fall panicum control was improved only with the combination of topramezone with atrazine, showing that atrazine is an important mixture component of these herbicides to provide effective POST weed control in sweet corn on organic soils of the EAA.

The development of glufosinate-resistant soybean cultivars has created opportunities for use of glufosinate applied postemergence for weed control. Four field experiments were conducted in 2021 and 2022 to ascertain the effect of glufosinate rate and the addition of ammonium sulfate on annual weed control in glyphosate/glufosinate/2,4-D–resistant soybean. An increased glufosinate rate of 500 from 300 g ai ha−1 improved control of common ragweed, common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, and foxtail species and resulted in decreased density and dry biomass of common lambsquarters and foxtail species. The addition of ammonium sulfate to glufosinate increased control of common lambsquarters, 2 and 8 wk after application (WAA), and of foxtail species, 2, 4, and 8 WAA, but did not improve control of common ragweed and redroot pigweed. Increasing the dose of glufosinate from 300 to 500 g ai ha−1 improves control of common ragweed, redroot pigweed, common lambsquarters, and foxtail species; however, the benefit of the addition of ammonium sulfate to glufosinate is weed species-specific.

Potato is the third most important staple food crop globally following rice and wheat. In the United States, potato is grown on approximately 410,000 ha with a farm-gate value of US$1,032 million. In Canada, potato is grown on approximately 134,000 ha with a farm-gate value of US$235 million. The objective of this manuscript, compiled by the Weed Science Society of America Weed Loss Committee, was to estimate potato yield loss caused by weed interference. Potato yield data from weedy and weed-free plots (or plots with >95% weed control) was obtained from researchers working on weed management in potato in the United States and Canada or from published manuscripts from 2000 to 2018. Potato yield loss from weed interference was 12% to 61% when no weed management tactics were implemented. The average yield loss for all states/provinces (where data was obtained) due to weed interference was 44%. Weed interference would cause a farm-gate loss of approximately US$465 million and US$61 in the United States and Canada, respectively, if weeds are not controlled. These results indicate that weed management is critical for successful potato production, and that an ongoing need for research exists on weed management in this crop.

Water stress and weed competition are critical stressors during corn (Zea mays L.) development. Genetic improvements in corn have resulted in hybrids with greater tolerance to abiotic and biotic stressors; however, drought stress remains problematic. Therefore, in light of the anticipated change in precipitation throughout the Great Lakes Region, greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate water stress and weed competition on drought-tolerant corn performance. The study followed a completely randomized block design with four replications. Factorial treatment combinations consisted of drought-tolerant corn competition (presence or absence), water stress (100% or 50% volumetric water content [VWC]), and nine corn:common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L., CHEAL) densities. Corn and C. album growth parameters were measured at 14 and 21 d after water-stress initiation. To explore the impact of reduced soil moisture and weed competition on corn and C. album growth parameters, photosynthetic response, and biomass, linear mixed-effects and nonlinear regression models were constructed in R. Chenopodium album biomass was reduced by 46% and 50% under corn competition at 2 and 4 weeds pot−1 (P = 0.0003, 0.0004). However, introducing crop competition under 6 and 9 weeds pot−1 did not reduce C. album biomass (P = 0.90, 1.00). Averaged across weed pressures, corn biomass was 22% less when grown under 50% compared with 100% VWC (P = 0.0003). However, averaged across VWC values, increasing weed competition from 0 to 2 (P = 0.04), 4 (P = <0.0001), 6 (P = 0.0002), or 9 (P = 0.0002) weeds pot−1 reduced biomass by 22%, 38%, 35%, and 36%. Overall, water stress and C. album competition negatively affected the parameters measured in this study; however, the magnitude of reduction is stronger under drought stress than increasing weed competition when water is not limiting. Therefore, field crop growers must modify current integrated weed management programs to maintain yield under future climate stress.

Tolpyralate is commonly mixed with atrazine for improved control of common annual weed species in corn production systems in the United States and Canada. Weed control efficacy with this mixture is enhanced with the addition of methylated seed oil (MSO) Concentrate®; however, there is little information on the efficacy of tolpyralate + atrazine with other proprietary adjuvants. Therefore, four trials were conducted at field research sites in Ontario, Canada, to evaluate the efficacy of tolpyralate + atrazine when applied with six different commercially available adjuvants on four annual broadleaf and two annual grass weed species in corn. The adjuvants evaluated were MSO Concentrate®, Agral® 90, Assist® Oil Concentrate, Carrier®, LI 700®, and Merge®. A treatment of tolpyralate + atrazine applied with no adjuvant was also included in the study. For the control of velvetleaf and wild mustard, the adjuvants evaluated with tolpyralate + atrazine did not improve control. At 8 wk after application (WAA), the use of Agral® 90, Assist® Oil Concentrate, Carrier®, MSO Concentrate®, or Merge® with tolpyralate + atrazine provided similar or greater control of common ragweed than tolpyralate + atrazine applied with LI 700®. At 8 WAA, the adjuvants performed similarly with tolpyralate + atrazine for the control of common lambsquarters; however, LI 700® was the only adjuvant that did not improve control compared to tolpyralate + atrazine applied without an adjuvant. At 8 WAA, MSO Concentrate®, Carrier®, and Merge® improved control of barnyardgrass and foxtail species with tolpyralate + atrazine to a similar or greater level than Assist® Oil Concentrate, Agral® 90, and LI 700®. Overall, MSO Concentrate®, Carrier®, or Merge® should be added to tolpyralate + atrazine for control of the myriad of weed species interfering with corn production.

Tolpyralate is a 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase–inhibiting herbicide that is applied postemergence for control of annual broadleaf and grass weeds in corn. Current Canadian label recommendations for tolpyralate specify the addition of a methylated seed oil (MSO) adjuvant (MSO Concentrate®) for improved weed control. The efficacy of tolpyralate applied with other proprietary adjuvants has not been widely reported in the peer-reviewed literature. Therefore, four field trials were conducted in corn over 2020 and 2021 in Ontario, Canada, to evaluate MSO Concentrate®, Agral® 90 (nonionic surfactant), Assist® Oil Concentrate (blended surfactant), Carrier® (blended surfactant), LI 700® (nonionic surfactant), and Merge® (blended surfactant) as adjuvants with tolpyralate for the control of annual broadleaf and grass weeds. At 8 wk after application (WAA), tolpyralate applied with MSO Concentrate®, Agral® 90, Assist® Oil Concentrate, Carrier®, or Merge® controlled velvetleaf, wild mustard, barnyardgrass, and foxtail species similarly. These adjuvants also enhanced the efficacy of tolpyralate similarly for the control of common ragweed at 8 WAA with the exception that Agral® 90 was inferior to Merge®. At 8 WAA, tolpyralate controlled common lambsquarters the greatest when applied with MSO Concentrate®, Agral® 90, Carrier®, or Merge®; these adjuvants with the exception of Agral® 90 were superior to Assist® Oil Concentrate. At 8 WAA, tolpyralate applied with LI 700® controlled common ragweed, barnyardgrass, and foxtail species less than when tolpyralate was applied with the other adjuvants tested; control of these weed species with tolpyralate was not improved with LI 700® when compared to tolpyralate applied without an adjuvant. Overall, tolpyralate applied with either MSO Concentrate®, Carrier®, or Merge® controlled all annual broadleaf and grass weed species similarly or greater than tolpyralate applied without an adjuvant or tolpyralate with Agral® 90, Assist® Oil Concentrate, or LI 700® at 8 WAA.

Striking a balance between the weed control capacity of living mulches and their competition with the main crop is complex. At rates that avoid severe injury to living mulch, herbicides may reduce their vigor while simultaneously contributing to weed control. In a 2-yr field study carried out in Freeville, NY, we evaluated the effects of various combinations consisting of two herbicides, applied sequentially at reduced rates, on the growth of a sunn hemp living mulch and weeds (including common lambsquarters, common purslane, hairy galinsoga, and Powell amaranth). When a herbicide with primarily POST activity (Type 1; e.g., rimsulfuron, 0.005 to 0.007 kg ai ha−1) was applied first, performance of sunn hemp (1700 to 3900 kg ha−1 dry biomass; 10% to 88% groundcover) was poor and weed growth (25% to 62% groundcover) was high, likely because sunn hemp was severely injured at a young growth stage and was outcompeted by weeds. A follow-up application (approximately 2 wk later) of a herbicide with primarily PRE and residual activities (Type 2; e.g., metribuzin, 0.05 to 0.15 kg ai ha−1), with a surfactant to enhance its POST activity, had little effect on established weeds. However, because sunn hemp was already 20 cm tall at weed emergence, applying a Type 2 herbicide first did not cause severe injury to sunn hemp and reduced weed pressure, thereby also enhancing sunn hemp performance (3,800 to 6,100 kg ha−1 dry biomass; 85% to 94% groundcover). Moreover, the follow-up application of a Type 1 herbicide affected the smaller weeds more (4% to 21% groundcover) than the better-established sunn hemp. Our results demonstrate that an appropriate sequence of herbicides at reduced rates may be important to control weeds while maintaining a healthy living mulch stand.

Weed management in carrot is challenging, given slow and inconsistent crop emergence and early-season growth and the lack of practical season-long management tools such as herbicides. We investigated holistic carrot production systems with a focus on minimizing inputs while optimizing resource use. In an overall sense, results of this work were consistent between years, and stark. The choice of carrot variety had a moderate influence on carrot foliar canopy development and, subsequently, weed density. For example, ‘Cupar’ carrot formed a complete crop canopy sooner than the other dicer-type ‘Canada’ variety. Likely as a result, density of weed species such as spotted ladysthumb and common lambsquarters was less where ‘Cupar’ was grown compared with where ‘Canada’ was grown. Gibberellic acid as a foliar application was not successful in these studies and, in a few cases, may have even increased weed-seed germination and establishment. Adding two carrot rows to the current regional industry-standard three-row bed system not only enhanced competitiveness with weeds but also improved carrot yield without additional fertilizer, water, or pest management inputs. By far, though, the most successful strategy to reduce weed density while maintaining or improving carrot yield was to delay seeding by 17 to 19 d. We anticipate more holistic production system research that integrates low-input alternatives in other crops as herbicide-resistant weeds proliferate while few new herbicides are developed. As was demonstrated in this research, such novel approaches can be successful without adding significant economic burden to the farmer or increasing risk of crop failure.

Tolpyralate is a new Group 27 pyrazolone herbicide that inhibits the 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase enzyme. In a study of the biologically effective dose of tolpyralate from 2015 to 2017 in Ontario, Canada, tolpyralate exhibited efficacy on a broader range of species when co-applied with atrazine; however, there is limited published information on the efficacy of tolpyralate and tolpyralate+atrazine relative to mesotrione and topramezone, applied POST with atrazine at label rates, for control of annual grass and broadleaf weeds. In this study, tolpyralate applied alone at 30 g ai ha−1 provided >90% control of common lambsquarters, velvetleaf, common ragweed, Powell amaranth/redroot pigweed, and green foxtail at 8 weeks after application (WAA). Addition of atrazine was required to achieve >90% control of wild mustard, ladysthumb, and barnyardgrass at 8 WAA. Tolpyralate+atrazine (30+1,000 g ai ha−1) and topramezone+atrazine (12.5+500 g ai ha−1) provided similar control at 8 WAA of the eight weed species in this study; however, tolpyralate+atrazine provided >90% control of green foxtail by 1 WAA. Tolpyralate+atrazine provided 18, 68, and 67 percentage points better control of common ragweed, green foxtail, and barnyardgrass, respectively, than mesotrione+atrazine (100+280 g ai ha−1) at 8 WAA. Overall, tolpyralate+atrazine applied POST provided equivalent or improved control of annual grass and broadleaf weeds compared with mesotrione+atrazine and topramezone+atrazine.

Tolpyralate is a new 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibiting herbicide for POST weed management in corn; however, there is limited information regarding its efficacy. Six field studies were conducted in Ontario, Canada, over 3 yr (2015 to 2017) to determine the biologically effective dose of tolpyralate for the control of eight annual weed species. Tolpyralate was applied POST at six doses from 3.75 to 120 g ai ha−1 and tank mixed at a 1:33.3 ratio with atrazine at six doses from 125 to 4,000 g ha−1. Regression analysis was performed to determine the effective dose (ED) of tolpyralate, and tolpyralate+atrazine, required to achieve 50%, 80%, or 90% control of eight weed species at 1, 2, 4, and 8 wk after application (WAA). The ED of tolpyralate for 90% control (ED90) of velvetleaf, common lambsquarters, common ragweed, redroot pigweed or Powell amaranth, and green foxtail at 8 WAA was ≤15.5 g ha−1; however, tolpyralate alone did not provide 90% control of wild mustard, barnyardgrass, or ladysthumb at 8 WAA at any dose evaluated in this study. In contrast, the ED90 for all species in this study with tolpyralate+atrazine was ≤13.1+436 g ha−1, indicating that tolpyralate+atrazine can be highly efficacious at low field doses.

The study of weed life cycles, reproductive strategies, and the soil seed bank is emphasized in the undergraduate weed science course at Ohio State University as central to an understanding of the survival of weeds in the environment. A laboratory exercise was conducted every spring and fall academic quarter from 1991 to 1993 to demonstrate the effects of long-term cropping and soil disturbance histories on weed seed banks and aboveground weed communities. Five sites with diverse histories of culture were sampled; these included a field cultivated in vegetables under continuous conventional tillage for 59 yr, a field cultivated in field corn under continuous no-tillage for 11 yr, a 24 yr-old turfgrass research farm, a 70 yr-old forest, and a section of the forest border. Students conducted a survey of the weeds growing at the sites and separated and identified seeds from soil samples over a 3-wk period in weekly 2-h laboratory periods. Students wrote reports interpreting the data based on their knowledge of the site histories, weed life cycles, and weed seed production and longevity characteristics. The data were consistent over academic quarters as well as with published research, indicating that the survey and soil sampling techniques provided a reasonably accurate representation of the weed flora and soil seed populations. Weeds found growing at the sites were primarily summer annuals at the vegetable site, and a mix of summer and winter annuals, biennials, and perennials at the remaining sites. Annual weeds dominated the seed banks of all sites with common lambsquarters, pigweed spp., and common purslane being the most commonly found seeds. The presence of most seeds in the soil could be explained by a combination of species seed production and seed longevity characteristics and species abundance in the standing community. Interpretation of the data required students to integrate and apply lecture material and provided an excellent thinking exercise.

Shredded newspaper (2.5, 7.6, 12.7, and 17.8 cm depth), chopped newspaper (2.5 and 7.6 cm), wheat straw (15.2 cm), black plastic, and plastic landscape fabric were evaluated during 1993 and 1994 in West Virginia for their effect on soil temperature, soil moisture, weed control, and yield in tomato. Shredded newspaper and wheat straw applied at 0, 2, 4, or 6 weeks after transplanting (WAT) and napropamide (2.1 kg ai/ha) plus metribuzin (0.28 kg ai/ha) applied at transplanting were evaluated during 1992 and 1993 in North Carolina for effect on weed control and tomato yield. Results from West Virginia indicated that shredded (7.6 cm) and chopped (7.6 cm) newspaper conserved moisture similar to higher application rates of the shredded material. Higher newspaper mulching rates reduced soil temperature compared to black plastic and bare ground. Chopped newspaper controlled weeds more consistently than other treatments. At least 7.6 cm of chopped newspaper mulch was required to control weeds at least 90%. Wheat straw was not as effective in controlling weeds as 7.6 cm or greater of newspaper mulch. Chopped newspaper provided higher tomato yields than shredded newspaper applied at the same rates. Mulches applied at 0, 2, or 4 WAT resulted in weed control similar to the chemical treatment. In North Carolina, mulches applied 2 or 4 WAT resulted in tomato yields similar to the chemical treatment. Shredded and chopped newspaper have potential as a mulching material but may vary in effect in different environments and vegetable crops.

The influence of tillage, crop rotation, and weed management regimes on the weed seedbank in land previously under the conservation reserve program (CRP) for 8 yr was determined from 1994 through 1997. The study was a split-plot design with four replications, two tillage systems, two crop rotations, and three weed management treatments. Eleven weed species were recorded in 1994 and 1995, and 13 in 1996 and 1997. The weed seedbank was dominated by broadleaf species. In 1994, the first year after CRP, the seed population density in the top 15 cm of the soil profile was 51,480 seeds m−2, of which 60 and 20% were pigweed and common lambsquarters. The population density of pigweed seeds in the seedbank increased over time and reached 51,670 seeds m−2 in 1996. In contrast, the seed population density for foxtail species was only 417 seeds m−2 in 1994, but it increased to 7,820 seeds m−2 in 1997. The large increase in foxtail species seed population density in the 4-yr period was mainly in the no-herbicide weed management treatment. The weed seedbank was reduced similarly by band and broadcast herbicide treatments. Tillage and crop rotation did not influence the weed seedbank or Shannon's diversity index, nor did they interact with the weed management treatments in any of the years. The weed seedbank population density varied with the years and time of soil sampling. Weed seed population densities tended to be greater in the fall but declined significantly by time of the spring sampling. The no-herbicide treatment had a more diverse weed seedbank compared with band and broadcast herbicide weed management treatments. An average of one grass and three broadleaf weed species were identified in the three weed management treatments. Band and broadcast herbicide treatments reduced the weed seedbank population density but did not affect the number of broadleaf weed species observed.

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth has become a serious pest in parts of the Cotton Belt. Some GR cotton cultivars also contain the WideStrike™ insect resistance trait, which confers tolerance to glufosinate. Use of glufosinate-based management systems in such cultivars could be an option for managing GR Palmer amaranth. The objective of this study was to evaluate crop tolerance and weed control with glyphosate-based and glufosinate-based systems in PHY 485 WRF cotton. The North Carolina field experiment compared glyphosate and glufosinate alone and in mixtures applied twice before four- to six-leaf cotton. Additional treatments included glyphosate and glufosinate mixed with S-metolachlor or pyrithiobac applied to one- to two-leaf cotton followed by glyphosate or glufosinate alone on four- to six-leaf cotton. All treatments received a residual lay-by application. Excellent weed control was observed from all treatments on most weed species. Glyphosate was more effective than glufosinate on glyphosate-susceptible (GS) Palmer amaranth and annual grasses, while glufosinate was more effective on GR Palmer amaranth. Annual grass and GS Palmer amaranth control by glyphosate plus glufosinate was often less than control by glyphosate alone but similar to or greater than control by glufosinate alone, while mixtures were more effective than either herbicide alone on GR Palmer amaranth. Glufosinate caused minor and transient injury to the crop, but no differences in cotton yield or fiber quality were noted. This research demonstrates glufosinate can be applied early in the season to PHY 485 WRF cotton without concern for significant adverse effects on the crop. Although glufosinate is often less effective than glyphosate on GS Palmer amaranth, GR Palmer amaranth can be controlled with well-timed applications of glufosinate. Use of glufosinate in cultivars with the WideStrike trait could fill a significant void in current weed management programs for GR Palmer amaranth in cotton.

The pH and hardness of water used as agrochemical carrier can influence herbicide efficacy. The objective of this research was to determine the role of carrier water pH and hardness on saflufenacil efficacy and solubility. Saflufenacil was mixed in eight different carrier waters with one of five pH levels (4.0, 5.2, 6.5, 7.7, 9.0) or one of three hardness levels (0, 310, 620 mg L−1) and applied POST to common lambsquarters and giant ragweed in a field experiment and to field corn in a greenhouse experiment. Solubility testing was also completed on saflufenacil mixed in the five pH levels used in the field and greenhouse experiments. Water hardness did not influence the efficacy of saflufenacil on common lambsquarters, giant ragweed, or field corn. Control of giant ragweed or common lambsquarters in field experiments was reduced by up to 56% when saflufenacil was applied in water with a pH of 4.0 compared with water with a pH of 7.7. When nonsoluble saflufenacil was removed from the spray solution, saflufenacil efficacy on field corn in the greenhouse was reduced by 61% or more when applied in water with a pH of 4.0 than when applied with water with a pH of 5.2 or higher. When nonsoluble saflufenacil was applied with the soluble saflufenacil in the spray solution, at least a 7% reduction in control of field corn was observed when applied in water with pH of 4.0 as compared with saflufenacil applied in water with pH of 5.2 or higher. Solubility of saflufenacil was (1) 10.1 mg L−1 in water with a pH of 4.0, (2) 3,461.4 mg L−1 in water with a pH of 7.7, and (3) > 5,000 mg L−1 at a pH of 9. Some degradation of parent saflufenacil was detected in the pH at 9.0 treatment, with only 90% of added product being recovered after 3 d of storage. This research provides information on how saflufenacil efficacy and solubility is influenced by carrier water pH and potentially explains some differences noticed between field applications of saflufenacil.

Field experiments were conducted in grain sorghum at five locations in Kansas in 2009 and 2010, to evaluate the efficacy and crop safety of early- to mid-POST (EMPOST) and late-POST (LPOST) applications of premixed pyrasulfotole and bromoxynil (PYRA&BROM) in tank mix combinations with atrazine or atrazine plus 2,4-D ester or dicamba compared to bromoxynil plus atrazine. PYRA&BROM at 244 or 300 g ai ha−1 plus atrazine at 560 g ai ha−1 applied EMPOST controlled pigweed species (Palmer amaranth, tumble pigweed, and redroot pigweed), kochia, velvetleaf, common sunflower, ivyleaf morningglory, and common lambsquarters 93% or greater. Puncturevine control among three locations ranged from 85 to 99%. Control of most weed species was not improved by increasing PYRA&BROM rate from 244 to 300 g ha−1 or by tank mixing 2,4-D or dicamba with PYRA&BROM plus atrazine. However, ivyleaf morningglory control was improved at the LPOST timing by adding 2,4-D or dicamba at 140 g ae ha−1. In no instance did any PYRA&BROM treatment provide greater weed control than bromoxynil plus atrazine at 281 + 560 g ha−1 when applied EMPOST, but in most instances PYRA&BROM treatments were more effective than bromoxynil plus atrazine when applied LPOST. Generally, PYRA&BROM treatments were more effective when applied EMPOST than LPOST, especially when 2,4-D or dicamba was added. PYRA&BROM plus atrazine treatments caused foliar bleaching in sorghum within 7 ± 3 d after treatment, but recovery was complete within 3 to 4 wk and grain yields were not reduced. Tank mixing dicamba with PYRA&BROM and atrazine occasionally reduced visible crop response compared to PYRA&BROM plus atrazine. Our results indicate that PYRA&BROM plus atrazine with or without 2,4-D or dicamba selectively controls several troublesome broadleaf weeds in grain sorghum. Foliar bleaching of sorghum leaves can occur but the symptoms are transient, and grain yields are not likely to be reduced.