Adjuvants influence weed control and crop tolerance provided by postemergence (POST) herbicides. Adjuvant effects on weed control and corn and soybean tolerance with CGA-248757 and flumiclorac applied alone and soybean tolerance with CGA-248757 and flumiclorac applied in combination with imazethapyr or CGA-277476 were evaluated. Velvetleaf control in the greenhouse and common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, and common ragweed control in the greenhouse and field with CGA-248757 and flumiclorac were increased by the addition of an adjuvant. However, corn and soybean tolerance to these herbicides was not affected by adding an adjuvant. Laboratory studies suggest enhanced weed control from the addition of an adjuvant resulted from an increase in CGA-248757 and flumiclorac foliar absorption. In greenhouse studies, velvetleaf, common lambsquarters, and redroot pigweed control with CGA-248757 plus imazethapyr; velvetleaf control with flumiclorac plus imazethapyr; redroot pigweed and common ragweed control with CGA-248757 plus CGA-277476; and velvetleaf, redroot pigweed, and common ragweed control with flumiclorac plus CGA-277476 increased by adding an organosilicone adjuvant when compared with adding a nonionic surfactant (NIS). However, in field evaluations of CGA-248757 or flumiclorac plus imazethapyr, the addition of NIS or an organosilicone adjuvant resulted in equivalent soybean injury, common lambsquarters and redroot pigweed control, and soybean yield. Yet in tank mixtures of CGA-248757 or flumiclorac plus CGA-277476, the addition of an organosilicone adjuvant increased redroot pigweed control and soybean yield compared to adding NIS.

Field studies in 1988 and 1989 evaluated POST herbicides alone and in tank-mixtures for tropic croton control in peanut. Acifluorfen + 2,4-DB, acifluorfen + bentazon, acifluorfen + bentazon + 2,4-DB controlled > 90% of tropic croton when applied at 2 or 4 wk after crop emergence. Paraquat + bentazon controlled 55% at 2 wk and 24% at 4 wk after crop emergence. Imazethapyr and imazethapyr + 2,4-DB controlled < 24% tropic croton at either 2 or 4 wk after crop emergence. Acifluorfen + 2,4-DB, acifluorfen + bentazon, and acifluorfen + bentazon + 2,4-DB controlled at least 90% of the common lambsquarters, common ragweed, and morningglory species. Greatest yields and net returns were obtained with acifluorfen + bentazon + 2,4-DB applied 2 wk after crop emergence. Yields were higher with acifluorfen + bentazon + 2,4-DB and imazethapyr applied at 2 wk after crop emergence than at 4 wk after crop emergence. All other herbicide treatments provided equivalent yields among application timings. Only acifluorfen + 2,4-DB provided equivalent net returns at either application timing. All other herbicide treatments provided lower net returns with applications made at 4 wk than at 2 wk after crop emergence.

Field studies were conducted in 1996 and 1997 at Belleville and Pawnee, IL, to evaluate single and sequential applications of glufosinate on tolerance of glufosinate-resistant corn and annual weed control. Glufosinate caused 0 to 13% corn injury 7 days after treatment (DAT) and 0 to 6% corn injury 28 DAT. Injury was characterized as stunting with glufosinate. Glufosinate at 400 to 1,200 g ai/ha did not reduce final corn height or grain yield. At Pawnee in both years and at Belleville in 1996, a single application of glufosinate at 400 g/ha controlled giant foxtail, velvetleaf, ivyleaf morningglory, and common lambsquarters 85 to 100%. At Belleville in 1997, sequential applications of glufosinate provided greater weed control (87 to 100%) than a single application (0 to 63%) because of weed emergence after application. Weed control with a single application of glufosinate or with nicosulfuron plus bromoxynil was similar at both locations. Height and grain yield of glufosinate-resistant corn were not different from that of glufosinate-susceptible corn (isoline of glufosinate-resistant corn).

Until recently, phytopathogenic bacteria have not been considered potential biological weed control candidates because they lack the ability to penetrate intact plants. This deficiency can be overcome by providing entry wounds or using surfactants. Spray application of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis (5 × 108cells/ml) in aqueous buffer with a surfactant produced severe disease in Canada thistle, common ragweed, Jerusalem artichoke, sunflower, and certain other members of the Compositae under field conditions. Spray application of the bacterium without surfactant was ineffective on all reported hosts. Xanthomonas campestris pv. poannua controlled annual bluegrass in bermudagrass golf greens when applied by spray during mowing. The bacterium entered through mowing injuries, causing lethal, systemic wilt. Application of the bacterium to annual bluegrass in the absence of fresh mowing injuries failed to produce symptoms. Under field conditions, this previously unknown pathovar's host range was limited to a single subspecies of annual bluegrass, but inundative application to freshly mowed turf resulted in infection of diverse annual bluegrass biotypes. In field trials, six monthly applications resulted in greater than 70% control. The preceding examples are among the first attempts to use foliar phytopathogenic bacteria for biological weed control. Efficacy of these bacterial bioherbicides and of future biocontrol strategies employing bacteria is dependent on facilitated host penetration.

Several herbicides control common ragweed postemergence in soybean. However, weed response may be altered if herbicides are tank-mixed and the choice of additive may also influence the degree of weed control. Imazethapyr and thifensulfuron could be tank-mixed with bentazon for broadleaf weed control and visual crop injury reduced compared to a bentazon plus acifluorfen tank-mix. Experiments determined common ragweed control with these herbicides and herbicide combinations when applied with various additives. In the greenhouse, bentazon at 560 g ai/ha reduced common ragweed dry weight 95 to 97%. Common ragweed control with imazethapyr at 35 g/ha increased by 13 and 7% when 28% urea ammonium nitrate was applied with nonionic surfactant or petroleum oil adjuvant, respectively. Tank-mixing imazethapyr with bentazon did not change dry weight of common ragweed compared with bentazon. Bentazon plus thifensulfuron plus nonionic surfactant required the addition of 28% urea ammonium nitrate to reduce dry weight of common ragweed comparable to that with bentazon. In field research, bentazon at 1120 g/ha reduced common ragweed dry weight 78 to 81%. Tank-mixing bentazon with thifensulfuron at 4.5 g/ha or imazethapyr at 71 or 35 g/ha reduced common ragweed dry weight at 14 d after treatment by 89 to 91%, thus enhancing control compared to each herbicide applied alone. Adding 28% urea ammonium nitrate to bentazon plus imazethapyr or bentazon plus thifensulfuron tank-mixes did not increase control compared to these treatments applied with either nonionic surfactant or petroleum oil adjuvant. By 28 d after treatment only imazethapyr at 35 or 71 g/ha plus 28% urea ammonium nitrate plus nonionic surfactant or petroleum oil adjuvant and bentazon plus imazethapyr tank-mixes provided 85% or more control of common ragweed in 1991, and only imazethapyr at 71 g/ha plus 28% urea ammonium nitrate plus petroleum oil adjuvant or imazethapyr at 71 g/ha plus bentazon provided greater than 78% common ragweed control in 1992. Soybean yield was not different from the handweeded control only where bentazon plus 71 g/ha of imazethapyr or acifluorfen at 560 g/ha was applied.

The influence of weeds on crop yield is not only dependent on weed-related factors such as density and time of emergence, but also on environmental and management factors that affect both the weed and crop through time. This study was undertaken to develop the first physiologically based dry bean model that would account for the influence of weed competition. The specific objective was to develop a model that would account for the influence of weed competition on crop yield, and to use this model to test the hypothesis that crop yield losses resulted from competition for photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). To this end, a model that simulated the growth and development of dry bean was developed. The model performed daily calculations and simulated the phenology, leaf area expansion, dry matter production and distribution, and grain yield of dry bean based on weather and management information, but assumed adequate water and nutrients. The model was calibrated without weed competition at two locations and yr, and for these situations, adequately described the growth and development of the crop. Simulations were then run for five common ragweed densities and two times of emergence. Common ragweed leaf area was read into the model from input files and used to simulate weed shading. Shading of the dry bean canopy by common ragweed accounted for about 50 to 70% of the yield losses observed in field studies when weeds emerged with the crop. Weed shading did not account for the yield reduction measured from weeds that emerged at the second trifoliate stage of crop growth. The agreement between model predictions and field studies was consistent with the hypothesis that competition for PAR was a principal factor in weed-crop interaction. The ability to account for differences in weed densities, management, and environmental conditions suggested that modeling was a useful tool for evaluating the interaction among weeds and crops.

Weed management systems using a chloroacetamide herbicide applied preplant incorporated (PPI) and at cracking (AC) plus lactofen applied AC and early postemergence (POST) controlled at least 98% of common lambsquarters. Similar systems using a chloroacetamide herbicide applied PPI and early POST plus lactofen applied early POST and postemergence (POST) controlled less than 70% of common lambsquarters. All sequential lactofen systems controlled common ragweed completely and at least 86% of morningglory species. Highest peanut yields and net returns were obtained with weed management systems consisting of sequential applications of lactofen applied AC and early POST, or systems that used acifluorfen plus bentazon POST, or lactofen plus bentazon applied early POST or POST.

In 1992 and 1993, rimsulfuron alone at 17, 35, and 70 g ai/ha, and at 35 g/ha plus metribuzin at 280 g ai/ha, respectively, was evaluated PRE and POST for weed control in potato. Rimsulfuron at 35 g/ha PRE and POST controlled common lambsquarters and giant foxtail and when combined with 280 g/ha metribuzin, controlled common ragweed and jimsonweed. Rimsulfuron and rimsulfuron with metribuzin caused slight to moderate chlorosis in new terminal growth of potato but chlorosis disappeared within 3 wk. Potato height, tuber yields, and tuber quality were not affected by rimsulfuron alone or with metribuzin.

In 1987 and 1988, effects of full-season interference of individual weeds on cotton yield were measured with area of influence procedures. In 1987, one spurred anoda, common cocklebur, large crabgrass, jimsonweed, common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, common ragweed, or prickly sida plant per 3 m of row reduced cotton yield between 1% and 7%. Sicklepod did not cause a detectable yield loss. Redroot pigweed, common cocklebur and common ragweed caused 7%, 6% and 5% yield loss, respectively, in 1987. In row weed influence varied from 17 cm (large crabgrass interference) to 86 cm (common cocklebur interference). In 1988, yield losses by individual weeds ranged from 3% to 27%. Common cocklebur, jimsonweed, and common ragweed reduced cotton yields 28%, 15% and 12%, respectively. Spurred anoda and common cocklebur influenced 160 cm and 136 cm of cotton row, respectively. Sicklepod influenced only 47 cm of cotton row.

Field experiments were conducted in 1996, 1997, and 1998 to evaluate weed control and corn tolerance from soil-applied RPA 201772. Treatments alone and in tank mixtures with other corn herbicides were applied preemergence (PRE) at two locations with conventional tillage and at early preplant (EPP) and PRE application timings in no-tillage corn. RPA 201772 was applied alone and in tank mixtures with one-half the typical field rates of other PRE corn herbicides. In conventional tillage experiments in 1996, 1997, and at one location in 1998, all treatments containing RPA 201772 provided > 90% control of common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, common ragweed, and velvetleaf. In two no-tillage experiments, common lambsquarters and velvetleaf control was > 90%, regardless of application timing. However, control of redroot pigweed and common ragweed varied among years and application timings. Weed control was more variable from herbicide treatments applied EPP compared with the PRE application timing. Giant foxtail control in both tillage systems was rate, timing, and year dependent. RPA 201772 rates higher than 79 g/ha controlled giant foxtail > 85% at three of five locations. At one location, tank mixtures with RPA 201772 increased giant foxtail control. Corn injury occurred in one of two conventional tillage locations and at the no-tillage location in both 1996 and 1997. Injury was most commonly observed in coarse-textured soils with low clay and organic matter and was more severe with higher rates of RPA 201772. Increased corn injury was also observed when RPA 201772 was combined with acetochlor plus dicloramid or BAYFOE 5043 plus metribuzin. Corn injury from RPA 201772 occurred at application rates above the proposed rate for use on corn. In some cases, severe injury to corn reduced corn yield. Injury to corn from RPA 201772 was not unique to any tillage system and was site, year, and rate dependent.

Field studies were conducted over a four-year period to determine the weed control efficacy of ICIA-0051 and SC-0774 in no-tillage and conventional corn. Treatments consisted of both pre- and postemergence applications of ICIA-0051, alone and in combination with atrazine, and preemergence applications in combination with metolachlor. SC-0774 was applied preemergence, alone and in combination with atrazine. Results indicated good control of triazine-resistant (TR) smooth pigweed and other annual broadleaf weeds present with no adverse effects on crop vigor and yield with ICIA-0051. Generally, the addition of atrazine to ICIA-0051 improved weed control. SC-0774 provided good control of fall panicum, but generally poorer and less consistent control of giant ragweed, common ragweed, common lambsquarters, and ivyleaf and tall morningglory species.

A random mail survey of Ohio growers was conducted to determine the geographic distribution of weeds across Ohio and the influence of production practices on the severity of agronomic weed problems. Statewide, the ten most severe weed problems, in descending order, were Canada thistle > foxtail spp. > velvetleaf = common ragweed > common cocklebur > giant ragweed = annual morningglory spp. > quackgrass = common lambsquarters = Pennsylvania smartweed. Distribution of most weeds varied geographically. Infestations of common and honeyvine milkweeds, hemp dogbane, and tree seedlings increased as tillage was reduced. Infestations of common cocklebur and common ragweed decreased as tillage was reduced. As crop rotation became more diverse, infestations of velvetleaf, common cocklebur, giant ragweed, Pennsylvania smartweed, and jimsonweed decreased. Where rotations included forage or hay crops, infestations of large crabgrass, common chickweed, wild carrot, and common dandelion increased.

A study was conducted to evaluate the response of common and giant ragweed to postemergence applications of imazethapyr using relative growth rate parameters. The relative growth rate was the same for untreated common and giant ragweed through the 21 d harvest interval. Relative growth rates of treated common and giant ragweed were 50% lower than the relative growth rates of untreated ragweeds 21 d after treatment. Between 21 and 56 d after treatment, the relative growth rate of common ragweed declined an additional 13%, while the relative growth rate of giant ragweed declined an additional 38%. The sharp continued decline in the relative growth rate of giant ragweed indicated plant death. The moderation and slight increase in the relative growth rate of common ragweed between 21 and 56 d corresponded with the initiation of lateral axillary buds and the regeneration of plant growth. Relative growth rate parameters identified differences in the response of common and giant ragweed to imazethapyr as early as 21 d after treatment. Relative growth rate demonstrated utility by objectively measuring differences in the growth response of these two weeds that are moderately susceptible to imazethapyr under laboratory conditions.