The COVID‑19 pandemic has increased the popularity of online shopping, and companies are looking for ways to provide consumers with experiences that online shopping cannot provide, such as touching products and imagining them in use. In this context, the importance of haptic imagery of products showcased online is increasing. This study replicated and extended Peck et al.’s (2013, Journal of Consumer Psychology, 23, 189–196) finding that physical control and psychological ownership mediate the influence of haptic imagery on purchase intention. This study showed that imagining touching a product increased purchase intention through the mediation of physical control and psychological ownership compared with not imagining, conceptually replicating Peck et al.’s study. This study also examined the moderating effect of product involvement and showed that there was no moderator role of product involvement. The findings would have a practical application in marketing, such as encouraging consumers to imagine touching the product.

Yellow nutsedge is one of the most widely distributed and troublesome weeds in the world. Field and greenhouse studies were conducted to optimize strategies for increased yellow nutsedge control in turfgrass with halosulfuron and sulfentrazone. In the field study in yellow nutsedge and perennial ryegrass mixture, single or sequential applications (3 wk after initial) of halosulfuron or sulfentrazone were made on June 3, June 23, July 15, or August 5 in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. Percent yellow nutsedge control was rated within the same growing season on September 17 and the following year on June 3 for carryover control. Field and greenhouse studies confirm that sequential applications of halosulfuron with a 3-wk interval resulted in >95% control in a yellow nutsedge–turfgrass mixture. In a greenhouse study, both herbicides reduced yellow nutsedge root and rhizome dry mass from 39% to 98%, reduced number of new tubers and tuber fresh weight from 38% to 100%, and prevented re-emergence. Sequential applications of either herbicide within a 3-wk interval early postemergence is recommended for optimal control. Herbicide application to yellow nutsedge using halosulfuron and sulfentrazone should be made as early as possible postemergence, preferably at the three- to five-leaf stage or 200 to 250 growing degree days (GDD, 10 C base). Mowing can be an effective method to reduce yellow nutsedge growth. Mowing at 7.6 cm weekly reduced yellow nutsedge rhizome dry mass by 55% and number of new tubers formed by 63% in the greenhouse study. Physical removal of yellow nutsedge plants such as hand-pulling can be an effective method to manage yellow nutsedge and is most effective at the three- to five-leaf stage (200 to 250 GDD). End-users can maximize yellow nutsedge control by integrating early herbicide treatments and cultural practices such as mowing and hand-pulling.

Growers desire more techniques to control weeds in horticultural crops that are grown organically and consumed directly, such as red raspberry. Abrasive grit emited via high air pressure is a new method for controlling weeds. Grit derived from corn cobs was examined for its efficacy during the year of raspberry establishment for 2 to 3 years at three sites (seven site-years) and compared with efficacy of hand-weeding as well as no weed control. Grit was applied once or twice weekly after raspberry transplantation in spring until weed emergence ceased in mid to late July. Weeds and raspberry growth were assessed in August. Grit was effective in controlling broadleaf weeds, averaging 94% control across site-years, but control of grass weeds was less than 10%. Total weed (broadleaf plus grass) control across site-years ranged from 51% to 96% and averaged 78%. Raspberry cane growth was affected by weeds, and grit-weeding at least partially alleviated these effects. Thus, abrasive grit allows growers to manage broadleaf weeds effectively without herbicides or soil tillage. However, additional research is needed to determine the correct amounts and timing of grit applications, as well as more efficacious types of grit, to control grass weeds.

We conducted a large-scale, multiple-year study in harvested areas of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirbel] Franco) forests in western Washington, examining the effectiveness of control methods on the widespread invasive shrub Scotch broom [Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link]. We tested both chemical and physical control methods, using three different approaches that are management relevant: (1) triclopyr, a POST herbicide, at different times of year and on different-sized plants; (2) cutting (or brushcutting) of mature individuals; and (3) scarification of soil surface to remove seedlings once versus multiple times. We measured initial mortality, seed germination, and percent cover of C. scoparius in plots for 3 yr following treatments. Triclopyr treatment resulted in greater mortality and reduced percent cover compared with all other treatments with the effect persisting for 2 yr after spraying. Further, triclopyr had the same effect on C. scoparius cover and mortality irrespective of time of year applied. Similar to soil scarification, triclopyr treatments resulted in a flush of seedlings, suggesting that removal of conspecific competitors and not soil disturbance per se promotes seed germination. Brushcutting was generally effective in reducing C. scoparius cover in the short term, but effects did not persist as long as triclopyr treatments, in part due to large differences in stump resprouting rates across sites. Soil scarification to remove seedlings, even over multiple years, did not result in reduced C. scoparius cover. Triclopyr is an effective approach for controlling both emerging and established stands of C. scoparius.

The Harrington Seed Destructor (HSD), a novel weed control technology, has been highly effective in Australian cropping systems. To investigate its applicability to conditions in western Canada, stationary threshing was conducted to determine the impact of weed species, seed size, seed number, chaff load, and chaff type on efficacy of seed destruction. Control varied depending on species, with a range of 97.7% to 99.8%. Sieve-sized volunteer canola seed had a linear relationship of increasing control with increasing 1,000-seed weight. However, with greater than 98% control across all tested seed weights, it is unlikely that seed size alone will significantly influence control. Consistently high levels of control were observed at all tested seed densities (10 seeds to 1 million seeds). The response of weed seed control to chaff load was quadratic, but a narrow range of consistently high control (>97%) was again observed. Chaff type had a significant effect on weed seed control (98% to 98.6%); however, seed control values in canola chaff were likely confounded by a background presence of volunteer canola. Overall, the five parameters studied statistically influence control of weed seeds with the HSD. However, small differences between treatments are unlikely to affect the biological impact of the machine, which provides high levels of control for those weed seeds that can be introduced into the harvester.

Novel forms of selective weed control are needed by many types of growers, but especially by organic growers who are restricted from using synthetic herbicides. Abrasive grit made from corn cobs was expelled from a sand blaster at 517 kPa pressure and aimed at plants of common lambsquarters and corn positioned 300 mm distant. Most small weed plants were killed by one split-second blast of grit, but corn plants suffered little damage by the same treatment. Air-propelled grit made from agricultural residues possibly could be used for selective nonchemical weed control without the need for soil tillage.

Control options for the nonnative common mullein are of increasing interest to land managers in the west. Common mullein is a prolific seed producer, with a single plant able to produce well over 100,000 seeds. We found that mechanical control of common mullein before mature seed capsules developed along the raceme significantly reduced viable seed production. Seeds from immature capsules had very low viability (early reproductive stage = 0.08%, 95% CI = 0.06%, 0.67%; mid reproductive stage = 1.52%, 95% CI = 0.49%, 3.11%). This information allows managers to time their management efforts so that they can reduce the amount of plant material that must be disposed of in order to control the spread of common mullein seeds.

Subterranean turions (tubers) of hydrilla lose viability when desiccated. Experimental data showed that freshly collected tubers had a moisture content between 50 and 60% and more than 90% viability. When desiccated, there was an approximate 2% increase in tuber mortality with each percent decline in moisture content. However under field conditions, the tuber bank within the exposed sediments of a northern Texas reservoir showed no decline in number or tuber viability throughout a 12-mo continuous drawdown. Apparently, the buried tubers were never subject to sufficient dessication to damage them. Finally, an experimental pond with an extensive hydrilla tuber bank was manipulated through six flood/drawdown cycles to determine the effects of short-term drawdowns on tuber survival and quiescence. Initially, the pond had a tuber bank of about 676 and 305 tubers m−2 in the shallow and deep zones, respectively. Although the tuber number was reduced to fewer than 15 to 30 tubers m−2 by these repetitive drawdowns, hydrilla tubers were not eradicated from the pond.