Preemergence herbicides associated with cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop (hereafter “cereal rye”) can be an effective waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) Sauer.] and Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) management strategy in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production. Delaying cereal rye termination until soybean planting (planting green) optimizes biomass production and weed suppression but might further impact the fate of preemergence herbicides. Limited research is available on the fate of preemergence herbicides applied over living cereal rye in the planting green system. Field experiments were conducted in Illinois, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to evaluate the fate of flumioxazin and pyroxasulfone and Amaranthus spp. residual control under different cover crop management practices in soybean in 2021 and 2022 (8 site-years). A flumioxazin + pyroxasulfone herbicide premix was applied preemergence at soybean planting under no-till without cereal rye, cereal rye early terminated before soybean planting, and cereal rye terminated at soybean planting. Flumioxazin and pyroxasulfone concentrations in the soil were quantified at 0, 7, and 21 d after treatment (DAT), and Amaranthus spp. density was determined at postemergence herbicide application. The presence of cereal rye biomass intercepted flumioxazin and pyroxasulfone at preemergence application and reduced concentration in the soil when compared with no-till, mainly at 0 DAT. Main differences in herbicide concentration were observed between no-till and cereal rye treatments rather than cereal rye termination times. Despite reducing herbicide concentration in the soil, the presence of the cereal rye biomass did not affect early-season residual Amaranthus spp. control. The adoption of effective preemergence herbicides associated with a properly managed cereal rye cover crop is an effective option for integrated Amaranthus spp. management programs in soybean production systems.

Resistance to penoxsulam among barnyardgrass populations is prevalent in rice fields in China. Seeds of penoxsulam-resistant (AXXZ-2) and penoxsulam-susceptible (JLGY-3) barnyardgrass populations, as well as the seeds of two rice varieties, including Wuyungeng32 (WY) and Liangyou669 (LY), were planted in plastic pots and then treated with a rate titration of acetochlor, anilofos, butachlor, clomazone, oxadiazon, pendimethalin, pretilachlor, pyraclonil, or thiobencarb. The two barnyardgrass populations exhibited similar susceptibility to acetochlor, anilofos, butachlor, oxadiazon, pretilachlor, or pyraclonil. However, the susceptibility differed between the barnyardgrass populations in response to clomazone, pendimethalin, and thiobencarb. For AXXZ-2, herbicide rates that caused 50% reduction in shoot biomass from the nontreated control (GR50) were 179, >800, and 1,798 g ha−1 for clomazone, pendimethalin, and thiobencarb, respectively; whereas JLGY-3 GR50 values were 61, 166, and 552 g ha−1, respectively. Both rice varieties demonstrated excellent tolerance to acetochlor, butachlor, oxadiazon, pretilachlor, and thiobencarb. However, substantial rice damage was observed when anilofos and clomazone were used. Anilofos at 352 g ha−1 and clomazone at 448 g ha−1 reduced rice shoot biomass by 41% and 50% from the nontreated, respectively. Averaged across herbicide rates, clomazone use resulted in a reduction in rice shoot biomass from that of the nontreated control by 52% and 34% for WY and LY, respectively; and pendimethalin use resulted in a reduction in rice shoot biomass from the nontreated control by 25% and 9% for WY and LY, respectively.

Wettable powder and granular formulations of pronamide [3,5-dichloro(N-1,1-dimethyl-2-propynyl)benzamide], applied at 1.7 kg/ha to the soil surface or incorporated to depths of 1.3 to 7.5 cm, controlled dodder (Cuscuta indecora Choisy and C. campestris Yunck.) completely in the greenhouse for periods of 6 to 16 weeks. Seedlings emerged in pronamide-treated soil, but did not elongate normally and did not twine. Pronamide had very little activity as a vapor. In the field, the same rate applied to the soil surface and sprinkler irrigated or mechanically incorporated with the soil usually controlled dodder for about 1 month longer than did the standard herbicide, chlorpropham (isopropyl m-chlorocarbanilate) at 6.7 kg/ha. Pronamide at 6.7 kg/ha did not injure established alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.).

Experiments were conducted from 1987 through 1989 to determine the most effective and consistent control of velvetleaf in cotton with soil-applied herbicides. Norflurazon was applied at 1.1 or 1.7 kg ha-1 either preplant (PPI) or preemergence (PRE) or by splitting these rates and applying half PPI and the other half PRE. All methods of norflurazon application were compared with and without a PRE application of diuron at 1.1 kg ha-1. The most consistent control was achieved with PPI norflurazon at either 1.1 or 1.7 kg ha-1 followed by diuron. In 1988, crop injury at 2 wk varied and was 29% or greater for preemergence norflurazon tank-mixed with diuron.

Field studies were conducted in 1998 and 1999 at two Illinois locations to compare flumioxazin and pendimethalin for preemergence (PRE) weed control and determine the benefit of these herbicides when followed by (fb) postemergence (POST) herbicides, glyphosate, imazethapyr, and imazamox. In early weed control ratings taken before POST applications, flumioxazin alone at 105 g ai/ha or pendimethalin alone at 1,120 g ai/ha resulted in less than 80% control of giant foxtail, but controlled common lambsquarters at least 85% in all experiments. Control of large-seeded broadleaf weeds with flumioxazin or pendimethalin varied greatly between experiments. At Urbana in 1998, where moisture was adequate before and after PRE applications, flumioxazin controlled velvetleaf, common cocklebur, and ivyleaf morningglory at least 90%. With the latter two species, control decreased in the subsequent year, probably because of the reduced precipitation after the PRE applications. Sequential applications including a PRE herbicide provided control up to 25% greater than did POST only treatments. At Dekalb in both years and Urbana in 1998, soybean yields were greater with most treatments containing a PRE fb POST application than with the treatments containing only POST applications.

Research was conducted to evaluate residual activity of herbicides applied postemergence (POST) and preemergence (PRE) for red morningglory control. Atrazine at 2.24 kg ai/ha controlled 30- to 60-cm red morningglory 78% 10 d after treatment (DAT) but control was greater for carfentrazone at 0.035 kg ai/ha, diuron plus hexazinone at 1.57 + 0.44 kg ai/ha, flumioxazin at 0.14 kg ai/ha, and sulfentrazone at 0.32 kg ai/ha (88 to 93%). At 28 DAT control with diuron plus hexazinone, flumioxazin, and sulfentrazone, reflective of both the initial POST control and soil residual activity, was equivalent to that of atrazine at 3.36 kg/ha (92%), but control was 34 to 66% with carfentrazone at 0.009, 0.018, and 0.026 kg/ha, hexazinone at 0.56 kg/ha, pyraflufen at 0.007 and 0.015 kg ai/ha, and trifloxysulfuron at 0.016 kg ai/ha. In another study to evaluate residual control with soil-applied herbicides, red morningglory was controlled at least 87% 35 DAT with atrazine at 2.24 kg/ha, diuron plus hexazinone at 1.57 + 0.44 kg/ha, flumioxazin at 0.14 kg/ha, sulfentrazone at 0.16 kg/ha, and metribuzin at 1.68 kg ai/ha. Control 35 DAT was 78% for atrazine at 1.12 kg/ha, 84% for diuron plus hexazinone at 1.05 + 0.30 kg/ha, and 63% for flumioxazin at 0.07 kg/ha. By 49 DAT only sulfentrazone controlled red morningglory 80% or more and by 63 DAT, control with sulfentrazone at rates of 0.21 kg/ha and higher was 83 to 88%. At 77 DAT sulfentrazone at 0.21 kg/ha controlled red morningglory 78% and no other herbicide treatment provided more than 46% control. In another study red morningglory control did not change from 49 to 63 DAT when sulfentrazone at 0.28 to 0.42 kg/ha was applied PRE following trifluralin preplant incorporated (PPI), but control decreased from 49 to 63 DAT when sulfentrazone was incorporated with trifluralin.

Management of Italian ryegrass in cereal-based cropping systems continues to be a major production constraint in areas of the United States, including the soft white winter wheat producing regions of the Pacific Northwest. Pyroxasulfone is a soil-applied herbicide with the potential to control broadleaf and grass weed species, including grass weed biotypes resistant to group 1, 2, and 7 herbicides, in several crops for which registration has been completed or is pending, including wheat, corn, sunflower, dry bean, and soybean. Field experiments were conducted from 2006 through 2009 near Corvallis, OR, to evaluate the potential for Italian ryegrass control in winter wheat with applications of pyroxasulfone. Application rates of PRE treatments ranged from 0.05 to 0.15 kg ai ha−1. All treatments were compared to standard Italian ryegrass soil-applied herbicides used in winter wheat, including diuron, flufenacet, and flufenacet + metribuzin. Visual evaluations of Italian ryegrass and ivyleaf speedwell control and winter wheat injury were made at regular intervals following applications. Winter wheat yields were quantified at grain maturity. Ivyleaf speedwell control was variable, and Italian ryegrass control following pyroxasulfone applications ranged from 65 to 100% and was equal to control achieved with flufenacet and flufenacet + metribuzin treatments and greater than that achieved with diuron applications. Winter wheat injury from pyroxasulfone ranged from 0 to 8% and was most associated with the 0.15–kg ha−1 application rate. However, this early-season injury did not negatively impact winter wheat yield. Pyroxasulfone applied at the application rates and timings in these studies resulted in high levels of activity on Italian ryegrass and excellent winter wheat safety. Based on the results, pyroxasulfone has the potential to be used as a soil-applied herbicide in winter wheat for Italian ryegrass management and its utility for management of other important grass and broadleaf weeds of cereal-based cropping systems should be evaluated.

Field trials were conducted in 2003/2004 and 2005/2006 at Reidsville, Georgia, to evaluate the effects of previously applied residual herbicides on onion growth and bulb production. Before transplanting onion, preplant applications of imazapic at 18 and 36 g ai/ha, diclosulam at 7 and 14 g ai/ha, pyrithiobac at 27 and 54 g ai/ha, trifloxysulfuron at 6.6 and 13.2 g ai/ha, diuron at 224 and 448 g ai/ha, and cloransulam at 22 g ai/ha were made. An untreated control was included for comparison. Trifloxysulfuron at 13.2 g/ha, diclosulam at 14 g/ha, pyrithiobac at 54 g/ha, and cloransulam at 22 g/ha injured onion 26, 73, 86, and 86% in 2003/2004, respectively, and 13 to 44% injury in 2005/2006. These same herbicides also reduced yield. Imazapic and diuron injured transplanted onion 6% during both seasons but did not reduce yield. This research suggests imazapic and diuron restrictions could possibly be reduced. However, the onion rotational restrictions for diclosulam, pyrithiobac, trifloxysulfuron, and cloransulam are accurate.

Weed management strategies are needed to control weeds in corn that emerge after postemergence (POST) application of glyphosate or glufosinate. Field trials were conducted from 1996 to 1999 to determine if residual herbicides could be used with glyphosate or glufosinate to provide season-long weed control in glyphosate-resistant or glufosinate-resistant corn. Preemergence (PRE) applications of several residual herbicides followed by POST applications of glyphosate or glufosinate were compared with POST tank mixtures of glyphosate or glufosinate with residual herbicides. All residual herbicides used in combination with glyphosate, when compared with glyphosate alone, increased control of redroot pigweed and common lambsquarters by an average of 20% and resulted in a 4 to 19% increase in control of giant foxtail. Each residual herbicide tank mixture with glufosinate, when compared with glufosinate alone, increased control of common ragweed and giant foxtail. In most instances, weed control was similar for total POST and for PRE followed by POST systems. Velvetleaf control was reduced by 12% when glyphosate was tank mixed with a half rate of atrazine compared with a full rate of atrazine. Common lambsquarters control was reduced by 13% when glyphosate was tank mixed with a half vs. a full rate of acetochlor. Glufosinate tank mixed with half rates of acetochlor + atrazine, flumetsulam, or pendimethalin reduced control of velvetleaf compared with the full rate of these products. Corn yields were not affected by residual herbicide application timings or rates of residual herbicides.

Field studies were conducted from 1997 to 1999 to evaluate the influence of weed competition and herbicides on glyphosate-resistant soybean at the Belleville Research Center at Belleville, IL. Season-long weed competition did not delay maturity or reduce soybean population. However, season-long weed competition reduced soybean height by 10% and grain yield by 68%. Competition from weeds 30 cm in height or less did not increase days to maturity or reduce plant population, height, or grain yield. Chlorimuron plus thifensulfuron caused 6% height reduction at 21 d after treatment. Despite the injury from herbicides, none increased days to maturity or reduced plant height, population, or grain yield of soybean. The soil-applied herbicides alachlor, imazaquin, and pendimethalin and the postemergence herbicides acifluorfen, bentazon, chlorimuron, imazethapyr, and thifensulfuron did not reduce yield of glyphosate-resistant soybean.