A study was conducted in 1995 and 1996 to determine the effect of soybean planting date, tillage level, and glyphosate application on sicklepod control and seed production. Soybean was planted in April, May, June, and July into conventional and no-till seedbeds. Herbicide programs evaluated were metribuzin plus chlorimuron preemergence (PRE) followed by (fb) chlorimuron postemergence (POST) (standard program [STD]), metribuzin plus chlorimuron PRE fb glyphosate POST as-needed, and glyphosate POST as-needed. Control was similar across planting dates in both years with slight variations due to weather. The July planting date had the lowest total sicklepod seed production over the 2-yr study. Sicklepod control was better in conventional tillage, but soybean yields were greater in no-till. Herbicide programs that included glyphosate provided greater sicklepod control, lower sicklepod seed production, and higher soybean yields than the STD. Use of glyphosate in combination with later planting dates, especially July, has the potential to prevent sicklepod seed accumulation in the soil while maintaining yields in a dryland soybean production system.

Experiments were conducted to determine peanut tolerance to CGA-362622 applied preemergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) and to determine the potential for CGA-362622 applied PRE and POST to cotton to injure peanut grown in rotation the following year. CGA-362622 at 3.75 and 7.5 g ai/ha applied PRE visually injured peanut 11 and 16%, respectively, at 5 wk after treatment (WAT) but did not influence peanut yield. POST treatments at 3.75 and 7.5 g/ha injured peanut 63 and 93%, respectively, at 4 WAT and reduced peanut stand by 53 and 89% at 11 WAT, respectively. Peanut pod yield was reduced 73.1 and 97.9% by CGA-362622 POST at 3.75 and 7.5 g/ha, respectively, compared with the untreated weed-free control. CGA-362622 PRE at 3.75 and 7.5 g/ha reduced peanut pod yield 7.5 and 12.6%, respectively. Cotton was injured 9% or less by CGA-362622 PRE or POST at 3.75 or 7.5 g/ha and up to 25% with CGA-362622 POST at 15 g/ha. However, CGA-362622 did not influence weed-free cotton lint yields, regardless of method or rate of application. Peanuts grown in rotation were not injured, and yields were not influenced by CGA-362622 applied PRE or POST the previous year to cotton.

The effect of spurred anoda competition in narrow- (35 cm) and wide-row (70 cm) soybean was studied in field experiments for 2 yr. Vigorous early soybean growth in narrow- compared with wide-row soybean resulted in lower radiation transmitted through the canopy, which can partially account for greater competitiveness of narrow-row than wide-row soybean. Soybean plant height was not significantly influenced by the row spacing. Relative yield total (RYT), which is the relationship between yield in mixtures and in monocultures of the crop or the weed and indicates resource complementarity, was equal to 1 with 12 spurred anoda/m2 in the year with less precipitation. Regardless of the row spacing, spurred anoda gave resource use complementarity with the crop (RYT > 1) in all other treatments; therefore, partial avoidance of competition in mixed species was evident. Soybean aggressivity, which takes into account the effect of competition on both the crop and the weed and indicates competitive ability, decreased with weed density in both row spacings. Soybean yield loss at harvest was linearly related to relative dry weight 40 d after planting. Weed-free narrow- and wide-row soybean produced similar yields. In the presence of the spurred anoda, soybean yield was greater in narrow-row compared with wide-row soybean only in the most humid year. A management system that uses quick canopy closure with narrow-row soybean can provide excellent soybean yield and suppression of low spurred anoda densities.

Field research was conducted during 3 yr to evaluate response of rice and corn to simulated drift rates representing 12.5, 6.3, 3.2, 1.6, and 0.8% of the usage rates of 1,120 g ai/ha glyphosate (140, 70, 35, 18, and 9 g/ha, respectively) and 420 g ai/ha glufosinate (53, 26, 13, and 4 g/ha, respectively). Early-postemergence applications were made to two- to three-leaf rice and six-leaf corn, and late-postemergence applications to rice at panicle differentiation and to corn at nine-leaf stage (1 wk before tasseling). Crop injury was generally greater for the two highest rates of both herbicides when applied early. Little to no reduction in rice or corn height was observed with glufosinate. Glyphosate consistently reduced rice plant height when the two highest rates were applied early, and heading was delayed 2 to 5 d. In 2 of 3 yr, the highest rate of glyphosate reduced rice yield 99 and 67% when applied early and 54 and 29% when applied late. Germination of rice seeds from glyphosate-treated plants was reduced in 1 of 2 yr and for only the highest rate. For glufosinate, rice yield was reduced 30% and in only one year when applied late at the highest rate. Early application of glyphosate reduced corn yield an average of 22 to 78% for the three highest rates, but only for the highest rate at the late timing (33%). Corn yield was reduced an average of 13 and 11% for the highest rate of glufosinate at the early and late timings, respectively. In greenhouse studies, five rice varieties were equally sensitive, as were five corn varieties, to reduced rates of glyphosate and glufosinate.

Field studies were conducted from 1996 through 1998 to evaluate control of broadleaf signalgrass and slender amaranth by clethodim, fluazifop-P-butyl, and fluazifop-P-butyl plus fenoxaprop-P-ethyl applied alone, in combination with pyrithiobac, or sequentially with pyrithiobac. Broadleaf signalgrass control with graminicides alone was 75 to 100%. Although broadleaf signalgrass control with clethodim was not reduced by pyrithiobac, control with fluazifop-P-butyl and fluazifop-P-butyl plus fenoxaprop-P-ethyl was reduced by pyrithiobac. Pyrithiobac controlled slender amaranth 85 to 100% when applied alone. However, slender amaranth control by pyrithiobac was inconsistent when pyrithiobac was applied in mixture or sequentially with graminicides. A reduction in slender amaranth control may have resulted from a combination of reduced graminicide efficacy and interference caused by broadleaf signalgrass with slender amaranth (pyrithiobac alone). Cotton yields were highest when pyrithiobac was applied 24 h after graminicides.

A survey of 174 fields was conducted during August and September of 1998 to investigate effects of cultural and herbicide practices on postharvest weed control in winter wheat stubble fields across western and southern Nebraska. Seventy-four percent of the fields were seeded at rates of 67 to 100 kg/ha, with 60% of the wheat seeded in rows spaced 25 cm apart. Wheat seeded in east–west rows contained 98% more stinkgrass and 82% more tumble pigweed than wheat seeded in north–south rows. Sixty-nine percent of winter wheat stubble fields were rated excellent for weed control. Postharvest weed control with herbicides was not affected by row spacing. In western Nebraska, density of tumble pigweed and Russian thistle was greater when wheat seeding rate was 50 kg/ha than at higher seeding rates. Short-stature winter wheat cultivars had greater densities of Pennsylvania smartweed and toothed spurge than taller cultivars. The most common winter wheat cultivars were ‘Arapahoe’ (34%) and ‘Alliance’ (17%). Weed control was positively correlated with number of winter wheat stems per square meter (r = 0.22∗∗). Density of several weed species was greater in fields seeded with a disk than with a hoe drill. The most common crop rotations sampled were winter wheat–corn–fallow (50%), winter wheat–fallow (18%), and winter wheat–corn–soybean (13%). Winter wheat yields and wheat stem densities were greater and weed density was less when winter wheat was seeded after an 11- to 14-mo fallow period rather than a 0- to 5-mo period.

A survey of 174 fields was conducted to investigate performance of herbicides applied after winter wheat harvest on weeds across western and southern Nebraska during August and September 1998. Glyphosate plus 2,4-D plus atrazine was applied on 32%, glyphosate plus 2,4-D or dicamba on 24%, paraquat plus atrazine on 23%, glyphosate on 8%, ICIA0224 plus 2,4-D or atrazine on 10%, and atrazine plus 2,4-D on 3% of the fields. These treatments controlled 85 to 100% of the weeds except atrazine plus 2,4-D, which controlled 30%. The frequency of occurrence of the most prevalent summer annual grasses was as follows: green foxtail, 65%; barnyardgrass, 46%; stinkgrass, 41%; witchgrass, 39%; and longspine sandbur, 36%. The most common broadleaf weeds and their frequency were redroot pigweed, 32%; tumble pigweed, 30%; tall waterhemp, 28%; and kochia, 25%. Virginia groundcherry, 22%; common milkweed, 11%; yellow woodsorrel, 9%; and field bindweed, 6% were the most common perennial weeds. The five most difficult weeds to control were yellow nutsedge, spotted spurge, Virginia groundcherry, common milkweed, and toothed spurge, with control ratings of 0, 3, 17, 26, and 33%, respectively. These weeds were not controlled with glyphosate or mixtures containing glyphosate. Only 35% of the fields were treated before summer annual grasses had headed. Late applications required higher herbicides rates for effective control.

Five field studies on sandy soils with ≤ 1% organic matter in south Texas showed that halosulfuron at 0.066 kg/ha preemergence (PRE) controlled ≥ 92% purple nutsedge and at 0.066 kg/ha postemergence (POST) controlled purple nutsedge 77 to 95%. Sulfentrazone at 0.11 to 0.28 kg/ha PRE or POST controlled purple nutsedge < 65% at one location but > 75% at two other locations. Poor control at the one location may have been due to a lack of early-season rainfall or irrigation. Potatoes were stunted 5 to 26% with halosulfuron PRE, whereas POST treatments caused 7 to 40% stunting. Sulfentrazone at 0.11 to 0.28 kg/ha applied PRE or POST caused 2 to 38% stunting. ‘Atlantic’ potato stunting with sulfentrazone POST at 0.14 to 0.28 kg/ha was ≥ 20%, whereas ‘Snowden’ and ‘1625’ potatoes were stunted ≤ 20%. Potato yields were reduced 65 and 39% with sulfentrazone and halosulfuron POST, respectively, at the high rates, but yield reductions occurred with all POST treatments on Atlantic potatoes 10- to 20-cm tall. Halosulfuron PRE at 0.033 kg/ha and sulfentrazone PRE at 0.14 kg/ha did not reduce yields; however, all other treatments of halosulfuron and sulfentrazone reduced potato yields.

Preharvest applications of glyphosate can be useful in controlling perennial weeds. Experiments were conducted from 1996 to 1999 to determine whether preharvest glyphosate applications are affected by differences in the amount of soybean canopy present at the time of application by measuring spray deposition and subsequently horsenettle or Canada thistle control. Soybean leaf interference levels were achieved by use of three soybean cultivars with different maturity groups to achieve no leaf interference, moderate leaf interference, and maximum leaf interference, and soybean was planted in three row spacings ranging from 19 to 76 cm. As soybean leaf interference increased, spray coverage of spray deposition cards decreased. There was a similar trend for relative spray volume, determined by intensity of the color change with water-sensitive cards. Row spacing did not influence spray coverage or relative spray volume. Percent change in horsenettle or Canada thistle stems from fall to spring counts was inconsistent. Differences detected in spray coverage did not influence weed control or weed stem density the following spring.

Studies were conducted in 1999, 2000, and 2001 to evaluate broadleaf weed control in cotton with postemergence applications of bromoxynil and bromoxynil plus CGA 362622. Bromoxynil was applied at 280 and 560 g ai/ha, and CGA 362622 was applied at 0, 3.8, and 7.5 g ai/ha in a factorial treatment arrangement. Cotton injury 7 d after treatment (DAT) during the 3 yr was 11 to 35% with the herbicide mixtures, but injury did not exceed 2% 28 DAT when averaged over years. CGA 362622 plus bromoxynil controlled velvetleaf, smooth pigweed, common ragweed, and common cocklebur at least 77% 28 DAT. Control of morningglory species was at least 87% with herbicide combinations, except in 2001 when control was only 60% with 280 g/ha bromoxynil plus 3.8 g/ha CGA 362622. Bromoxynil also controlled jimsonweed, but CGA 362622 did not. Spurred anoda control pooled over years did not exceed 53% with bromoxynil or bromoxynil plus CGA 362622 mixtures. Cotton yields generally reflected the level of weed control from the herbicide treatments. In these studies, mixtures of CGA 362622 with bromoxynil controlled several broadleaf weeds better than did either herbicide alone.

Field experiments were conducted in 2000 and 2001 in Virginia to evaluate the incidence and severity of maize chlorotic dwarf virus and maize dwarf mosaic virus in response to postemergence (POST) johnsongrass control in two corn hybrids. Previous research demonstrated the increased disease severity in virus-susceptible corn hybrids as an indirect effect of POST johnsongrass control. The increased disease severity resulted from greater transmission by insect vectors, which moved from dying johnsongrass to the crop. Recent observations have indicated a lack of virus tolerance in glyphosate-tolerant corn hybrids commercially available in Virginia. A transgenic glyphosate-tolerant hybrid and a nontransgenic virus-tolerant hybrid, similar in growth characteristics and maturity, were subjected to POST treatments of nicosulfuron, whereas the glyphosate-tolerant hybrid was also treated with glyphosate. Both nicosulfuron and glyphosate, broadcast or directed, provided essentially complete johnsongrass control, although initial johnsongrass control was greater with glyphosate treatments. Little or no disease incidence occurred in the virus-tolerant hybrid. With the virus-susceptible hybrid, significant increases in disease incidence were observed in response to any herbicide treatment applied to johnsongrass-containing plots relative to the same treatment applied to weed-free plots. Johnsongrass control with nicosulfuron or glyphosate caused similar disease incidence and severity in this hybrid, regardless of application method. Results of these experiments indicated that growers' choice of hybrid genetics should focus primarily on disease resistance rather than on herbicide resistance in fields that are infested with johnsongrass.

The potential weediness of hybrid bermudagrass cultivars in nontarget areas is an important factor when considering the development of herbicide-resistant cultivars. Field studies evaluated the response of common bermudagrass, hexaploid hybrid ‘Tifton-10’, and two triploid hybrid bermudagrass cultivars (‘TifEagle’ and ‘TifSport’) to clethodim, fluazifop-p, glufosinate, glyphosate, and quizalofop-p. Glyphosate was more consistent than clethodim and clethodim plus glyphosate in controlling common bermudagrass. The triploid cultivars were equally sensitive to each of these treatments, whereas Tifton-10 control was highest with treatments that included glyphosate. Variability between years in control of common bermudagrass was attributed to differences in plant size at application, with greater control of smaller plants. All herbicides reduced common bermudagrass plant diameters ≥ 93% in 1999 when grown without a crop. However, in 2001, only herbicide treatments that included two applications of 1.1 kg ai/ha glyphosate reduced plant diameters 6 to 59%. None of the other treatments reduced common bermudagrass plant diameters compared with pretreatment values. When grown with cotton, fluazifop-p and 4.5 kg/ha glyphosate were the only treatments consistent across cultivars and years. All herbicide treatments reduced triploid hybrid bermudagrass plant diameters ≥ 90%, whereas Tifton-10 plant diameters were reduced > 86% by all treatments, with the exception of clethodim. As in the non-cropland study, common bermudagrass plant diameters were reduced ≥ 97% by herbicides in 1999, whereas in 2001, only fluazifop-p and glyphosate treatments reduced plant diameters compared with the nontreated control. Both the lack of aggressiveness and susceptibility to common herbicides of the triploid hybrid cultivars relative to common bermudagrass indicates that these non–pollen-producing or -receiving cultivars are reasonable candidates for the introduction of herbicide resistance.

Field studies were conducted during the 2000 to 2001 growing seasons to evaluate winter annual weed control and crop tolerance with fall-applied herbicides in corn at Belleville, IL. Atrazine, simazine, and rimsulfuron plus thifensulfuron applied in the fall controlled mouseear chickweed, henbit, and Carolina foxtail 93% or greater at planting the following spring. Flumetsulam controlled mouseear chickweed and henbit 98 and 93%, respectively, at planting. Metribuzin controlled mouseear chickweed and henbit 100 and 97%, respectively. CGA-152005 controlled mouseear chickweed, henbit, and wild garlic 93 to 100%. CGA-152005 provided the greatest control of wild garlic, with control ranging from 94 to 100% at planting. CGA-152005 plus simazine controlled 99 to 100% of all winter annual weeds evaluated. Reducing winter annual weed vegetation did not increase soil temperatures at 5-cm depth in May. CGA-152005 caused discoloration and height reduction of corn. CGA-152005 at the highest rate (60 g ai/ha) reduced corn plant height by 7% and grain yield by 8%.

Studies examined the effect of herbicides on the quality and root strength of winter-installed tall fescue and hybrid bermudagrass sod. Sod was installed in February and treated approximately 30 to 45 d after installation with a variety of preemergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) herbicides. Tall fescue quality was not affected by any herbicide treatment in 2000 or 2001. Root strength reduction occurred only in 2001 by dithiopyr applied PRE at 2.5 kg ai/ha, which is 4.5 times the maximum use rate. No other herbicides decreased tall fescue root strength in either year. Bermudagrass quality was decreased by triclopyr plus clopyralid applied POST, which resulted in 22 and 6% injury 42 d after initial treatment (DAIT) in 2000 and 2001, respectively. However, POST herbicides did not affect bermudagrass root strength in either year. PRE herbicide treatments did not reduce root development in bermudagrass in 2000. However, dithiopyr applied at 0.84 and 2.5 kg/ha reduced bermudagrass rooting by 59 and 70%, 60 DAIT, in 2001. Pendimethalin reduced root development of bermudagrass by 62% when applied at 10.2 kg/ha, three times the maximum use rate, in 2001. However, by 120 DAIT, only dithiopyr applied at 2.5 kg/ha decreased bermudagrass root development.

Experiments were conducted at two locations in Texas during 2000 and 2001 to compare barnyardgrass, broadleaf signalgrass, and red rice control; rice tolerance; and grain yield after single and sequential applications of imazethapyr in imidazolinone-tolerant rice. Red rice and barnyardgrass control on a clay soil at Beaumont was at least 94% with imazethapyr at 70, 90, and 100 g ai/ha applied preplant incorporated (PPI) or preemergence (PRE) followed by (fb) at least 40 g/ha of imazethapyr applied early postemergence (EPOST). Broadleaf signalgrass control on a very fine sandy loam soil at Eagle Lake was at least 86% when imazethapyr was applied PPI or PRE fb EPOST applications of imazethapyr. Sequential postemergence applications at Beaumont resulted in at least 95% red rice and barnyardgrass control when 40 g/ha applied late postemergence followed any EPOST application. Sequential postemergence applications at Eagle Lake controlled broadleaf signalgrass 98% during both years. Imazethapyr applied postemergence injured rice 0 to 34% up to 12 d after treatment. Rice yield reductions were correlated to weed control and most likely were not associated with early-season rice injury.

Field experiments were conducted in Virginia in 2000 and 2001 to determine the response of wheat and Italian ryegrass biotypes to postemergence applications of diclofop-methyl compared with several experimental and registered herbicides. Control of diclofop-methyl–sensitive Italian ryegrass by AE F130060 03 was similar to control by diclofop-methyl and was greater than that by chlorsulfuron plus metsulfuron, chlorsulfuron plus metribuzin, MON 37560, ICIA 0604, and CGA 184927. AE F130060 03 also controlled diclofop-methyl–resistant Italian ryegrass better than the other herbicides. Late-season spike density of diclofop-methyl–resistant Italian ryegrass was reduced 91 to 98% by AE F130060 03. Despite injury ranging from 10 to 24%, grain yield from wheat treated with AE F130060 03 was similar to or greater than yield from wheat treated with the other herbicides. Italian ryegrass control, spike density, and grain yield were not influenced by AE F130060 03 rate or addition of methylated seed oil.

Yellow nutsedge, a weed commonly present in Florida vegetable fields, may substantially reduce crop yields when not controlled. Soil fumigation with methyl bromide effectively controls nutsedges, but methyl bromide is being phased out of production and use in the United States. Therefore, nutsedge management in bell pepper is a cause for concern. An experiment was conducted during four seasons (spring and fall of 1999 and 2000) to determine the tolerance of bell pepper grown at two in-row spacings (23 and 31 cm) to interference resulting from planted yellow nutsedge tuber densities (0 to 120 tubers/m2). Relative to yields with no nutsedge, pepper fruit yields in each season were reduced 10% with fewer than 5 planted tubers/m2. Yield losses increased more rapidly with an increase in initial nutsedge density from 0 to 30 than from 30 to 120 tubers/m2. With 30 nutsedge tubers/m2, large fruit yield was reduced 54 to 74% compared to that with no nutsedge. Nutsedge shoots overtopped the pepper plants as early as 6 wk after treatment when, with 15 planted tubers/m2, nutsedge interference reduced pepper plant biomass by 10 to 47%. In the absence of methyl bromide, weed control strategies with high efficacy against yellow nutsedge will be needed for bell pepper production.

Bahiagrass is used for roadsides, pastures, and lawns in the southeastern United States mainly because of drought and nematode tolerance. Metsulfuron is a sulfonylurea herbicide, which selectively controls bahiagrass in bermudagrass. Certain cultivars of bahiagrass were observed to be tolerant to recommended rates of metsulfuron. Therefore, research was conducted to investigate the susceptibility of five major bahiagrass cultivars to metsulfuron applied at increasing rates to 42 g ai/ha. Five bahiagrass cultivars were evaluated: ‘Pensacola’, ‘Tifton-9’, ‘Argentine’, ‘Common’, and ‘Paraguayan’. Argentine, Common, and Paraguayan cultivars showed a four- to fivefold increased tolerance to metsulfuron compared with Pensacola. Because of yearly inconsistencies, results for Tifton-9 were inconclusive.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate shoot number, shoot weight, and root weight reduction of yellow and purple nutsedge to three placement levels (soil, foliar, and soil + foliar applied) and four herbicide treatments (CGA-362622, imazaquin, MSMA, and imazaquin + MSMA). Soil-applied CGA-362622 reduced shoot number, shoot weight, and root weight greater than foliar-applied CGA-362622. Foliar-applied imazaquin and soil-applied MSMA achieved little reduction in measured variables compared with the nontreated control. Foliar-applied imazaquin and soil-applied MSMA reduced shoot number, shoot weight, and root weight less than imazaquin + MSMA applied in a similar manner. Averaged over placement levels, imazaquin reduced shoot weight of yellow nutsedge greater than purple nutsedge. Averaged over herbicide treatments, soil-applied treatments were more effective in reducing purple nutsedge shoot number, whereas foliar-applied treatments were more effective in reducing yellow nutsedge shoot number.

Studies were conducted in 2000 and 2001 to investigate responses of glyphosate-resistant cotton, glyphosate-resistant soybean, and selected weed species to postemergence applications of isopropylamine (Ipa) and diammonium (Dia) salts of glyphosate at selected rates ranging from 0.42 to 3.36 kg ae/ha. No differences were detected between either glyphosate salts or application timings for cotton injury, cotton lint yield, micronaire, fiber length, fiber strength, or fiber uniformity. In a weed-free soybean study, no differences in soybean injury occurred between early-postemergence treatments of the two glyphosate salts. Injury from late-postemergence treatments did not exceed 12% with glyphosate-Ipa or 9% with glyphosate-Dia at 3.36 kg/ha. Soybean treated with glyphosate-Ipa yielded 3,050 kg/ha, whereas soybean treated with glyphosate-Dia yielded 2,880 kg/ha, when averaged over glyphosate rate and application timing. In a soybean study that included weed control as a variable, weed control at 14 d after treatment (DAT), and soybean yield was independent of glyphosate salt. Control of common ragweed, ivyleaf morningglory, pitted morningglory, and large crabgrass at 28 DAT was similar at 0.84 kg/ha of either glyphosate salt.