Fall Panicum Control Research Articles

Effect of dew and spray volume on the efficacy of control of asulam on fall panicum (Panicum dichotomiflorum)

Asulam controls fall panicum (Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx.), the most troublesome annual grass weed in Florida sugarcane. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dew on asulam efficacy on fall panicum control when applied using different spray volumes. Fall panicum 30 cm tall with 0, 50, and 100% dew on leaves equivalent to no dew, moderate dew, and heavy dew, respectively, were treated with asulam at 3,700 g ha–1 using spray volumes of 94, 140, 187, and 281 L ha–1. Fall panicum control was rated 28 days after treatment, and aboveground biomass was harvested immediately. The presence or absence of dew and spray volume did not significantly influence asulam efficacy on fall panicum control and aboveground biomass accumulation. Fall panicum was controlled from 89% to 94% at the different dew levels and spray volumes. Heavy dew did not diminish the performance of asulam. The presence of dew on fall panicum foliage probably hydrated the cuticle and aided water-soluble asulam to remain in solution for a longer period, thereby enhancing uptake. The water-holding capacity of fall panicum foliage with the heavy dew and spray volumes was probably not exceeded, resulting in no runoff and no subsequent reduction of control. These results indicate that dew deposition under Florida conditions has no effect on asulam efficacy on fall panicum 30 cm tall or less when applied at commonly used spray volumes of 140 and 187 L ha–1.

Preemergence and postemergence weed control in sweet corn on organic soils

AbstractAtrazine 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.

Effect of depth of flooding on growth and fecundity of fall panicum (Panicum dichotomiflorum)

AbstractFall panicum is the most prevalent and problematic weed in rice in Florida. Outdoor studies were conducted in 2021 to determine the effect of flooding on fall panicum growth and its ability to produce and develop panicles. Fall panicum at the two- to four-leaf and four- to six-leaf stages of development were flooded in stock tanks maintained at flooding depths of 0, 10, 15, 20, and 30 cm for 56 d. Plant height, number of tillers and leaves, leaf area, shoot biomass, root biomass, and panicle branches for both fall panicum leaf stages of development decreased with increasing flooding depth. Fall panicum flooded at the two- to four-leaf stage survived flood depth of 15 cm, whereas plants flooded at the four- to six-leaf stage survived and emerged from a flood depth of up to 20 cm. The 10-cm flood depth resulted in the tallest plants with more leaves, tillers, and leaf area for both growth stages. The probability of fall panicum survival and ability to produce panicles decreased as flood depth increased. Flood depth required for 50% survival for four- to six-leaf-stage plants was estimated to occur at 14 cm, whereas that for plants at the two- to four-leaf stage occurred at 12 cm. The flood depth required to reduce panicle branch production by 50% was estimated to be 15 and 20 cm for two- to four-leaf, and four- to six-leaf-stage plants, respectively. These results show that flooding >10 cm is required to significantly reduce fall panicum survival and ability to produce panicles. Since flood level in rice is usually maintained at an average of 10 cm, chemical weed control will be important to supplement flooding for effective control of fall panicum in rice.

Target site resistance to acetolactate synthase inhibitors in a fall panicum (Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx.) accession from Wisconsin and its response to alternative herbicides

AbstractOwing to the lack of effective POST herbicide options, producers typically rely on nicosulfuron as the main POST grass herbicide in sweet corn production systems. In 2019, a Wisconsin sweet corn producer reported fall panicum control escapes after spraying nicosulfuron. Seeds from mature plants were collected to (1) measure fall panicum response to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides, (2) elucidate the resistance mechanism, and (3) evaluate its response to alternative POST herbicides. Greenhouse and laboratory investigations were conducted to assess fall panicum response to ALS-inhibiting herbicides and elucidate the resistance mechanism. Dose–response results showed that fall panicum was highly resistant to nicosulfuron with a resistance ratio of >12.9-fold (survived rates >254 g ai ha−1, or 8× the field label rate). Molecular and genetic studies indicated that there are multiple ALS gene copies in fall panicum and that resistance was due to a mutation in one copy, resulting in an Asp-376-Glu amino acid substitution. Additional greenhouse experiments indicate that clethodim (105 g ai ha−1), quizalofop-p-ethyl (70 g ae ha−1), glyphosate (864 g ae ha−1), and glufosinate (650 g ai ha−1) are effective POST options to manage the ALS-resistant fall panicum (>90.0% control and 96.8% biomass reduction) in rotational years. The 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibiting herbicides isoxaflutole (105 g ai ha−1), mesotrione (105 g ai ha−1), tembotrione (92 g ai ha−1), and tolpyralate (39 g ai ha−1) did not provide effective POST fall panicum control. Because these herbicides are commonly used for POST weed control in sweet corn, more investigations are required to evaluate combinations of HPPD-inhibiting herbicides with herbicides from other sites of action for POST fall panicum control. Herein we confirm the first case of herbicide resistance in fall panicum in the United States.

Sugarcane response and fall panicum (Panicum dichotomiflorum) control with topramezone and triazine herbicides

AbstractField studies were conducted on organic soils in Belle Glade, FL, in 2016 to 2017 to evaluate sugarcane tolerance and fall panicum control with topramezone applied alone or in combination with triazine herbicides (atrazine, metribuzin, ametryn). Treatments included topramezone (25 and 50 g ai ha−1) applied alone or in combination with atrazine (2,240 g ai ha−1), metribuzin (2,240 g ai ha−1), and ametryn (440 g ha−1) on four plant cane varieties to evaluate tolerance, and on second ratoon fields to determine efficacy on fall panicum control. Topramezone applied alone had no effect on sugarcane chlorophyll fluorescence (i.e., the ratio of variable fluorescence to maximum fluorescence), total chlorophyll, and carotenoid 7 to 28 d after treatment (DAT), suggesting sugarcane tolerance. Significant reduction of these parameters occured 7 to 14 DAT when topramezone (50 g ai ha−1) was applied with ametryn or metribuzin; however, reductions were not detected thereafter, indicating recovery. Sugarcane yield was not affected by topramezone applied alone or in combination with the triazine herbicides. Topramezone (50 g ai ha−1) plus metribuzin resulted in acceptable control of fall panicum (84%) with limited to no regrowth of meristematic tissue at sugarcane canopy closure, equivalent to 56 to 70 DAT. These results indicate that when sequential applications of topramezone, applied alone or in combination with these triazine herbicides, are required for efficacious weed control, topramezone applications alone can be made after 7 d, whereas the combinations can be made after 14 or 21 d, depending on sugarcane sensitivity.

Differential Response of Fall Panicum (Panicum dichotomiflorum) Populations in Florida Sugarcane to Asulam

AbstractSugarcane growers in Florida have been reporting reduced control of fall panicum with asulam, the main herbicide used for POST grass control. Therefore, outside container experiments were conducted to determine the response of four fall panicum populations from Florida to asulam applied alone and to evaluate whether tank-mix combination with trifloxysulfuron enhances control. Asulam was applied at 230 to 7,400 g ai ha−1, corresponding to 1/16 to 2X the maximum labeled rate for a single application in sugarcane, with or without combination with trifloxysulfuron at 16 g ai ha−1. Three fall panicum populations were collected from fields in which reduced control had been reported, while one population was from a field not used for sugarcane production but adjacent to a sugarcane field. The potency of asulam based on ED50values (the rate required to cause 50% dry weight reduction at 28 d after treatment) ranged from 2,249 to 5,412 g ha−1for tolerant populations with reported reduced fall panicum control compared with 1,808 g ha−1for the susceptible population from the field not used for sugarcane production, showing that the latter was most sensitive to asulam. Addition of trifloxysulfuron to asulam increased potency on fall panicum by 5- to 15-fold, indicating that the tank mix enhanced dry weight reduction for all populations. The probability of fall panicum survival (regrowth after aboveground biomass harvesting) at the labeled rate of asulam ranged from 2% to 47% compared with 0% to 6% when trifloxysulfuron was added to the tank mix. Our results show differential response of fall panicum populations in Florida to asulam, which can be overcome by tank mixing with trifloxysulfuron even for populations that are difficult to control in sugarcane, but no evolution of resistance to asulam.

Activity of Florpyrauxifen-benzyl on Fall Panicum (Panicum dichotomiflorumMichx.) and Nealley’s Sprangletop (Leptochloa nealleyiVasey)

AbstractA glasshouse study was established at Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge, LA, to evaluate the control of fall panicum and Nealley’s sprangletop treated with florpyrauxifen-benzyl. Florpyrauxifen was applied at 30 g ai ha–1to each grass species at the three- to four-leaf and one- to two-tiller stages of growth. At 21 d after treatment (DAT), fall panicum control was 91% when treated with florpyrauxifen at the three- to four-leaf stage, and Nealley’s sprangletop control was 78% to 82%, regardless of application timing 21 DAT. Leaf number, tiller number, plant height, and plant fresh weight were reduced when fall panicum and Nealley’s sprangletop were treated with florpyrauxifen. This information can be useful for developing weed management strategies with this herbicide for rice production, and it provides an additional mode of action to help manage and/or delay the development of herbicide-resistant weeds.

Weed Control and Radish (Raphanus sativus) Response to S-metolachlor on Organic Soils

Field experiments were conducted to determine weed control and radish (Raphanus sativus) response to S-metolachlor on organic soil in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) using a dose–response bioassay. S-metolachlor was applied preemergence at 0.35, 0.7, 1.4, 2.8, 5.6, and 11.2 kg·ha−1. The rate of S-metolachlor required to provide 90% weed control (ED90) and result in 5% and 10% radish injury were determined by fitting a three-parameter log-logistic model. The ED90 values for common lambsquarters, spiny amaranth, and fall panicum control were 2.7, 1.6, and 1.2 kg·ha−1 of S-metolachlor, respectively, at 14 days after treatment (DAT). At 28 DAT, the ED90 values were 3.8, 1.9, and 1.5 kg·ha−1 of S-metolachlor, respectively. Injury on radish increased as S-metolachlor rates increased with maximum injury of 24% and 19% at 14 and 28 DAT, respectively. S-metolachlor at 2.1 and 3.1 kg·ha−1 at 14 DAT and 2.6 and 3.7 kg·ha−1 at 28 DAT would result in 5% and 10% radish injury, respectively. Radish yield decreased with increasing rates of S-metolachlor. At the proposed S-metolachlor use rate of 1.4 kg·ha−1 for root crops, radish yield was 80% of the weed-free yield probably resulting from competition from common lambsquarters, which was controlled 74%. These results show that preemergence S-metolachlor would provide effective control of spiny amaranth and fall panicum in radish on organic soils of the EAA at the proposed use rate for root crops while about three times the proposed use rate would be required to provide effective common lambsquarters control. This implies that infestation of common lambsquarters on radish fields on organic soils will not be effectively controlled by S-metolachlor at the proposed use rate resulting in yield reduction.

Influence of Graminicide Formulation on Compatibility with Other Pesticides

Experiments were conducted from 2003 through 2006 to compare annual grass control by graminicides applied alone or with other pesticides and to determine whether graminicide formulation affected annual grass control and interactions with co-applied pesticides. Formulation and rate had no affect on broadleaf signalgrass or large crabgrass control by clethodim. The efficacy of clethodim in tank mixtures with acifluorfen plus bentazon, bentazon, chlorothalonil, imazapic, pyraclostrobin, or tebuconazole were not affected by clethodim formulation. Broadleaf signalgrass and large crabgrass control by clethodim was slightly reduced by acifluorfen plus bentazon, chlorothalonil, imazapic, and pyraclostrobin, but not by tebuconazole. Chlorothalonil and pyraclostrobin reduced broadleaf signalgrass control with quizalofop-P but did not reduce fall panicum control. Azoxystrobin, propiconazole, and tebuconazole did not affect efficacy of quizalofop-P.

Economic Assessment of Weed Management in Strip- and Conventional-Tillage Nontransgenic and Transgenic Cotton

Studies were conducted to evaluate weed management systems in nontransgenic, bromoxynil-resistant, and glyphosate-resistant cotton in strip- and conventional-tillage environments. Tillage did not affect weed control, cotton lint yields, or net returns. Early season stunting in strip-tillage cotton was 5% or less, regardless of herbicide system or cultivar and was transient. Excellent (> 90%) control of common lambsquarters, common ragweed, andIpomoeaspecies, including entireleaf, ivyleaf, pitted and tall morningglories, jimsonweed, prickly sida, and velvetleaf, was achieved with systems containing bromoxynil, glyphosate, and pyrithiobac early postemergence (EPOST). Glyphosate systems provided better and more consistent control of fall panicum and large crabgrass than bromoxynil and pyrithiobac systems. Bromoxynil and pyrithiobac EPOST did not control sicklepod unless applied in mixture with MSMA and followed by (fb) a late postemergence-directed (LAYBY) treatment of prometryn plus MSMA. Palmer amaranth was controlled (> 90%) with all glyphosate and pyrithiobac systems and with the bromoxynil system that included a broadcast soil-applied herbicide treatment. Bromoxynil systems without a broadcast soil-applied herbicide treatment controlled Palmer amaranth 87% or less. Herbicide systems that included glyphosate EPOST controlled sicklepod with or without a soil-applied herbicide treatment. The highest yielding cotton included all the glyphosate systems and bromoxynil systems that contained a soil-applied herbicide treatment. Nontransgenic systems that included a soil-applied herbicide treatment yielded less than a system with soil-applied treatment plus glyphosate EPOST. Net returns from glyphosate systems were generally higher than net returns from bromoxynil or pyrithiobac systems.

Incorporating Foramsulfuron into Annual Weed Control Systems for Corn1

Field studies were conducted in 2000, 2001, and 2002 at Brownstown, DeKalb, Perry, and Urbana, IL, to evaluate weed control and corn tolerance from postemergence (POST) applications of foramsulfuron in sequential and total-POST herbicide programs. Foramsulfuron applied alone controlled giant foxtail, fall panicum, and redroot pigweed 88, 99, and 99%, respectively, 28 d after treatment (DAT), which was comparable with the standard treatment of nicosulfuron. However, control of common cocklebur, velvetleaf, and common lambsquarters was significantly higher with foramsulfuron compared with nicosulfuron. Sequential herbicide programs of atrazine, S-metolachlor, or isoxaflutole applied preemergence (PRE) followed by a POST application of foramsulfuron provided greater than 85% control of giant foxtail, fall panicum, common cocklebur, velvetleaf, common waterhemp, and redroot pigweed. Of the sequential herbicide treatments, atrazine applied PRE followed by a POST application of foramsulfuron provided the greatest Pennsylvania smartweed control. A PRE application of either atrazine or isoxaflutole was needed before a POST application of foramsulfuron to control common lambsquarters. POST tank mixtures of foramsulfuron with atrazine, dicamba, and dicamba plus diflufenzopyr improved control of Pennsylvania smartweed, common cocklebur, velvetleaf, common lambsquarters, and common waterhemp when compared with foramsulfuron applied alone. The tank mixture of foramsulfuron with mesotrione improved control of all species, except Pennsylvania smartweed, common lambsquarters, and common cocklebur. Foramsulfuron tank mixtures with carfentrazone did not improve control of any weed species to commercial acceptance. Adjuvant selection was important for POST tank mixtures. Control of giant foxtail and fall panicum was reduced when atrazine was tank mixed with foramsulfuron and crop oil concentrate (COC). However, when methylated seed oil (MSO) was added to the atrazine–foramsulfuron tank mixture instead of COC, giant foxtail and fall panicum control were similar to foramsulfuron applied alone.Nomenclature: Atrazine; carfentrazone; dicamba; diflufenzopyr, 2-[1-[[[(3,5-difluorophenyl)amino]carbonyl]hydrazono]ethyl]-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid; foramsulfuron, 2-[[[[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidiny)amino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]-4-(formylamino)-N,N-dimethylbenzamide; isoxaflutole; mesotrione; S-metolachlor; common cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium L. #3 XANST; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. # CHEAL; common waterhemp, Amaranthus rudis Sauer. # AMATA; fall panicum, Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx. # PANDI; giant foxtail, Setaria faberi Herm. # SETFA; Pennsylvania smartweed, Polygonum pennsylvanicum L. # POLPY; redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L. # AMARE; velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medicus # ABUTH; corn, Zea mays L.Additional index words: Antagonism, tank mixture, total-POST.Abbreviations: ALS, acetolactate synthase (EC 4.1.3.18); COC, crop oil concentrate; DAT, days after treatment; MSO, methylated seed oil; NIS, nonionic surfactant; POST, postemergence; PRE, preemergence; UAN, urea ammonium nitrate.

Annual Grass Control in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) with Clethodim and Imazapic1

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate possible interactions of clethodim with imazapic applied as mixtures or sequentially for control of broadleaf signalgrass, fall panicum, goosegrass, and large crabgrass. Imazapic at 70 g ai/ha alone controlled grass weeds inconsistently, whereas clethodim at 140 g ai/ha alone controlled the same weeds at least 99%. Imazapic did not affect broadleaf signalgrass control by clethodim. Reduced control of fall panicum, goosegrass, and large crabgrass was observed when clethodim and imazapic were applied in mixture. Antagonism of clethodim occurred when clethodim was applied 1 d before or up to 3 d after application of imazapic (fall panicum and large crabgrass). Antagonism of goosegrass control was noted when imazapic was applied 3 d before or up to 7 d after application of clethodim. In other experiments, large crabgrass and Texas panicum control by clethodim (70 and 140 g/ha) applied alone or with imazapic (70 g/ ha) or bentazon (1.1 kg ai/ha) plus 2,4-DB (0.28 kg ai/ha) either with or without ammonium sulfate (2.8 kg/ha) was evaluated. Texas panicum control by clethodim was reduced by imazapic regardless of the ammonium sulfate rate. However, large crabgrass control by imazapic was not affected in these experiments. Control of both grasses by clethodim was reduced substantially by bentazon plus 2,4-DB, although in some instances ammonium sulfate improved control when in mixture. Ammonium sulfate improved control by clethodim in some instances irrespective of the broadleaf–sedge herbicide treatments.Nomenclature: Bentazon; clethodim; 2,4-DB; imazapic; broadleaf signalgrass, Brachiaria platyphylla (Griseb) Nash #3 BRAPP; fall panicum, Panicum dichotomiflorum L. # PANDI; goosegrass, Eleusine indica L. Gaertn. # ELEIN; large crabgrass, Digitaria sanguinalis L. Scop. # DIGSA; Texas panicum, Panicum texanum Buckl. # PANTE.Additional index words: Ammonium sulfate, antagonism, herbicide compatibility, herbicide interaction, sequential application.

Weed Management in Glufosinate-Resistant Corn (Zea mays)

An experiment was conducted at five locations in North Carolina to compare management systems utilizing glufosinate applied postemergence (POST) in glufosinate-resistant corn with standard systems of metolachlor plus atrazine preemergence (PRE) or nicosulfuron plus atrazine POST Glufosinate alone and both standard systems controlled common ragweed and prickly sida at least 98%, whereas sicklepod control was < 20% late in the season. Late-season control of common lambsquarters, smooth pigweed, pitted morningglory, and tall morningglory was generally less with glufosinate alone than with the standard systems. However, late-season control of common lambsquarters, smooth pigweed, pitted morningglory, tall morningglory, and sicklepod by mixtures of glufosinate plus atrazine was at least 99, 100, 89, 93, and 81%, respectively, and was equal to or greater than control by either standard. Broadleaf signalgrass, large crabgrass, and fall panicum were controlled similarly by glufosinate and the standards. Goosegrass control by glufosinate was similar to control by nicosulfuron plus atrazine, but it was less than control by metolachlor plus atrazine. Metolachlor applied PRE or atrazine mixed with glufosinate increased goosegrass control to that achieved with metolachlor plus atrazine. Mixing atrazine with glufosinate did not affect fall panicum control, but metolachlor PRE followed by glufosinate controlled fall panicum as well as the standards. Cultivation or ametryn applied at layby increased control when PRE or POST herbicides alone controlled weeds less than about 90%. Ametryn was generally more effective than cultivation. Glufosinate POST followed by ametryn at layby controlled sicklepod > 90% and other species > 95% late in the season. Corn yield and net returns were similar in the glufosinate and standard systems.

Efficacy and Crop Response to Glufosinate-Based Weed Management in PAT-Transformed Sweet Corn (Zea mays)

Field studies were conducted at Arlington, WI, in 1996 and 1997 and at Georgetown, DE, and LeSueur, MN, in 1997 to determine weed control efficacy, crop injury, and yield response of PAT-transformed sweet corn to glufosinate-based weed management. Sequential applications of glufosinate 10 to 18 d apart at 0.4 and 0.3 kg ai/ha controlled common lambsquarters, common ragweed, velvetleaf, wild-proso millet, and fall panicum 90% or better at all locations. Weed control varied little among 0.3, 0.4, or 0.3 and 0.3 (sequential) kg/ha glufosinate rates. Glufosinate applied alone, with, or following atrazine controlled velvetleaf 90% or greater but was less consistent on common ragweed and common lambsquarters (73 to 100%). Atrazine plus metolachlor applied preemergence (PRE) and glufosinate applied alone postemergence (POST) provided inconsistent wild-proso millet and fall panicum control (43 to 99%). Metolachlor followed by glufosinate improved consistency of grass control (> 76%). Glufosinate followed by cultivation provided 80% or greater control of velvetleaf and wild-proso millet. Glufosinate did not injure or delay maturity of PAT-transformed sweet corn. Sweet corn treated with glufosinate resulted in yields greater than or equal to the sweet corn that was hand-weeded or received a standard herbicide treatment.

Total Postemergence Weed Control in Imidazolinone-Resistant Corn (Zea mays)

Field experiments were conducted in 1994 and 1995 to evaluate weed control in imidazolinone-resistant corn with postemergence applications of imidazolinone and sulfonylurea herbicides. Imazethapyr controlled 100% of redroot pigweed, jimsonweed, and eastern black nightshade. Control of fall panicum with imazethapyr was inconsistent, with control ranging from 42 to 85%. Imazethapyr provided less than 55% control of common lambsquarters and 43% of large crabgrass. Imazethapyr plus either atrazine, 2,4-D, or dicamba increased control of common lambsquarters compared to imazethapyr alone. Fall panicum control was > 95% with nicosufluron. CGA-152005 and MON 12000 did not control eastern black nightshade. In 1995, corn yield was greater with the hand-weeded check compared to all herbicide treatments. The greatest return over herbicide cost with imazethapyr was obtained with imazethapyr plus atrazine. Nicosulfuron plus CGA-152005 provided the greatest return over herbicide cost when averaged across years.

Weed Management in No-Till Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) with Thiazopyr

Thiazopyr at 0.14, 0.28, and 0.42 kg ai/ha and pendimethalin at 1.1 kg ai/ha applied preemergence (PRE) were compared as components in weed management systems for no-till cotton. Mid- and late-season control of mixtures of large crabgrass, goosegrass, and fall panicum by thiazopyr at 0.28 kg/ha was 89 to 97% and 11 to 50%, respectively, compared with 11 to 38% midseason and 0 to 5% late-season control by pendimethalin. Thiazopyr at 0.42 kg/ha and pendimethalin controlled broadleaf signalgrass 44 and 0%, respectively, late in the season. Adding fluometuron PRE at 1.7 kg ai/ha had little to no effect on large crabgrass, goosegrass, and fall panicum control but increased broadleaf signalgrass control 47 to 79 percentage points compared with thiazopyr or pendimethalin alone. Late-season control of annual grasses by thiazopyr or pendimethalin plus fluometuron PRE followed by methazole plus MSMA early postemergence (POST)-directed and cyanazine plus MSMA late POST-directed was at least 95% at two locations and 80% at the third location. Common lambsquarters was controlled 54 and 95% in systems without and with fluometuron PRE, respectively. Acceptable control of ivyleaf, pitted, and tall morningglories at all locations and smooth pigweed at two of three locations was achieved only in systems with POST-directed herbicides. Adding POST-directed herbicides to systems with thiazopyr or pendimethalin plus fluometuron PRE increased cotton yield at two of three locations. Treatments had no effect on fiber quality.

Application Timing Affects Weed Control with Metolachlor Plus Atrazine in No-Till Corn (Zea mays)

Field trials were conducted in no-till field corn in northern Missouri to compare weed control and crop response of metolachlor plus atrazine applied under five preplant herbicide management practices. The practices consisted of (1) applying the entire dose of metolachlor plus atrazine 15, 30, or 45 d early preplant (EPP), (2) applying a split application of an EPP (67%) followed by (fb) a PRE (33%), (3) applying the entire dose PRE, (4) applying metolachlor PRE fb dicamba early post (EPOST), or (5) applying atrazine alone EPOST. Weed control at 7 wk after planting was more variable with EPP treatments than with EPP fb PRE or PRE treatments. Giant foxtail and fall panicum control was greatest with treatments that included metolachlor PRE. Velvetleaf and common cocklebur control was greatest with atrazine or dicamba EPOST and was generally unacceptable (< 80%) with any soil-applied herbicide treatment. Common lambsquarters control was greater than 90% with all treatments that included metolachlor, atrazine, or dicamba, regardless of timing. Corn yields were slightly higher with EPP fb PRE and PRE fb EPOST dicamba than with EPP alone. The results suggest that herbicide applications made nearer to the date of planting provide less variable weed control and corn yield than treatments made more than 15 d EPP.

The Influence of a Hairy Vetch (Vicia villosa) Cover Crop on Weed Control and Corn (Zea mays) Growth and Yield

Influences of a hairy vetch cover crop and residual herbicides were examined in field corn in 1991 and 1992. Hairy vetch was seeded in mid-August and killed the following May with tillage, mowing, or glyphosate plus 2,4-D (no-till). These cover crop management systems were compared with a no-cover treatment. Residual herbicides including atrazine plus metolachlor applied PRE at three rates and nicosulfuron plus thifensulfuron applied POST at a single rate were compared within cover crop management systems. All cover crop management systems effectively controlled hairy vetch except mowing in 1992. The corn population was reduced in mow treatments containing uncontrolled vetch. Hairy vetch mulch suppressed some weeds in the no-till treatments in 1991, but more annual grass was noted late in the season with no-till into hairy vetch than with the no-cover treatments in 1992. Residual herbicide performance was similar across cover crop management systems, except for fall panicum control which decreased in some no-till systems. Unlike soil-applied herbicides, performance of POST herbicides was unaffected by cover crop management systems.

Clomazone as a Component in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) Herbicide Programs

Efficacy of herbicide programs containing clomazone PPI plus fluometuron PRE or clomazone plus pendimethalin PPI plus fluometuron PRE was compared with that of standard programs of pendimethalin PPI plus fluometuron PRE and norflurazon PPI plus norflurazon and fluometuron PRE. Cotton injury was less than 5% with all treatments when disulfoton or phorate was applied in the seed furrow. Control of fall panicum, goosegrass, large crabgrass, eclipta, entireleaf morningglory, ivyleaf morningglory, pitted morningglory, tall morningglory, prickly sida, redroot pigweed, smooth pigweed, hemp sesbania, spotted spurge, sicklepod, and velvetleaf and cotton yields with 0.8 kg ai ha−1 of clomazone plus fluometuron or 0.6 kg ha−1 of clomazone plus pendimethalin plus fluometuron equalled or exceeded that from the standard herbicide programs. POST-directed application of methazole at 0.8 kg ai ha−1 plus MSMA at 2.2 kg ae ha−1 increased sicklepod and morningglory control and cotton yield. Clomazone applied PRE at 0.6 kg ha−1 with fluometuron controlled broadleaf signalgrass, goosegrass, large crabgrass, prickly sida, and smooth pigweed equally with that of standard treatments of trifluralin or trifluralin plus norflurazon PPI and fluometuron PRE, whereas pitted morningglory control and cotton yield with clomazone plus fluometuron exceeded that with the standards.

ICIA-0051 for Postemergence Weed Control in Conventional Corn (Zea Mays)

A 2-yr field study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of ICIA-0051 for the control of annual grass and broadleaf weed species in conventional tillage corn. Treatments consisted of postemergence applications of ICIA-0051 alone and in combination with cyanazine or atrazine. ICIA-0051 at 0.6 kg ha-1 alone and in combination with cyanazine or atrazine at 1.1 kg ha-1 controlled large crabgrass, yellow foxtail, fall panicum, common lambsquarters, and redroot pigweed effectively (over 90%). The addition of cyanazine or atrazine at 1.1 kg ha-1 to the lowest rate (0.3 kg ha-1) of ICIA-0051 also improved large crabgrass, yellow foxtail, and fall panicum control by 9, 7, and 26%, respectively. None of the treatments of ICIA-0051 except the highest rate (1.1 kg ha-1) reduced either silage or grain yields of corn.