Control Of Glyphosate-resistant Palmer Amaranth Research Articles

Economics of reducing Palmer amaranth seed production in dicamba/glufosinate/glyphosate‐resistant soybean

AbstractIncreased prevalence of glyphosate‐resistant (GR) weeds within agronomic cropping systems has led to the readoption of pre‐emergence (PRE) herbicides and use of multiple herbicide‐resistant soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars. Herbicide programs were evaluated in the recently commercialized dicamba/glyphosate/glufosinate‐resistant (DGGR) soybean for weed control, reduction of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) seed production, crop safety, and economic performance. At 35 days after pre‐emergence herbicides, acetochlor plus dicamba plus metribuzin, acetochlor/fomesafen plus dicamba, dicamba plus flumioxazin, and imazethapyr/pyroxasulfone/saflufenacil provided 80–99% control of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik.), Palmer amaranth, common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), and Poaceae species. Evaluation at 14 days after early postemergence herbicides indicated PRE followed by (fb) POST applications of mixtures of acetochlor, dicamba, glufosinate, and glyphosate provided 80–99% weed control compared with 67–93% control in POST‐only programs. Most herbicide programs provided 83–99% control of grass and broadleaf weeds, with 85–91% weed biomass reductions at 28 days after late‐POST. The PRE fb POST programs reduced Palmer amaranth seed production by 94–99%, whereas POST‐only programs provided 75–83% reduction. In 2020, most programs provided gross profit margins ≥US$1,000 ha−1, with glufosinate fb glufosinate and imazethapyr/pyroxasulfone/saflufenacil fb acetochlor plus glufosinate providing $1,481 and $1,466 ha−1, respectively. Benefit/cost ratios ranged between 0.3 and 3.9 in 2019 due to hail but increased to 2.9–10.9 in 2020. Results of this study support use of PRE herbicides with multiple sites of action in DGGR soybean and indicate that glufosinate can provide POST control of GR Palmer amaranth.

Effective two-pass herbicide programs to control glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) in glyphosate/dicamba-resistant soybean

AbstractField experiments were conducted in 2018 and 2019 at Kansas State University Ashland Bottoms (KSU-AB) research farm near Manhattan, KS, and Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center (KSU-ARC) near Hays, KS, to determine the effectiveness of various PRE-applied herbicide premixes and tank mixtures alone or followed by (fb) an early POST (EPOST) treatment of glyphosate + dicamba for controlling glyphosate-resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth in glyphosate/dicamba-resistant (GDR) soybean. In experiment 1, PRE-applied sulfentrazone + S-metolachlor, saflufenacil + imazethapyr + pyroxasulfone, chlorimuron + flumioxazin + pyroxasulfone, and metribuzin + flumioxazin + imazethapyr provided 85% to 94% end-of-season control of GR Palmer amaranth across both sites. In comparison, Palmer amaranth control ranged from 63% to 87% at final evaluation with PRE-applied pyroxasulfone + sulfentrazone, pyroxasulfone + sulfentrazone plus metribuzin, pyroxasulfone + sulfentrazone plus carfentrazone + sulfentrazone, and sulfentrazone + metribuzin at the KSU-ARC site in experiment 2. All PRE fb EPOST (i.e., two-pass) programs provided near-complete (98% to 100%) control of GR Palmer amaranth at both sites. PRE-alone programs reduced Palmer amaranth shoot biomass by 35% to 76% in experiment 1 at both sites, whereas all two-pass programs prevented Palmer amaranth biomass production. No differences in soybean yields were observed among tested programs in experiment 1 at KSU-ARC site; however, PRE-alone sulfentrazone + S-metolachlor, saflufenacil + imazethapyr + pyroxasulfone, and chlorimuron + flumioxazin + pyroxasulfone had lower grain yield (average, 4,342 kg ha−1) compared with the top yielding (4,832 kg ha−1) treatment at the KSU-AB site. PRE-applied sulfentrazone + metribuzin had a lower soybean yield (1,776 kg ha−1) compared with all other programs in experiment 2 at the KSU-ARC site. These results suggest growers should proactively adopt effective PRE-applied premixes fb EPOST programs evaluated in this study to reduce selection pressure from multiple POST dicamba applications for GR Palmer amaranth control in GDR soybean.

Evaluation of 2,4-D–based Herbicide Mixtures for Control of Glyphosate-Resistant Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri)

AbstractUnderstanding control of glyphosate-resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth with multiple herbicide sites of action, including synthetic auxins, is crucial for growers to minimize GR Palmer amaranth interference with crops. Field studies in 2013 and 2014 and a greenhouse study in 2014 were conducted in Stoneville, MS, to evaluate POST control of GR Palmer amaranth with 2,4-D alone and in mixtures with glyphosate and/or glufosinate. In the greenhouse study, control of 5- and 10-cm GR Palmer amaranth was 87% with 2,4-D at 0.84 kg ae ha−1. Dry weight reduction of GR Palmer amaranth was ≥81% with 2,4-D at 0.84 kg ha−1. In field studies, mixtures of glufosinate at 0.59 kg ai ha−1and 2,4-D at 0.56 or 1.12 kg ae ha−1controlled 5- to 10-cm GR Palmer amaranth 87% at 28 d after treatment (DAT). Averaged across glyphosate treatments, glufosinate applied alone applied to 5- to 10-cm GR Palmer amaranth reduced dry weight at 28 DAT to 20 g m−2from 82 g m−2and was comparable with that following 2,4-D applied alone at 1.12 kg ae ha−1and mixtures of glufosinate plus 2,4-D at 0.56 and 1.12 kg ae ha−1. Mixtures of 2,4-D plus glufosinate provided ≥92% control of 15- to 20-cm GR Palmer amaranth at 28 DAT. When applied to 15- to 20-cm plants, mixtures of 2,4-D plus glufosinate reduced GR Palmer amaranth density to ≤5 plants m−2compared with 65 plants m−2where no 2,4-D or glufosinate was applied. Glufosinate and 2,4-D are viable control options for 5- to 10-cm or 15- to 20-cm GR Palmer amaranth. However, 2,4-D did not improve GR Palmer amaranth control when added to any herbicide mixture except glyphosate and glufosinate applied to 15- to 20-cm plants at the 28 DAT evaluation.

Adsorption, desorption and persistence of fomesafen in soil.

Fomesafen provides control of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth in cotton but frequent seedling injury has been reported. This study evaluated soil adsorption, desorption, and field persistence of fomesafen. The Freundlich distribution coefficient (Kf ) for fomesafen on seven US soils varied from 1.30 to 9.28 µg1-1/n g-1 mL1/n . The pesticide distribution coefficient (Kd ) and soil organic carbon normalized adsorption coefficient (KOC ) varied from 1.11 to 12.76 mL g-1 and 58 to 1467 mL g-1 , respectively. The soils evaluated had desorption rates of 11.06% to 81.31% after a single desorption cycle. Soil pH, organic matter, sand, silt and clay content had a significant impact on fomesafen adsorption and desorption. Fomesafen field half-lives (DT50 ) in Cecil sandy loam were 47 and 34 days, compared with 6 and 4 days in Tifton loamy sand when fomesafen was applied at 1× and 2× the label rate, respectively. The fomesafen dissipation rate decreased significantly under low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mulch compared with bare ground. Fomesafen soil adsorption to soils was not strong and was affected by multiple soil properties. Fomesafen field persistence varied significantly between soil types and under ground cover. The data suggest that soils with a lower pH and higher clay content are less likely to produce crop injury due to greater fomesafen adsorption. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Evaluation of Cotton Responses to Fomesafen-Based Treatments Applied Preemergence

AbstractFomesafen provides effective control of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth in cotton. However, cotton seedlings can be injured when fomesafen is applied PRE. Therefore, greenhouse and field experiments were conducted at Athens, GA, and at six locations in Alabama and Georgia in 2013 and 2016 to evaluate cotton growth and yield response to fomesafen applied PRE at 70, 140, 280, 560, 1,120, or 2,240 g ai ha−1, and in combination with pendimethalin, diuron, acetochlor, and fluridone at 1×label rates. Greenhouse bioassays indicated that fomesafen reduced cotton height and dry weight with increasing rate in Cecil sandy loam and Tifton loamy sand but not in Greenville sandy clay loam––possibly as a result of this soil’s higher organic matter (OM) and clay content. Fomesafen applied at 2,240 g ai ha−1reduced cotton stand by as much as 83% compared to the nontreated check (NTC) at all field locations except Alabama’s Macon and Baldwin counties, and 1,120 g ai ha−1reduced cotton stand only at Pulaski County, GA, by 52%. Cotton height was reduced by the two highest rates of fomesafen at all locations except Clarke County, GA, and Baldwin County, AL. Injury data indicated more visual injury followed increasing fomesafen rates, and high-rate treatments produced more injury in sandier soils. Cotton yield was unaffected by herbicide treatments at any location, except for the 1,120 g ai ha−1rate at Pulaski County (49% yield loss compared to NTC), 2,240 g ai ha−1at Pulaski County (72% yield loss), and Tift County (29% yield loss). These data indicated cotton yield should not be negatively affected by fomesafen applied PRE alone within label rates or in combination with pendimethalin, diuron, acetochlor, and fluridone at 1×label rates, although some visual injury, or stand or height reduction may occur early in the growing season.

Management of Large, Glyphosate-Resistant Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) in Corn

Palmer amaranth is a very problematic weed that has evolved resistance to several classes of herbicides, including 5-enolypyruvylshikimate-3-phosate synthase–inhibiting herbicides and photosystem II–inhibiting herbicides. In recent years, corn producers have had difficulty controlling large Palmer amaranth (> 20 cm) in corn > 30 cm whether it be due to environmental conditions or management failures. Palmer amaranth management in corn this tall is made even more challenging because atrazine is not labeled POST in corn > 30 cm tall. Therefore, a study was conducted in 2013 and 2014 in Jackson, TN, to evaluate herbicide programs in corn > 30 cm tall for the control of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth > 20 cm tall. Treatments consisted of herbicides applied alone and in mixtures with dicamba plus diflufenzopyr. Herbicides were applied POST to corn between the V5 and V6 growth stages. Dicamba plus diflufenzopyr 28 d after application controlled Palmer amaranth > 87%. The herbicides alone or in combinations applied as tank mixtures did not improve control (< 76%) over dicamba plus diflufenzopyr alone. There were no grain-yield differences among treatments because of Palmer amaranth control. This was likely due to the Palmer amaranth competition having already affected corn yield by the V5 to V6 corn growth stages.

Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) Control with Preplant Herbicide Programs Containing Dicamba, Isoxaflutole, and 2,4‐D

Glyphosate‐resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.) prevalence in Midwest soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production has increased in recent years. New soybean herbicide‐resistant traits will be important management tools for herbicide‐resistant weeds. The objectives of this research were to evaluate preemergence (PRE) herbicide treatments that contain dicamba, isoxaflutole, metribuzin, S‐metolachlor, and 2,4‐D for GR Palmer amaranth control. Herbicide programs that contained isoxaflutole provided 58 to 95% control compared with 41 to 85% control by 2,4‐D or dicamba. Control of GR Palmer amaranth with mixtures containing dicamba ranged from 71 to 85% compared with 41 to 53% control with mixtures of 2,4‐D. Treatments containing one herbicide mode of action (MOA) failed to provide more than 57 and 50% GR Palmer amaranth control at 21 and 42 days after the preemergence treatment (DAPT), respectively. A mixture that contained three herbicide MOA (metribuzin plus S‐metolachlor mixed with dicamba, isoxaflutole, or 2,4‐D) controlled GR Palmer amaranth 83 to 86% compared with a treatment with a single MOA that provided 31 to 50% control. Coapplication of metribuzin with dicamba, isoxaflutole, or 2,4‐D resulted in 67 to 72% control, while mixtures of S‐metolachlor with dicamba, isoxaflutole, or 2,4‐D provided 63 to 91% GR Palmer amaranth control. In most instances mixtures with two MOA resulted in GR Palmer amaranth control that was similar to mixtures with three MOA at 42 DAPT.

High-residue cover crops alone or with strategic tillage to manage glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) in southeastern cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats) is redefining row crop weed management in the southeast United States due to its widespread distribution, high competitive ability, copious seed production, and resilience against standard weed management programs. Herbicides alone are failing to provide adequate control of GR Palmer amaranth; thus, use of conventional tillage is increasing in the Southeast in order to control GR Palmer amaranth. Cultural practices consistent with maintenance of conservation tillage were evaluated to determine if they could suppress weeds in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). An on-farm research and demonstration project was initiated in the fall of 2009 in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee to address well-founded concerns that conservation tillage systems were at risk because of GR Palmer amaranth. The research continued in certain states for two additional years. Cultural practices contrasted in the conservation tillage system were a no-till planted high-residue cover crop, one-time fall inversion tillage followed by the planting of a high-residue cover crop, and winter fallow only without a cover crop. Cover crop biomass yields varied from 570 to 6,790 kg ha−1 (509 to 6,063 lb ac−1) depending on location, type of cover crop, planting date, and environment. Fall inversion tillage increased cover crop biomass at all locations, likely due to preparation of a favorable seed bed for seedling establishment or alleviation of soil compaction or both. One-time fall inversion tillage reduced the number of GR Palmer amaranth escapes compared with the other treatments. Where GR Palmer amaranth densities were relatively low (approximately 1,000 plants ha−1 [405 plants ac−1] or fewer), there were few differences in the number of GR Palmer amaranth escapes among treatments. Where GR Palmer amaranth densities were relatively high (18,000 plants ha−1 [7,284 plants ac−1] or greater), winter fallow systems had higher Palmer amaranth densities escaping weed management programs compared to either cover crop system. The number of Palmer amaranth escapes declined exponentially as a function of cover crop biomass regardless of tillage. For sites with two years of data, no year by treatment interaction was detected, indicating that relative GR Palmer amaranth escape densities were sustained in each treatment for two seasons. Trends in cotton yields were the opposite of those for Palmer amaranth escapes. High-residue cover crops tended to suppress Palmer amaranth and increase cotton lint yields. However, no cultural management system consistently netted greater returns than other systems across locations and years.

Response of LibertyLink and WideStrike Cotton to Varying Rates of Glufosinate

Field studies were conducted in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee during 2010 and 2011 to determine the effect of glufosinate application rate on LibertyLink and WideStrike cotton. Glufosinate was applied in a single application (three-leaf cotton) or sequential application (three-leaf followed by eight-leaf cotton) at 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, and 2.4 kg ai ha−1. Glufosinate application rate did not affect visual injury or growth parameters measured in LibertyLink cotton. No differences in LibertyLink cotton yield were observed because of glufosinate application rate; however, LibertyLink cotton treated with glufosinate yielded slightly more cotton than the nontreated check. Visual estimates of injury to WideStrike cotton increased with each increase in glufosinate application rate. However, the injury was transient, and by 28 d after the eight-leaf application, no differences in injury were observed. WideStrike cotton growth was adversely affected during the growing season following glufosinate application at rates of 1.2 kg ha−1 and greater; however, cotton height and total nodes were unaffected by glufosinate application rate at the end of the season. WideStrike cotton maturity was delayed, and yields were reduced following glufosinate application at rates of 1.2 kg ha−1 and above. Fiber quality of LibertyLink and WideStrike cotton was unaffected by glufosinate application rate. These data indicate that glufosinate may be applied to WideStrike cotton at rates of 0.6 kg ha−1 without inhibiting cotton growth, development, or yield. Given the lack of injury or yield reduction following glufosinate application to LibertyLink cotton, these cultivars possess robust resistance to glufosinate. Growers are urged to be cautious when increasing glufosinate application rates to increase control of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth in WideStrike cotton. However, glufosinate application rates may be increased to maximum labeled rates when making applications to LibertyLink cotton without fear of reducing cotton growth, development, or yield.

Herbicide Program Approaches for Managing Glyphosate-Resistant Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) and Waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatusandAmaranthus rudis) in Future Soybean-Trait Technologies

Herbicide-resistantAmaranthusspp. continue to cause management difficulties in soybean. New soybean technologies under development, including resistance to various combinations of glyphosate, glufosinate, dicamba, 2,4-D, isoxaflutole, and mesotrione, will make possible the use of additional herbicide sites of action in soybean than is currently available. When this research was conducted, these soybean traits were still regulated and testing herbicide programs with the appropriate soybean genetics in a single experiment was not feasible. Therefore, the effectiveness of various herbicide programs (PRE herbicides followed by POST herbicides) was evaluated in bare-ground experiments on glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth and glyphosate-resistant waterhemp (both tall and common) at locations in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, and Tennessee. Twenty-five herbicide programs were evaluated; 5 of which were PRE herbicides only, 10 were PRE herbicides followed by POST herbicides 3 to 4 wks after (WA) the PRE application (EPOST), and 10 were PRE herbicides followed by POST herbicides 6 to 7 WA the PRE application (LPOST). Programs with EPOST herbicides provided 94% or greater control of Palmer amaranth and waterhemp at 3 to 4 WA the EPOST. Overall, programs with LPOST herbicides resulted in a period of weed emergence in which weeds would typically compete with a crop. Weeds were not completely controlled with the LPOST herbicides because weed sizes were larger (≥ 15 cm) compared with their sizes at the EPOST application (≤ 7 cm). Most programs with LPOST herbicides provided 80 to 95% control at 3 to 4 WA applied LPOST. Based on an orthogonal contrast, using a synthetic-auxin herbicide LPOST improves control of Palmer amaranth and waterhemp over programs not containing a synthetic-auxin LPOST. These results show herbicides that can be used in soybean and that contain auxinic- or HPPD-resistant traits will provide growers with an opportunity for better control of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth and waterhemp over a wide range of geographies and environments.

Fluridone Carryover to Rotational Crops Following Application to Cotton

There has been renewed interest in using fluridone herbicide to aid in control of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Section 18 Emergency Use Exemptions for fluridone in cotton have been granted recently in several states and the manufacturer is pursuing federal registration. Fluridone has long persistence in soil, leading to questions about rotational crop response. Field experiments were conducted in North Carolina to evaluate the potential for fluridone to carry over to corn (Zea mays L.), peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.], and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] grown in rotation with fluridone-treated cotton. Fluridone at 0, 280, 420, 560, 840, and 1120 g ai ha-1 was applied preemergence to cotton and rotational crops were planted the following spring. The fluridone rates were well above proposed use rates. Only minor visible injury to cotton was observed and cotton yield was unaffected by fluridone. Fluridone also caused only minor visible injury to rotational crops and did not affect stands, early season height, or yield of rotational crops.

Integrating Cover Crops and POST Herbicides for Glyphosate-Resistant Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) Control in Corn

Field experiments were conducted in 2013 and 2014 in Jackson, TN, to evaluate the efficacy of integrating cover crops and POST herbicides in corn to control glyphosate-resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth. Crimson clover and hairy vetch were planted in the fall and accumulated greater than 1,600 kg ha−1aboveground biomass by time of termination. Crimson clover and hairy vetch provided 62% and 58% Palmer amaranth control 14 d before application, respectively. POST herbicide treatments of glyphosate +S-metolachlor + mesotrione + atrazine, thiencarbazone-methyl + tembotrione + atrazine, and glyphosate + atrazine were applied when Palmer amaranth reached 15 cm tall. The herbicide treatments provided greater than 95% control of Palmer amaranth 28 d after application. In addition to Palmer amaranth suppression, corn was taller at V5 and V7 following a hairy vetch cover crop. Hairy vetch and crimson clover residues provided early season weed suppression because of biomass accumulation. Palmer amaranth in the nontreated control plots reached 15 cm 4 and 3 d ahead of the cover-treated plots in 2013 and 2014, respectively. This could potentially increase POST herbicide-application flexibility for producers. Results of this trial also suggest that cover crops alone are not a means of season-long control of GR Palmer amaranth. From a herbicide resistance-management perspective, the integration of cover crops with herbicide mixtures that incorporate multiple sites of action should aid in mitigating the further selection of herbicide resistance in Palmer amaranth.

Controlling Glyphosate-Resistant Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) in Cotton with Resistance to Glyphosate, 2,4-D, and Glufosinate

Field experiments were conducted in Macon County, Georgia, during 2010 and 2011 to determine the impact of new herbicide-resistant cotton and respective herbicide systems on the control of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth. Sequential POST applications of 2,4-D or glufosinate followed by diuron plus MSMA directed at layby (late POST-directed) controlled Palmer amaranth 62 to 79% and 46 to 49% at harvest when the initial application was made to 8- or 18–cm-tall Palmer amaranth, in separate trials, respectively. Mixtures of glufosinate plus 2,4-D applied sequentially followed by the layby controlled Palmer amaranth 95 to 97% regardless of Palmer amaranth height. Mixing glyphosate with 2,4-D improved control beyond that observed with 2,4-D alone, but control was still only 79 to 86% at harvest depending on 2,4-D rate. Sequential applications of glyphosate plus 2,4-D controlled Palmer amaranth 95 to 96% following the use of either pendimethalin or fomesafen. Seed cotton yield was at least 30% higher with 2,4-D plus glufosinate systems compared to systems with either herbicide alone. The addition of pendimethalin and/or fomesafen PRE did not improve Palmer amaranth control or yields when glufosinate plus 2,4-D were applied sequentially followed by the layby. The addition of these residual herbicides improved at harvest control (87 to 96%) when followed by sequential applications of 2,4-D or 2,4-D plus glyphosate; yields from these systems were similar to those with glufosinate plus 2,4-D. Comparison of 2,4-D and 2,4-DB treatments confirmed that 2,4-D is a more effective option for the control of Palmer amaranth. Results from these experiments suggest cotton with resistance to glufosinate, glyphosate, and 2,4-D will improve Palmer amaranth management. At-plant residual herbicides should be recommended for consistent performance of all 2,4-D systems across environments, although cotton with resistance to glyphosate, glufosinate, and 2,4-D will allow greater flexibility in selecting PRE herbicide(s), which should reduce input costs, carryover concerns, and crop injury when compared to current systems.

Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) Control by Glufosinate plus Fluometuron Applied Postemergence to WideStrike®Cotton

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) weeds, especially GR Palmer amaranth, are very problematic for cotton growers in the Southeast and Midsouth regions of the United States. Glufosinate can control GR Palmer amaranth, and growers are transitioning to glufosinate-based systems. Palmer amaranth must be small for consistently effective control by glufosinate. Because this weed grows rapidly, growers are not always timely with applications. With widespread resistance to acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides, growers have few herbicide options to mix with glufosinate to improve control of larger weeds. In a field study using a WideStrike®cotton cultivar, we evaluated fluometuron at 140 to 1,120 g ai ha−1mixed with the ammonium salt of glufosinate at 485 g ae ha−1for control of GR Palmer amaranth 13 and 26 cm tall. Standard PRE- and POST-directed herbicides were included in the systems. Glufosinate alone injured the WideStrike® cotton less than 10%. Fluometuron increased injury up to 25% but did not adversely affect yield. Glufosinate controlled 13-cm Palmer amaranth at least 90%, and there was no improvement in weed control nor a cotton yield response to fluometuron mixed with glufosinate. Palmer amaranth 26 cm tall was controlled only 59% by glufosinate. Fluometuron mixed with glufosinate increased control of the larger weeds up to 28% and there was a trend for greater yields. However, delaying applications until weeds were 26 cm reduced yield 22% relative to timely application. Our results suggest fluometuron mixed with glufosinate may be of some benefit when attempting to control large Palmer amaranth. However, mixing fluometuron with glufosinate is not a substitute for a timely glufosinate application.

Influence of Deep Tillage, a Rye Cover Crop, and Various Soybean Production Systems on Palmer Amaranth Emergence in Soybean

Glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth has become a major threat to soybean production in the southern United States. Arkansas soybean producers rely heavily on glyphosate-resistant soybean; hence, an alternative solution for controlling resistant Palmer amaranth is needed. A field experiment was conducted at Marianna, AR, during 2009 and 2010 in which soybean production systems were tested in combination with deep tillage and no tillage to determine the impact on Palmer amaranth emergence. To establish a baseline population, 250,000 glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth seeds were placed in a 1-m2area in the middle of each plot and incorporated in the soil, and emergence was evaluated five times during the season. Production systems of full-season soybean with a rye cover crop or soybean double-cropped with wheat, which had high amounts of plant residue on the soil surface reduced Palmer amaranth emergence more than systems without deep tillage and a cover crop or wheat. When used in combination with deep tillage, these systems reduced Palmer amaranth emergence by 98 and 97%, respectively, in 2009 and by 73 and 82%, respectively, in 2010. Deep tillage alone caused an 81% reduction in emergence averaged over both years. Soybean double-cropped with wheat used in combination with deep tillage provided a 95% reduction in Palmer amaranth emergence over the 2-yr period. This research shows that deep tillage in combination with soybean production systems that have high amounts of residue on the soil surface are alternative means for providing a high level of control of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth and could lessen the dependence on chemical weed control.

Influence of Late-Season Herbicide Applications on Control, Fecundity, and Progeny Fitness of Glyphosate-Resistant Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) Biotypes from Arkansas

Experiments were conducted in 2008 and 2009 in Fayetteville, AR, to determine the influence of late-season herbicide applications on control, seed reduction, seed viability, and seedling fitness of two glyphosate-resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth biotypes, one from Mississippi County (MC) and the other from Lincoln County (LC) in Arkansas. Glyphosate (870 g ae ha−1), glufosinate (820 g ai ha−1), 2,4-D amine (1,060 g ae ha−1), dicamba (280 g ae ha−1), and pyrithiobac (70 g ai ha−1) were each applied at the first visible sign of inflorescence of GR Palmer amaranth plants. Glufosinate, 2,4-D, and dicamba provided 52 to 74% control of MC GR Palmer amaranth plants 28 d after treatment (DAT). The LC biotype was larger (94 cm tall) than the MC biotype was (64 cm tall) at application and was more difficult to control. Although control of GR Palmer amaranth was inadequate, late-season applications of glufosinate, 2,4-D, and dicamba reduced seed production of the LC biotype by 75 to 87% and production of the MC biotype by 94 to 95% compared with nontreated plants. Irrespective of biotypes, glufosinate, 2,4-D, and glyphosate reduced 100-seed weight by 22% compared with the nontreated control, and viability of seeds produced by treated plants was only 45 to 61% compared with 97% seed viability in nontreated plants. Glyphosate, glufosinate, 2,4-D, or dicamba reduced cumulative seedling emergence by an average of 84% compared with the nontreated check. Seedling biomass was four times greater for the LC than for the MC biotype, suggesting greater vigor and fitness for the LC progeny. This research demonstrates that a single, late-season (early inflorescence stage) application of glufosinate, 2,4-D, or dicamba could potentially reduce seedbank replenishment of GR Palmer amaranth. Additionally, reduction in seed weight, viability, and seedling recruitment would impair the success of GR Palmer amaranth progeny in the following season.

Weed Control in Dicamba-Resistant Soybeans

Field experiments were conducted in 11 states to evaluate broadleaf weed management programs in dicamba-resistant soybeans which involved the use of preemergence and postemergence dicamba. Preemergence (PRE) dicamba at 0.25 lb ae/acre provided less than 60% control of smooth pigweed, giant ragweed, velvetleaf, palmer amaranth, waterhemp, and morningglory spp., but 97% control of common lambsquarters and horseweed at 3 weeks after treatment (WAT). Preemergence flumioxazin plus chlorimuron or sulfentrazone plus cloransulam provided 66 to 100% control of these weeds. Use of dicamba postemergence (POST) improved uniformity of control of velvetleaf, smooth pigweed, morningglory, and glyphosate-susceptible waterhemp. However, combining dicamba at 0.25 lb/acre with glyphosate resulted in 30% to 65% greater control of glyphosate-resistant palmer amaranth, glyphosate-resistant common waterhemp, glyphosate-resistant horseweed, and glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed compared to sequentially applied glyphosate.

Weed Control and Crop Response to Glufosinate Applied to ‘PHY 485 WRF’ Cotton

Field experiments were conducted in Georgia to evaluate weed control and crop tolerance with glufosinate applied to ‘PHY 485 WRF®’ cotton. This glyphosate-resistant cotton also contains a gene, used as a selectable marker, for glufosinate resistance. Three experiments were maintained weed-free and focused on crop tolerance; a fourth experiment focused on control of pitted morningglory and glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth. In two experiments, PHY 485 WRF cotton was visibly injured 15 and 20% or less by glufosinate ammonium salt at 430 and 860 g ae/ha, respectively, applied POST two or three times. In a third experiment, glufosinate at 550 g/ha injured cotton up to 36%. Pyrithiobac or glyphosate mixed with glufosinate did not increase injury compared to glufosinate applied alone;S-metolachlor mixed with glufosinate increased injury by six to seven percentage points. Cotton injury was not detectable 14 to 21 d after glufosinate application, and cotton yields were not reduced by glufosinate or glufosinate mixtures. A program of pendimethalin PRE, glyphosate applied POST twice, and diuron plus MSMA POST-directed controlled glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth only 17% late in the season.S-metolachlor included with the initial glyphosate application did not increase control, and pyrithiobac increased late-season control by only 13 percentage points. Palmer amaranth was controlled 90% or more when glufosinate replaced glyphosate in the aforementioned system. Pitted morningglory was controlled 99% by all glufosinate programs and mixtures of glyphosate plus pyrithiobac. Seed cotton yields with glufosinate-based systems were at least 3.3 times greater than yields with glyphosate-based systems because of differences in control of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth.