Weed Control In Corn Research Articles

Evaluation of Mesotrione in Mississippi Delta Corn Production

Field studies were conducted in Arkansas in 1999, 2000, and 2001 to evaluate mesotrione applied preemergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) for weed control in corn grown in the Mississippi Delta region of the United States. Mesotrione was applied PRE (140, 210, and 280 g/ha) alone and POST (70, 105, and 140 g/ha), alone or in tank mixtures with atrazine (280 g/ha). Standard treatments for comparison were S-metolachlor/atrazine PRE and S-metolachlor plus atrazine PRE followed by atrazine POST. All PRE treatments controlled velvetleaf, pitted morningglory, entireleaf morningglory, prickly sida, and broadleaf signalgrass 95% 2 wk after emergence (WAE). Mesotrione controlled velvetleaf 89% or more 4 and 6 WAE. Control of morningglory species by mesotrione POST averaged 92% 6 WAE. Prickly sida was controlled at least 90% by all treatments 4 WAE. Mesotrione applied alone PRE and POST controlled broadleaf signalgrass 83 to 91% 4 WAE. All treatments controlled broadleaf signalgrass less than 90% 6 WAE, except treatments that contained S-metolachlor, which gave 94% or greater control. Corn yield ranged from 10.5 to 12.4 Mg/ha and did not differ among treatments. Mesotrione PRE and POST provided excellent control of broadleaf weeds, but S-metolachlor was needed for broadleaf signalgrass control.

Red–far-red ratio of reflected light: a hypothesis of why early-season weed control is important in corn

A plant's ability to detect and adjust morphologically to changes in light quality (red–far-red [R:FR] ratio) is one mechanism by which a crop plant responds to weeds. To test this hypothesis, two experiments were conducted where corn was grown in growth cabinets under different light environments. First, to determine the effect of R:FR ratio on corn growth and development, treatments of high R:FR (1.37) and low R:FR (0.67) ratio were compared. These were established by planting corn in pots and then placing trays of either turface (a baked clay medium with high R:FR) or commercial grass sod (low R:FR) on each side of a row of corn pots. Grass sod was used to simulate low-growing weeds. The low R:FR sod treatment resulted in corn plants which were taller, had larger leaves, and greater shoot–root ratio than plants growing in the high R:FR turface treatment. In the second experiment, the effect of R:FR ratio on corn leaf azimuth position was examined. This was accomplished by adding a third treatment where each corn row had sod placed on one side and turface on the other. The proportion of leaves in four azimuthal classes was recorded. In the presence of sod, the proportion of leaves perpendicular to the corn row decreased, and this altered the proportion of leaves in other classes. Therefore, corn seedlings detected changes in light quality caused by the presence of sod (which simulated low-growing weeds) and responded by adjusting carbon allocation and leaf orientation to optimize the interception of light quantity and quality. These results support our hypothesis that low-lying vegetation can alter the growth of corn seedlings before competition for resources occurs. This change in growth may help explain the importance of early-season weed control in corn.

Use of the Sulfonylurea-Tolerant Soybean Trait to Reduce Soybean Response to Prosulfuron Soil Residues

Field studies were conducted to examine the effects of the sulfonylurea-tolerant (ST) soybean and fall tillage on reducing rotational soybean response to soil-applied prosulfuron across a range of soil pH values. Prosulfuron (10 and 20 g ai/ha) was applied in the fall to simulate the maximum amount of carryover theoretically possible from corn weed control systems. ST soybean reduced effects of prosulfuron soil residues on soybean grain yield. Increased soil pH led to greater prosulfuron carryover as indicated by the differential in ST and non-ST soybean and grain yield responses. Tillage (chisel plow) did not decrease non-ST soybean response to prosulfuron soil residues. Soybean injury 30 d after emergence was well correlated with eventual yield losses in non-ST soybean. Greater soybean injury and yield loss was observed on a silt loam soil with 0.8% organic carbon than on silt loams with greater than 2.5% organic carbon.

Nitrogen application influences the critical period for weed control in corn

The critical period for weed control (CPWC) is the period in the crop growth cycle during which weeds must be controlled to prevent unacceptable yield losses. Field studies were conducted in 1999 and 2000 in eastern Nebraska to evaluate the influence of nitrogen application on the CPWC in dryland corn in competition with a naturally occurring weed population. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied at rates equivalent to 0, 60, and 120 kg N ha−1. A quantitative series of treatments of both increasing duration of weed interference and length of weed-free period were imposed within each nitrogen main plot. The beginning and end of the CPWC based on an arbitrarily 5% acceptable yield loss level were determined by fitting the logistic and Gompertz equations to relative yield data representing increasing duration of weed interference and weed-free period, respectively. Despite an inconsistent response of corn grain yield to applied nitrogen, there was a noticeable influence on the CPWC. The addition of 120 kg N ha−1 delayed the beginning of the CPWC for all site–years when compared with the 0-kg N ha−1 rate and for three of the four site–years when compared with the 60-kg N ha−1 rate. The addition of 120 kg N ha−1 also hastened the end of the CPWC at three of the four site–years when compared with both reduced rates. The yield component most sensitive to both nitrogen and interference from weeds was seed number per ear. Practical implications of this study are that reductions in nitrogen use may create the need for more intensive weed management.

Yield Penalty Due to Delayed Weed Control in Corn and Soybean

Yield Penalty Due to Delayed Weed Control in Corn and Soybean

Comparison of Glyphosate with Other Herbicides for Weed Control in Corn (Zea mays): Efficacy and Economics1

Abstract: Glyphosate was compared with other commonly used corn herbicides at three locations in Kentucky in 1998 and 1999. Sequential glyphosate treatments provided greater than 87% control of common cocklebur, ivyleaf morningglory, common lambsquarters, and giant ragweed. Control of these species with glyphosate treatments was similar to the control with atrazine plus other postemergence (POST) herbicides. Generally, treatments containing s-triazines and chloracetamides applied to the soil surface were not as effective as sequential glyphosate or atrazine plus POST herbicides. Corn yield was not significantly different at any location or for any year, whereas differences in net return occurred at one location in 1998. Nomenclature: Atrazine; chloracetamides; glyphosate; s-triazines; common cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium L. #3 XANST; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. # CHEAL; giant ragweed, Ambrosia trifida L. # AMBTR; ivyleaf morningglory, Ipomoea hederacea L. Jacq. # IPOHE; corn, Zea mays L. ‘...

Rimsulfuron Plus Thifensulfuron-Methyl Combinations with Selected Postemergence Broadleaf Herbicides in Corn (Zea mays)1

Field studies were conducted in 1995 and 1996 to investigate postemergence (POST) applications of rimsulfuron (12 g ai/ha) plus thifensulfuron-methyl (6 g ai/ha) in tank-mixtures with various acetolactate synthase (ALS)- and non–ALS-inhibitor herbicides for weed control in corn. Rimsulfuron plus thifensulfuron-methyl controlled giant foxtail and common lambsquarters at least 95% but did not control common ragweed. Rimsulfuron plus thifensulfuron-methyl tank-mixed with 20 g ai/ha primisulfuron-methyl, 17 g ai/ha CGA-152005 plus 18 g ai/ha primisulfuron, 18 or 36 g ai/ha halosulfuron-methyl, 18 g ai/ha nicosulfuron, or 280 g ai/ha dicamba controlled giant foxtail at least 89%, common lambsquarters at least 96% and, with the exception of the nicosulfuron combination, controlled common ragweed at least 88%. Rimsulfuron plus thifensulfuron-methyl tank-mixed with flumetsulam (26 g ai/ha) plus clopyralid (69 g ai/ha) plus 2,4-D (140 g ai/ha), atrazine (560 g ai/ha), 2,4-D (280 g/ha), or dicamba (308 g/ha) plus a...

Growth response of velvetleaf to three postemergence herbicides

Abstract Knowledge of how reduction in the rate of herbicide application or rotation of their mode of action influences weed growth will provide insight into how successful these practices will be in an integrated weed management program. Field experiments were conducted in 1996 and 1997 to quantify velvetleaf growth response to three postemergence herbicides, each with a different mode of action. A monoculture of velvetleaf was treated with halosulfuron, dicamba, and flumiclorac at 0, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.0 × the labeled rate for weed control in corn. Percent plant mortality increased with rate of application; the greatest mortality occurred in flumiclorac treatments in 1996 and in halosulfuron and flumiclorac treatments in 1997. Growth rate temporarily decreased as application rate increased. Maximum height decreased as rate of application increased, with the dicamba treatment resulting in the greatest (27%) reduction. Early-season leaf area index decreased with increasing rate of application, ...

Effects of soil pH and soil water content on prosulfuron dissipation.

The sulfonylurea herbicide prosulfuron, 1-(4-methoxy-6-methyltriazin-2-yl)-3-[2-(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)phenylsulfonyl]urea, is used for the selective control of broadleaf weeds in corn, sorghum, and cereal grains. To investigate its fate in soils, this study examined the effects of soil pH and water content on the rates of dissipation processes and the products formed under aerobic conditions. Radiometry and chromatography analyses were used to quantify the degradation products and bound residues formed in incubations of 10 different soils. The pH-dependent hydrolysis of the sulfonylurea bridge to form phenyl sulfonamide was the primary transformation process. Significant microbial degradation of prosulfuron occurred in 2 of the 10 soils, yielding (14)CO(2) and desmethyl prosulfuron among the major products. The time required for 50% dissipation of the herbicide (DT(50)) was determined for each soil and water content treatment. At equivalent water contents, prosulfuron DT(50) values were positively correlated with soil pH (P < 0.0001), varying from 6.5 days at pH 5.4 to 122.9 days at pH 7.9. Soil pH and water content strongly influence the fate of sulfonylurea herbicides in agricultural fields. Differences in the effect of soil water content on dissipation kinetics in a comparison of two soils were attributed to differences in soil pH, texture, and the ability of indigenous microorganisms to transform the herbicide.

Electrocatalytic dechlorination of atrazine

Atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine), a photosynthetic inhibitor that is used in large quantities for weed control in corn and sorghum, is dechlorinated in aqueous solution upon electrolysis at a reticulated vitreous carbon cathode in the presence of noble-metal catalysts. Electrocatalytic hydrogenolysis to 2-ethylamino-4-isopropylamino-s-triazine occurs in quantitative yield, and is most efficient with palladium-based catalysts. Current efficiency increases with atrazine and catalyst concentration, and decreasing current density. A previously unobserved phenomenon with Pd catalysts is that current must be passed for a certain time before dechlorination commences. This lag time is explained in terms of the palladium lattice absorbing a finite amount of hydrogen before catalytically active hydrogen atoms appear on the catalyst surface.Key words: electrocatalytic hydrogenoloysis, dechlorination, atrazine, palladium catalysts.

Corn, Soybean, and Weed Responses to Spring-Seeded Smother Plants

ABSTRACT Field and greenhouse research was conducted to better define the characteristics of a spring-seeded smother plant system for weed control in corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.). In the greenhouse, emergence and early growth of two medic (Medicago) species was greatest when planted 1.5 cm deep. In the field, Berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.), four medic species, and yellow mustard (Brassica hirta Moench) were planted immediately after corn or soybean planting in a 25-cm-wide band centered over the crop row. All species achieved 45% or more ground cover by 72 days after planting and yellow mustard often generated ground cover more quickly than other species. Weed suppression varied, with yellow mustard and Sava medic (Medicago scutellata L.) often providing greater weed suppression than other species. However, weed suppression was highly variable and crop yields were usually reduced compared with weed-free plots. Killing Sava medic 30 days after planting reduced weed suppression and did not increase corn yield compared with allowing the medic to survive until maturity. Delaying seeding of Sava medic until rotary hoeing increased weed suppression compared with rotary hoeing alone.

Broadleaf Weed Control in Corn (Zea mays) and Soybean (Glycine max) with CGA-248757 and Flumiclorac Alone and in Tank Mixtures1

Broadleaf weed control with postemergence applications of CGA-248757 and flumiclorac applied alone and in tank mixtures was evaluated in greenhouse and field studies. In greenhouse studies velvetleaf, common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, common ragweed, common cocklebur, eastern black nightshade, and wild mustard shoot weight were reduced by 50% from 0.1, 2.9, 0.9, 1.1, 0.8, 0.4, and 1.2 g/ha of CGA-248757 and 0.7, 3.0, 2.4, 3.3, 3.0, 3.4, and 74.1 g/ha of flumiclorac, respectively. Under greenhouse conditions, tank mixtures of CGA-248757 or flumiclorac with atrazine, bentazon, bromoxynil, dicamba, halosulfuron, imazethapyr, lactofen, primisulfuron plus prosulfuron, or 2,4-D increased velvetleaf, common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, or common ragweed control 14 d after treatment (DAT) when compared with the control provided by atrazine, bentazon, bromoxynil, dicamba, halosulfuron, imazethapyr, lactofen, primisulfuron plus prosulfuron, or 2,4-D applied alone. In field studies, adding CGA-248757 or flumiclorac to atrazine, bentazon, bromoxynil, dicamba, halosulfuron, imazethapyr, lactofen, CGA-277476, primisulfuron plus prosulfuron, or 2,4-D increased crop injury 3 DAT, but there was no reduction in corn or soybean yields as a result. In corn, tank mixtures of CGA-248757 or flumiclorac plus atrazine, dicamba, or 2,4-D increased velvetleaf control compared with treatments without CGA-248757 or flumiclorac. Tank mixtures of CGA-248757 or flumiclorac with primisulfuron plus prosulfuron increased common lambsquarters control compared with primisulfuron plus prosulfuron alone. Similarly, in soybean CGA-248757 or flumiclorac tank mixtures with bentazon or CGA-277476 increased control of redroot pigweed, and tank mixtures with lactofen increased common lambsquarters control. However, season-long broadleaf control in soybean with bentazon, lactofen, and CGA-277476 tank mixtures with CGA-248757 or flumiclorac did not provide acceptable weed control. Compared with imazethapyr alone the addition of CGA-248757 and flumiclorac improved soybean yield and provided season-long eastern black nightshade, common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, and common ragweed control.Nomenclature: Atrazine; bentazon; bromoxynil; CGA-248757 (proposed common name fluthiacet), methyl[[2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-[(tetrahydro-3-oxo-1H, 3H-[1,3,4]thiadiazolo[3,4-a]pyridazin-1-ylidene)amino]phenyl]thio]acetate; CGA-277476 (proposed common name oxasulfuron), 2-[[[[(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl)-amino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl] benzoic acid, 3-oxetanyl ester; dicamba; flumiclorac; halosulfuron; imazethapyr; lactofen; primisulfuron; prosulfuron; 2,4-D; common cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium L. #3 XANST; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. # CHEAL; common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. # AMBEL; corn, Zea mays L. Pioneer 3751, Dekalb 404SR, and Dekalb 493 SR # ZEAMA; eastern black nightshade, Solanum ptycanthum Dun. # SOLPT; redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L. # AMARE; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. Conrad # GLYMA; velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medik. # ABUTH; wild mustard, Brassica kaber (D.C.) L.C. Wheeler # SINAR.Additional index words: Acifluorfen, antagonism, chlorimuron, Digitaria sanguinalis, glyphosate, herbicide interaction, nicosulfuron, protox, Setaria faberi, sethoxydim, Sorghum bicolor, thifensulfuron.Abbreviations: COC, crop oil concentrate; DAP, days after planting; DAT, days after treatment; GR50, 50% growth reduction; NIS, nonionic surfactant; POST, postemergence; protox, protoporphyrinogen oxidase; UAN, 28% urea ammonium nitrate.

Incorporating CGA-248757 and Flumiclorac into Annual Weed Control Programs for Corn (Zea mays) and Soybean (Glycine max)1

Field trials evaluated weed control in corn and soybean with CGA-248757 and flumiclorac. CGA-248757 and flumiclorac were applied to 5-, 45-, and 60-cm-tall velvetleaf. Visual control ratings 7 d after treatment (DAT) indicated the greatest control of velvetleaf in corn with CGA-248757 applied to velvetleaf when 5 or 45 cm tall, whereas the greatest control with flumiclorac occurred when applied to 5-cm-tall velvetleaf. However, ratings 21 DAT to 60-cm-tall velvetleaf indicated velvetleaf control with both herbicides was greatest when applied to plants 45 or 60 cm tall. CGA-248757 or flumiclorac applied postemergence (POST) following metolachlor or metolachlor plus atrazine preemergence (PRE) improved velvetleaf control compared with metolachlor plus atrazine alone. Similarly, tank mixtures of CGA-248757 or flumiclorac with 2,4-D following metolachlor PRE provided greater velvetleaf control compared with metolachlor PRE followed by 2,4-D POST. Velvetleaf control in corn was greater when CGA-248757 or flumiclorac were tank mixed with nicosulfuron plus atrazine or nicosulfuron plus dicamba. In soybean, metolachlor plus metribuzin plus clomazone PRE, metolachlor PRE followed by flumiclorac POST, and metolachlor plus metribuzin PRE followed by CGA-248757 or flumiclorac POST provided greater than 85% control of giant foxtail, common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, and velvetleaf 56 d after POST treatments (DAPO) in 1997. Additionally, glyphosate applied late postemergence (LPOST) and tank mixtures of glyphosate with CGA-248757 or flumiclorac LPOST provided greater than 90% control of these same weed species in 1997. However, only metolachlor plus metribuzin PRE followed by CGA-248757 or flumiclorac POST and imazethapyr plus CGA-248757 or flumiclorac POST provided greater than 80% giant foxtail, common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, and velvetleaf control 56 DAPO in 1998.Nomenclature: Atrazine; 2,4-D; CGA-248757 (proposed common name, fluthiacet), methyl[[2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-[(tetrahydro-3-oxo-1H,3H-[1,3,4]thiadiazolo[3,4-a]pyridazin-1-ylidene)amino]phenyl]thio]acetate; clomazone; dicamba; flumiclorac; glyphosate; imazethapyr; metolachlor; metribuzin; nicosulfuron; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. #3 CHEAL; corn, Zea mays L. # ZEAMA; giant foxtail, Setaria faberi Herrm. # SETFA; redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L. # AMARE; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. # GLYMA; velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medik. # ABUTH.Additional index words: Antagonism, herbicide interaction, Protox, bromoxynil, clethodim, oxasulfuron, quizalofop, sethoxydim, ABUTH, AMARE, CHEAL, DIGSA, GLYMA, SETFA, XANST, ZEAMA.Abbreviations: COC, crop oil concentrate; DAP, days after planting; DAPO, days after postemergence treatment; DAT, days after treatment; LPOST, late postemergence; NIS, nonionic surfactant; POST, postemergence; Protox, protoporphyrinogen oxidase; PRE, preemergence; UAN, 28% urea ammonium nitrate.

Fate and movement of atrazine, cyanazine, metolachlor and selected degradation products in water resources of the deep Loess Hills of Southwestern Iowa, USA.

The environmental fate and movement of herbicides widely used for weed control in corn are assessed for a deep loess soil in southwestern Iowa. Beginning in the early 1980s, the herbicide-based weed control program emphasized the application of atrazine (ATR) or cyanazine (CYN) and metolachlor (MET) for both broadleaf and grass control. Between 1992 and 1995, concentrations of ATR, desethylatrazine (DEA), desisopropylatrazine (DIA), CYN and MET were measured in rainwater, both shallow and deep vadose zone water, and well water. Results show that the frequency of herbicide detections and the range and distribution of occurrences are dependent upon both landscape position and temporal inputs of recharge water from rainfall. Generally, DIA was observed more frequently and in higher mean concentration in well water than DEA, while DEA was observed more frequently than DIA in vadose zone groundwater. A chromatographic analogy is suggested to explain the occurrence patterns observed for both parent herbicide and degradation products within the unsaturated zone water. Analysis of rainwater samples collected during this time also revealed low concentrations of ATR, CYN and MET, with the timing of the detections indicative of non-local transport. Results show that the deep loess soil conducts both water and agricultural chemicals relatively rapidly and as such represents a production system which is vulnerable to contamination of shallow groundwater by herbicide-derived chemicals. Results also illustrate the importance of including major herbicide degradation products in water resource impact assessment studies.

Statistical analysis of pesttolerant crop response with reference to corn weed control

AbstractA statistical model of crop-weed competition is developed to permit, but not require, the existence of crop tolerance of weed pests. The popular rectangular hyperbolic model of crop-weed competition is shown to be a special case of the more comprehensive model. Application of the model to corn weed control in Massachusetts demonstrates its practicality and detects evidence of pest-tolerant crop response in this crop-weed system.

Hydrolysis and Soil Adsorption of the Labile Herbicide Isoxaflutole

Isoxaflutole (5-cyclopropyl isoxazol-4-yl-2-mesyl-4-trifluoromethylphenyl ketone) is a new herbicide marketed for broadleaf and grass weed control in corn, but little information has been published on the soil behavior and environmental fate of the compound. The herbicide exhibits an unusual behavior in which it is functionally reactivated by rainfall events, providing control of small weeds that have emerged. Isoxaflutole is extremely labile in aqueous solution, thus measuring equilibrium sorption is challenging. A qualitative kinetic evaluation was performed to characterize the sorption of isoxaflutole, during rapid hydrolysis to its bioactive product, a diketonitrile derivative (2-cyclopropyl-3-(2-mesyl-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-oxopropanenitrile). The transformation was measured over time in a herbicide-treated aqueous solution with or without soil. At 25 °C, 83% of the parent compound remained in solution at 24 h in the soil free system, but only 15% remained in the solution in the presence of soil. The sorbed phase consisted mainly of isoxaflutole, although a small percentage of diketonitrile was also detected in increasing concentrations as the study progressed. Hydrolysis prevented the attainment of sorption equilibrium, thus the apparent Kd of isoxaflutole increased over time, while that of diketonitrile remained close to zero at both 5 and 25 °C. Batch sorption isotherms were conducted with both isoxaflutole and diketonitrile using four Illinois soils of the Drummer, Flanagan, Catlin, and Cisne series ranging in organic carbon (OC) from 1.0 to 2.5%. Freundlich Kd values were 6−12-fold greater for isoxaflutole than diketonitrile, with the greatest difference in the lower organic carbon soils. After removing the hydrolysis effect, sorption of the isoxaflutole and diketonitrile was independent of temperature, suggesting that it was an entropy-driven process. Based on soil OC content, Koc values of 134 and 17 mL g-1 were calculated for isoxaflutole and diketonitrile, respectively. Results suggest that desorption coupled to hydrolysis promotes reactivation of the herbicide's function after rainfall and contributes to the efficacy of the compound by resupplying the soil solution with a bioactive product.

Determination of the critical period of weed control in corn using a thermal basis

Field studies were conducted over 3 years in southeast Buenos Aires, Argentina, to determine the critical period of weed control in maize (Zea mays L.). The treatments consisted of two different periods of weed interference, a critical weed-free period, and a critical time of weed removal. The Gompertz and logistic equations were fitted to relative yields representing the critical weed-free and the critical time of weed removal, respectively. Accumulated thermal units were used to describe each period of weed-free or weed removal. The critical weed-free period and the critical time of weed removal ranged from 222 to 416 and 128 to 261 accumulated thermal units respectively, to prevent yield losses of 2.5%. Weed biomass proved to be inverse to the crop yield for all the years studied. When weeds competed with the crop from emergence, a large increase in weed biomass was achieved 10 days after crop emergence. However, few weed seedlings emerged and prospered after the 5-6 leaf maize stage (10-20 days after emergence).

Transport of Nicosulfuron in Soil Columns

AbstractNicosulfuron (2‐[[[[(4,6‐dimethoxy‐2‐pyrimidinyl)amino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]‐N,N‐dimethyl‐3‐pyridinecarboxamide) is a relatively new sulfonylurea promoted for weed control in corn (Zea mays L.). However, there are no published studies on its transport and mobility in soils. In this study, breakthrough curves (BTCs) were measured using soil columns for eight Iowa soils and four Oxisols from Brazil. Chloride (Cl−) and pentafluorobenzoic acid (PFBA) were used as nonreactive tracers. For the sandy Iowa soils and the Brazilian soils BTCs were symmetrical, while for the nonsandy Iowa soils BTCs were asymmetrical. Breakthrough curves were interpreted using convection‐dispersion equation and equilibrium and nonequilibrium transport models. In Brazilian soils and sandy Iowa soils equilibrium models described the BTCs well. In nonsandy Iowa soils, where tailing was observed, the data were better described by a two‐site/two‐region model, indicative of nonequilibrium processes. A comparison with the Cl− and PFBA BTCs suggests that the nonequilibrium is not transport‐related. This is also supported by the low correlation between the mass transfer parameters and the partition coefficients. It is proposed that the observed nonequilibrium in nonsandy Iowa soils is most likely due to nicosulfuron chemisorption on smectites. The results of this study indicate that due to rapid sorption of nicosulfuron on smectites its potential to leach to the groundwater should be relatively low in the loamy and clayey soils that contain expandable 2:1 layer silicates.

Weed seed return as influenced by the critical weed-free period in corn (Zea mays L.)

Seed return from later emerging weeds is a concern in weed management systems based on critical periods of control. A study in Ontario found that estimated weed seed return to the soil surface was influenced by the duration of weed control in corn and the prevailing environmental conditions. Weeds emerging after the 8- to 11-leaf stage of corn growth did not cause an increase in total seed number compared to the residual seed bank in the weed-free control. Key words: Seedbank, weed population dynamics, integrated weed management

Biologically Effective Dose and Selectivity of RPA 201772 for Preemergence Weed Control in Corn (Zea mays)

Field studies were conducted in 1996 and 1997 at three locations throughout southern Ontario with the objective of developing dose-response curves of RPA 201772 for weed control and crop tolerance in corn. The biologically effective doses required to control redroot pigweed, velvetleaf, and wild mustard were 100, 90, and 80 g/ha, respectively. Yellow foxtail was controlled with 100 to 120 g/ha, while rates for common lambsquarters varied from 60 to 130 g/ha, depending on the year and location. Wild buckwheat control was poor (&gt; 30%) at all of the doses tested. RPA 201772 did not reduce corn grain yield; however, temporary crop injury was evident on coarse sandy soils.