Weed Control Programs Research Articles

Control of Italian ryegrass and Alexandergrass in corn using different corn sowing date, pre- and post-emergent herbicides

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) Italian ryegrass (LOLMU) and Alexandergrass (URPLA) are troublesome weeds in corn cropping systems in Southern Brazil. The emergence pattern of those weeds is not uniform and may change according to the season’s environmental characteristics. Also, herbicide resistance has been diminishing the success of the weed control programs. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the influence of corn-sowing date on LOLMU and URPLA densities and their control provided by pre- and post-emergent herbicides. Field trials were conducted in two crop seasons in Southern Brazil consisting of three corn sowing date (August, September, and October) and the application of atrazine + S-metolachlor (residual) in corn pre-emergence in different post-emergence weed control programs with glyphosate, ammonium-glufosinate, nicosulfuron, and atrazine. The results indicated that the sowing date had a significant influence on LOLMU and URPLA densities. Corn sown in the earliest period was exposed to a higher LOLMU density, whereas corn sown in the latest period had a higher density of URPLA. Also, the application of residual herbicide at corn pre-emergence reduced both weed species densities and decreased the pressure for the control of glyphosate-resistant LOLMU for the post-emergence herbicides. The use of residual herbicides in corn pre-emergence is an efficient strategy to be considered in the LOLMU and URPLA control programs, followed by post-emergence application of glyphosate, ammonium-glufosinate, atrazine, and nicosulfuron.

Improving farm practices and productivity through training needs assessment of sugarcane farmers: the case of Davao Mill District, the Philippines

The need to improve the farm practices and productivity in the Davao mill district was examined through Training Need Assessment. The aim is to develop a well-designed and need-based training program for its sugarcane farmers. A two-stage stratified random sampling technique was employed to select 112 respondents. A well-structured questionnaire was used and data were analyzed using Likert Scale and multiple regression analysis. The areas of training needs identified for sugarcane production were on the application/computation of chemical fertilizer, soil fertility management, selection of varieties, seizing fertilization and irrigation before harvesting, managing disease control and designing a weed control program. The information on the processing of sugar, the current situation of the sugarcane industry in the domestic and world markets, and farm plan and budgeting were also identified. For other crop production, the training needs were on swine, corn production and poultry raising. Farmers also need training on product quality and packaging and marketing for muscovado, vinegar and wine making for their source of livelihood. The relational analysis showed a positive and significant relationship between age and access to high yielding varieties with training needs expressed by the farmers on sugarcane production. Training could be more effective by targeting older farmers as they seemed to be more receptive to technology although young farmers also need to be trained due to succession in sugarcane farming. The study recommends to assess the interventions given to the Davao MDDC particularly the nursery farms under the Rapid Propagation and Distribution Program of SRA especially on the accessibility of HYV seeds. It also recommends for SRA and the Davao MDDC to increase extension contact and develop training modules and re-orient training schedules with training needs expressed by the farmers to improve the farm practices and productivity in the study area.

Priming techniques, germination and seedling emergence in two Papaver species (P. rhoeas L. and P. dubium L., Papaveraceae)

Effect of priming methods including hydro-priming, hormonal priming, halo-priming and scarification techniques and environmental factors including constant temperature, light regimes, pH, salt and osmotic stresses on seed germination was studied in two species of Papaver (P. rhoeas L. and P. dubium L.) in a series of laboratory experiments. The effects of soil texture on seedling emergence were also tested in greenhouse trails. Hormonal priming of seeds with gibberellic acid (GA3) and potassium nitrate (KNO3) significantly increased germination. The maximum germination of P. rhoeas was obtained at seeds primed with 750 ppm of GA3 concentration for 48 h. The greatest seed germination of P. dubium was recorded in seed treated with 500 ppm GA3 for 48 h. Pre-treatment of seed with 0.5 g.L−1 KNO3 for 24 h increased germination in both species. The maximal germination of P. rhoeas (55.01%) and P. dubium (49.61%) was observed in temperatures 25 °C and 20 °C, respectively. The greatest germination of P. rhoeas (55.31%) and P. dubium (57.05%) was achieved when seeds were treated with pH 7. Increasing salt and osmotic stresses decreased seed germination of both species. Seed germination decreased linearly as NaCl concentration enhanced to 40 mM. Germination of both species was sensitive to osmotic stress and inhibited at the osmotic potential more than − 1 MPa. In all soil textures, seedling emergence decreased as planting depth increased. Seedling emergence of seed planted in the compost was higher than sandy loam and clay loam in all tested depths. Information gained from this study could be effective for a better understanding of germination and seedling emergence requirements that may be suitable for an integrative weed control program.

Season-long weed control with sequential herbicide programs in California tree nut crops

AbstractWeed control in tree nut orchards is a year-round challenge for growers that is particularly intense during winter through summer as a result of competition and interference with management and harvest operations. A common weed control program consists of an application of a winter PRE and POST herbicide mixture, followed by a desiccation treatment in early spring and before harvest. Because most spring and summer treatments depend on a limited number of foliar-applied herbicides, summer-germinating species and/or herbicide-resistant biotypes become troublesome. Previous research has established effective PRE herbicide programs targeting winter glyphosate-resistant weeds. However, more recently, growers have reported difficulties in controlling several summer-germinating grass weeds with documented or suspected resistance to the spring and summer POST herbicide programs. In this context, research was conducted to evaluate a sequential PRE approach to control winter- and summer-germinating orchard weeds. Eight field experiments were conducted in tree nut orchards to evaluate the efficacy of common winter herbicide programs and a sequential herbicide program for control of a key summer grass weed species. In the sequential-application strategy, three foundational herbicide programs applied in the winter were either mixed with pendimethalin, followed with pendimethalin in March, or applied as a split application of pendimethalin in both winter and spring. Results indicate that the addition of pendimethalin enhanced summer grass weed control throughout the crop growing season by up to 31%. Applying all or part of the pendimethalin in the spring improved control of the summer grass weed junglerice by up to 49%. The lower rate of pendimethalin applied in the spring performed as well as the high rate in the winter, suggesting opportunities for reducing herbicide inputs. Tailoring sequential herbicide programs to address specific weed challenges can be a viable strategy for improving orchard weed control without increasing herbicide use in some situations.

Efficacy of Reduced Rates of Soil-Applied Dimethenamid-P and Pendimethalin Mixture Followed by Postemergence Herbicides in Maize

Field trials were conducted with preemergence dimethanamid-P + pendimethalin (D + P; 850 + 1000 g·ha−1) and reduced rates (637.5 + 750 g·ha−1 and 452 + 500 g·ha−1, 75% and 50% of label rate), followed by strongly reduced rates of postemergence herbicides nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron + dicamba (N + R + D; 4 + 15.6 + 93.5 g·ha−1, 50%), tembotrione (T; 33 g·ha−1, 50%), mesotrione + nicosulfuron (M + N; 37.5 + 15 g·ha−1, 50%), foramsulfuron + iodosulfuron (F + J; 7.5 + 0.25 g·ha−1, 20%), and nikosulfuron (N; 15 g·ha−1, 33%) applied with methylated seed oil (MSO; 1.0 L·ha−1) and ammonium nitrate (AMN; 2 kg·ha−1) on 3–5 leaves of maize to assess weed control, grain yield, and economic net return. Reduced rate of soil-applied herbicide followed by reduced rates of any postemergence herbicides applied with adjuvants was the most efficacious weed control program, provided the highest grain yield of maize and similar or higher economic net return, despite 44 to 48% lower herbicide input than the program based on soil-applied herbicide mixture only. It brings not only notable economic benefits but also less negative impact on the environment.

Tolerance of grain sorghum to PRE- and POST-applied photosystem II–inhibiting herbicides

AbstractAtrazine offers growers a reliable option to control a broad spectrum of weeds in grain sorghum production systems when applied PRE or POST. However, because of the extensive use of atrazine in grain sorghum and corn, it has been found in groundwater in the United States. Given this issue, field experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 in Fayetteville and Marianna, Arkansas, to explore the tolerance of grain sorghum to applications of assorted photosystem II (PSII)-inhibiting herbicides in combination with S-metolachlor (PRE and POST) or mesotrione (POST only) as atrazine replacements. All experiments were designed as a factorial, randomized complete block; the two factors were (1) PSII herbicide and (2) the herbicide added to create the mixture. The PSII herbicides were prometryn, ametryn, simazine, fluometuron, metribuzin, linuron, diuron, atrazine, and propazine. The second factor consisted of either no additional herbicide, S-metolachlor, or mesotrione; however, mesotrione was excluded in the PRE experiments. Crop injury estimates, height, and yield data were collected or calculated in both studies. In the PRE study, injury was less than 10% for all treatments except those containing simazine, which caused 11% injury 28 d after application (DAA). Averaged over PSII herbicide, S-metolachlor–containing treatments caused 7% injury at 14 and 28 DAA. Grain sorghum in atrazine-containing treatments yielded 97% of the nontreated. Grain sorghum receiving other herbicide treatments had significant yield loss due to crop injury, compared with atrazine-containing treatments. In the POST study, ametryn- and prometryn-containing treatments were more injurious than all other treatments 14 DAA. Grain sorghum yield in all POST treatments was comparable to atrazine, except prometryn plus mesotrione, which was 65% of the nontreated. More herbicides should be evaluated to find a comparable fit to atrazine when applied PRE in grain sorghum. However, when applied POST, diuron, fluometuron, linuron, metribuzin, propazine, and simazine have some potential to replace atrazine in terms of crop tolerance and should be further tested as part of a weed control program across a greater range of environments.

Modeling the sustainability and economics of stacked herbicide-tolerant traits and early weed management strategy for waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) control

AbstractDiversity is key for sustainable weed management and can be achieved via both chemical and nonchemical control tactics. Genetically modified crops with two-way or three-way stacked herbicide-tolerant traits allow use of herbicide mixtures that would otherwise be phytotoxic to the crop. Early weed management (EWM) strategies promote the use of PRE herbicides with residual activity to keep the field free of weeds early in the season for successful crop establishment. To evaluate the respective sustainability and practicality of the two chemical-based management tactics (i.e., stacked traits and EWM), we used a population model of waterhemp, Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) Sauer (syn. rudis), to simulate the evolution of resistance in this key weed species in midwestern U.S. soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] agroecosystems. The model tested scenarios with a varying number of herbicide sites of action (SOAs), application timings (PRE and POST), and preexisting levels of resistance. Results showed that both tactics provided opportunity for controlling resistant A. tuberculatus populations. In general, each pass over the field should include at least two effective herbicide SOAs. Nevertheless, the potential evolution of cross-resistance may void the weed control programs embraced by stacked traits and diverse herbicide SOAs. Economic calculations suggested that the diversified programs could double long-term profitability when compared to the conventional system, because of improved yield and grain quality. Ultimately, the essence of a sustainable herbicide resistance management strategy is to be proactive. Although a herbicide-dominated approach to diversifying weed management has been prevalent, the increasing presence of weed populations with multiple resistance means that finding herbicides to which weed populations are still susceptible is becoming increasingly difficult, and thus the importance of reintroducing cultural and mechanical practices to support herbicides must be recognized.

Germination of Solanum nigrum L. (Black Nightshade) in Response to Different Abiotic Factors

ABSTRACT: Solanum nigrum L. (black nightshade), an annual to short-lived perennial weed, has become a problem weed in farming systems in central China. Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to examine the influence of various abiotic factors on seed germination of black nightshade to develop effective weed control programs. Seeds germinated at a range of constant temperatures from 15 to 30 oC, but no germination occurred at temperatures below 10 oC or above 35 oC. Seeds also germinated at alternating temperature regimes from 15/5 to 40/30 oC, with maximum germination (> 93.5%) at the alternating temperatures of 25/15 and 30/20 oC. Germination decreased as osmotic potential became more negative, and no germination was observed at ≤ -0.8 MPa. Moreover, germination was reduced by saline and alkaline stresses and no germination occurred at ≥ 200 mM NaCl or ≥ 150 mM NaHCO3 concentrations. Seed germination was not significantly affected by pH values from 5 to 10. Seedling emergence was significantly affected by burial depth with maximum emergence (93.1%) at 1 cm depth.

Response of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) to chemical weed control programs

The most common broadleaf weed infesting the experimental site in both the years was common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L). Two field trials were performed in south of Russia in two growing seasons 2014 and 2015 for illustrating the efficacy of different post-emergence herbicide combinations in spring wheat cultivars. Common lambsquarters suppression was appropriate with metsulfuron and whole herbicide including metsulfuron. The lowest common lambsquarters suppression was for aminopyralid/florasulam, common lambsquarters had average response to the other tested treatments. Metsulfuron+fluroxypyr applied in spring wheat had the greatest result for wheat grain yield enhancement. Hence, metsulfuron and treatments involving metsulfuron caused the highest common lambsquarters reduction in comparison with other treatments examined in the experiments, and consistently maintained favourable spring wheat yields for both the years. Metsulfuron can improve common lambsquarters resistance to herbicides in wheat field of Russian Federation prairies.

Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) Management in the Dungeness Valley, Washington, United States: The Power of Citizen Scientists to Leverage Policy Change

Commercial vegetable seed production, including carrot seed, is a significant contributor to the agricultural economy of the Dungeness Valley, located in Clallam County, Washington. Wild carrot (Daucus carota) is the forerunner of domestic carrots. Cross-pollination between domestic carrots and their wild progenitors reverses prized characteristics of domestic carrot seed. Because of its ability to ruin carrot seed crop value, wild carrot has been listed under Washington State’s weed laws as a noxious weed. Three different entities, the Clallam County Road Department, Washington State University Extension, and the Clallam County Noxious Weed Control Program collaborated on an action plan to reduce populations of wild carrot in the county, commencing in early spring of 2012. The plan included engaging Washington State University Master Gardener volunteers to collect information on the biology and life cycle of wild carrot, analysis of spatial distribution of wild carrot along roadsides, and investigation of effective control measures for the weed. The information collected by the Master Gardeners in the project became a catalyst for the creation of a more effective weed management policy to address the larger problem of roadside weed management in general. Using highly trained WSU Extension Master Gardeners ensured data and information that concerned stakeholders could trust. The project demonstrates the positive influence that citizen scientists as a whole, and Master Gardeners specifically, can have on shaping local policy.

Critical period for weed control in sesame production

Planning effective weed control in cropping systems requires exact appraisal of the weed intensity and duration of their competition with the crops. This 2‐year study was carried out in order to determine the critical weed control period in sesame fields. Related and relative crop yields were monitored and analyzed using a four‐parametric log‐logistic model. We recorded data from weed‐free plots and compared these with data from different periods of weed interference. In both the study years, the longer period of weed interference decreased the relative yield of sesame, whereas the yield was increased with increasing duration of the weed‐free period. A 51–78.7% decline in sesame yield was noted if the weeds were allowed to compete with the crop from planting to harvest. In the first year, the duration of the critical period for weed control (CPWC) was 177–820 growing degree days (GDD), which corresponded to 14–64 days after crop emergence (DAE), and between 170 and 837 GDD (13–64 DAE) in the second year; this was based on a 5% acceptable yield loss. The results of this study clearly elaborated that maintaining weed‐free conditions is compulsory from as early as the second week after the emergence of sesame plants, and this should be maintained at least until the ninth week to avoid sesame yield losses by more than 5%. These findings show that growers can benefit from CPWC to improve weed control in sesame production, including the efficacy of a weed control program and its cost.

Time of Day Effects on Peanut Herbicide Efficacy

ABSTRACT Recent research on the effects of time of d (TOD) when glufosinate is applied to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and several protoporphyrinogen-inhibiting herbicides in soybean (Glycine max L.) has growers concerned about potential TOD effects on peanut weed control. Consequently, research was conducted in 2015, 2016, and 2017 to determine if TOD influences the performance of peanut herbicides acifluorfen, bentazon, imazapic, lactofen, paraquat, and 2,4-DB. Both non- (bare-ground) and in-crop (peanut) studies were conducted. For non-crop, paraquat plus bentazon plus acifluorfen plus S-metolachlor, imazapic plus S-metolachlor plus 2,4-DB, and lactofen plus S-metolachlor plus 2,4-DB were applied to Palmer amaranth and a non-uniform mixture of annual grasses including Urochloa texana (Buckley), Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.), Eleusine indica (L.), Digitaria spp. at 7:00, 12:00, 17:00, and 22:00 hr. For in-crop studies, two peanut weed control programs were used and herbicide programs were applied at the same TOD. Herbicides were paraquat plus acifluorfen plus bentazon plus S-metolachlor (EPOST) followed by imazapic plus S-metolachlor plus 2,4-DB, or lactofen plus S-metolachlor plus 2,4-DB (POST). For the non-crop studies, a significant interaction between TOD and herbicide program was observed for the 7 d after treatment (DAT) rating of Palmer amaranth control. Control was reduced with imazapic applied at 22:00 hr. At 14 DAT, there was no TOD effect and control was reduced with all imazapic treatments due to ALS resistance. There was no interaction between TOD and herbicide program for annual grass control. Annual grass control was unacceptable (<50%) with lactofen. For in-crop studies, there was no interaction between TOD or herbicide program. Peanut injury was lower at 7:00 hr and 22:00 hr when compared to other timings. Lactofen was more injurious to peanut than imazapic. Palmer amaranth control was not influenced by timing or herbicide program. A reduction in sicklepod control was observed at the 22:00 hr timing and with lactofen. While TOD influenced peanut injury and weed control, peanut yield was not affected.

Annual weed management in isoxaflutole-resistant soybean using a two-pass weed control strategy

AbstractTransgenic crops are being developed with herbicide resistance traits to expand innovative weed management solutions for crop producers. Soybean with traits that confer resistance to the hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase herbicide isoxaflutole is under development and will provide a novel herbicide mode of action for weed management in soybean. Ten field experiments were conducted over 2 years (2017 and 2018) on five soil textures with isoxaflutole-resistant soybean to evaluate annual weed control using one- and two-pass herbicide programs. The one-pass weed control programs included isoxaflutole plus metribuzin, applied PRE, at a low rate (52.5 + 210 g ai ha−1), medium rate (79 + 316 g ai ha−1), and high rate (105 + 420 g ai ha−1); and glyphosate applied early postemergence (EPOST) or late postemergence (LPOST). The two-pass weed control programs included isoxaflutole plus metribuzin, applied PRE, followed by glyphosate applied LPOST, and glyphosate applied EPOST followed by LPOST. At 4 weeks after the LPOST application, control of common lambsquarters, pigweed species, common ragweed, and velvetleaf was variable at 25% to 69%, 49% to 86%, and 71% to 95% at the low, medium, and high rates of isoxaflutole plus metribuzin, respectively. Isoxaflutole plus metribuzin at the low, medium, and high rates controlled grass species evaluated (i.e., barnyardgrass, foxtail, crabgrass, and witchgrass) 85% to 97%, 75% to 99%, and 86% to 100%, respectively. All two-pass weed management programs provided 98% to 100% control of all species. Weed control improved as the rate of isoxaflutole plus metribuzin increased. Two-pass programs provided excellent, full-season annual grass and broadleaf weed control in isoxaflutole-resistant soybean.

Critical time for weed removal in glyphosate-resistant soybean as influenced by preemergence herbicides

AbstractWidespread and repeated use of glyphosate resulted in an increase in glyphosate-resistant (GR) weeds. This led to an urgent need for diversification of weed control programs and use of PRE herbicides with alternative sites of action. Field experiments were conducted over a 4-yr period (2015 to 2018) across three locations in Nebraska to evaluate the effects of PRE-applied herbicides on critical time for weed removal (CTWR) in GR soybean. The studies were laid out in a split-plot arrangement with herbicide regime as the main plot and weed removal timing as the subplot. The herbicide regimes used were either no PRE or premix of either sulfentrazone plus imazethapyr (350 + 70 g ai ha−1) or saflufenacil plus imazethapyr plus pyroxasulfone (26 + 70 + 120 g ai ha−1). The weed removal timings were at V1, V3, V6, R2, and R5 soybean stages, with weed-free and weedy season-long checks. Weeds were removed by application of glyphosate (1,400 g ae ha−1) or by hoeing. The results across all years and locations suggested that the use of PRE herbicides delayed CTWR in soybean. In particular, the CTWR without PRE herbicides was determined to be around the V1 to V2 (14 to 21 d after emergence [DAE]) growth stage, depending on the location and weed pressure. The use of PRE-applied herbicides delayed CTWR from about the V4 (28 DAE) stage up to the R5 (66 DAE) stage. These results suggest that the use of PRE herbicides in GR soybean could delay the need for POST application of glyphosate by 2 to 5 wk, thereby reducing the need for multiple applications of glyphosate during the growing season. Additionally, the use of PRE herbicides could provide additional modes of action needed to manage GR weeds in GR soybean.

Evolutionary and ecological insights from herbicide-resistant weeds: what have we learned about plant adaptation, and what is left to uncover?

The evolution of herbicide resistance in crop weeds presents one of the greatest challenges to agriculture and the production of food. Herbicide resistance has been studied for more than 60yr, in the large part by researchers seeking to design effective weed control programs. As an outcome of this work, various unique questions in plant adaptation have been addressed. Here, I collate recent research on the herbicide-resistant problem in light of key questions and themes in evolution and ecology. I highlight discoveries made on herbicide-resistant weeds in three broad areas - the genetic basis of adaptation, evolutionary constraints, experimental evolution - and similarly discuss questions left to be answered. I then develop how one would use herbicide-resistance evolution as a model for studying eco-evolutionary dynamics within a community context. My overall goals are to highlight important findings in the weed science literature that are relevant to themes in plant adaptation and to stimulate the use of herbicide-resistant plants as models for addressing key questions within ecology and evolution.

Physical Compatibility and Stability of Pesticide Mixtures at Different Spray Volumes

ABSTRACT: Available information on physical compatibility and stability of pesticide mixtures is scarce and often divergent. This knowledge is of fundamental importance in the success of pest, disease, and weed control programs. Compatibility and stability of two glyphosate formulations (WG and SL) in a mixture with fluazinam + deltamethrin + trifloxystrobin/cyproconazole at four diluted water concentrations and different times were evaluated under laboratory conditions. The evaluations were performed at the following time intervals: immediately after mixing and 1, 5, 10, 30, 120, 900, and 1,440 minutes after the mixing of pesticides. Scores were assigned on a scale ranging from 1 to 5, where 1 meant immediate separation of compounds and 5 the perfect mixture stability up to 30 minutes. The data were submitted to descriptive statistics and presented in tables. Mixture stability differed in glyphosate formulations and their concentrations due to the used spray solution volume. Distinct mixtures between glyphosate (SL) and deltamethrin, as well as between glyphosate (WG) and deltamethrin, were physically compatible when stirred again even after 24 hours at rest. The mixture containing glyphosate (SL), deltamethrin, and fluazinam and trifloxystrobin/ cyproconazole was incompatible at a volume of 30 L ha-1.

Evaluation of dormancy breaking methods for enhanced germination in four biotypes of Brassica tournefortii

Brassica tournefortii is an important broadleaf weed of the winter season in the northern grain region of Australia. Knowledge of germination ecology of this weed would help in implementing effective weed control programs. A series of experiments were conducted to study the germination and dormancy behavior of four biotypes of B. tournefortii seeds, biotypes A (collected from barley crop), B (barley fence lines), C (chickpea crop), and D (chickpea fence lines), collected from the St George region of Queensland. The aim of this research was to determine the effectiveness of various methods on the seed dormancy release of B. tournefortii. Water, potassium nitrate and a soil extract did not release dormancy in B. tournefortii seeds (biotype A) at 20/10 °C in the light/dark regime. Cold stratification (5 °C) also did not improve germination. However, gibberellic acid (GA3; 100–300 mg kg−1) stimulated germination (>88%). Germination also improved when seeds were immersed in sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl; 42 g L−1) for 10 minutes and the effect was more pronounced under the complete dark environment (89% germination at a day/night temperature of 20/10 °C). The NaOCl treatment makes seeds more porous and decreases sensitivity to light. Another experiment in light/dark conducted at 25/15 °C with two biotypes (A and D) showed that, without NaOCl treatment, biotype A was more sensitive to light (29% germination) as compared to biotype D (92% germination). Our results suggest that dormancy in B. tournefortii seeds can be broken by the combination of NaOCl (10 min) and a dark environment. A day/night temperature of 25/15 °C was found best for optimum germination (>87%) for all the biotypes (A-D) when incubated in dark after treating with NaOCl. This research indicated a high degree of variability in germination responses for various biotypes of B. tournefortii seeds to various sets of conditions, which may be due to metabolic changes in response to maternal environments or genetically controlled mechanisms. Information gained from this study will be important in developing a better understanding of the dormancy behavior of B. tournefortii seeds in response to tillage systems or maternal environments that could influence the weed seed bank in the soil and therefore help in designing suitable weed management programs.

Evaluation of Pethoxamid-Containing Weed Control Programs in Drill-seeded Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

AbstractHerbicide resistance to several of the most common weed species in US rice production, such as barnyardgrass and red rice, has made weed control extremely difficult with available herbicide options. No very-long-chain fatty acid–inhibiting herbicides are labeled for use in US rice; however, pethoxamid is one such herbicide under development for soil-applied use to control grasses and small-seeded broadleaves in rice and various row crops. Field trials were conducted in 2015 and 2016 near Stuttgart, AR, for rice tolerance and in 2016 near Colt, AR, and Lonoke, AR, for weed control with the use of pethoxamid-containing rice herbicide programs. Pethoxamid was applied alone and in a program at 420 and 560 g ai ha–1 with other herbicides labeled in rice including clomazone, quinclorac, propanil, imazethapyr, and carfentrazone POST. Injury less than 10% was seen for all treatments 2 wk after application in 2015 and 2016, except for pethoxamid at 420 g ha–1 to clomazone to one-leaf rice. Rice injury dissipated to less than 5% following all treatments by 4 wk after flood establishment. Barnyardgrass was controlled 95% or more near Colt and 93% or more near Lonoke for herbicide programs including clomazone PRE followed by pethoxamid plus quinclorac or imazethapyr at three- to four-leaf stage rice. Considering the minimal injury and high levels of barnyardgrass control associated with pethoxamid-containing weed control programs, pethoxamid provides a unique and effective site of action for use in US rice production.

Effects of Flame Weeding on Organic Garlic Production

A lack of efficient machines and strategies for cropping practices are still problems on small farms and in difficult landscapes, especially in organic crop production. The aim of this study was to develop a new weed control strategy for a typical organic garlic (Allium sativum) grown in Liguria, Italy. Flaming was proposed as an additional tool for the physical weed control program. A field experiment was conducted to test the effects of different flaming doses and timing on weed control and garlic production. The treatments consisted of a broadcast flaming at 16, 22, 37, and 112 kg·ha−1 of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at three different crop growth stages—emergence (BBCH 9), three to four leaves (BBCH 13) and six to seven leaves (BBCH 16)—once (at each growth stage separately), twice (at BBCH 9 and BBCH 13, BBCH 9 and BBCH 16, and BBCH 13 and BBCH 16 stages) or three times (all stages combined). Treatments were compared with a weedy control and hand weeding. One flaming treatment was effective in controlling weeds during the growing season. Frequent flaming treatments did not further reduce the weed biomass measured at harvest. A higher production than the weedy control, in terms of the number of marketable bulbs and yield, was obtained for all the flaming interventions carried out at more than 16-kg·ha−1 LPG dose. Garlic flamed once at BBCH 13 at any LPG dose or three times at more than 16 kg·ha−1 led to a comparable number of bulbs as hand weeding. Three flamings at an LPG dose of 22 kg·ha−1 also gave a statistically similar yield to hand weeding. In general, garlic was shown to tolerate up to three flaming treatments without a decline in the production. The decline in yield compared with hand weeding could be offset by the economical savings of the mechanization process and by integrating flaming with other mechanical tools used for weed management.

Evaluating Mustard Seed Meal for Weed Suppression in Potato (Solanum tuberosum)

Mustard seed meal (MSM) derived from Sinapis alba controls weeds for several weeks following application to soil, but also has potential to injure the planted crop. Producers of certified organic potatoes typically utilize a combination of cover crops, soil hilling, harrowing, and cultivation for weed control. Once the potato canopy nears row closure, most late emerging weeds are suppressed by the dense potato canopy. MSM may have value for early season weed suppression in potato, but has not been previously tested. Our objectives were to determine the weed control efficacy and potato tolerance to MSM. We evaluated response of potatoes and weeds to MSM applied at 1.1, 2.2, and 4.5 MT ha-1 applied in a band on the potato hill just after a shallow harrowing and prior to potato emergence as part of an integrated weed management program in potatoes. MSM applied at 2.2 and 4.5 MT ha-1 reduced early season grass and broadleaf weed density 73 to 99% and 54 to 98%, respectively, in potato and reduced late season broadleaf weed biomass 71 to 94% in all three years tested. Early season grass weed density in potato was reduced by MSM at 2.2 and 4.5 MT ha-1. Late season grass weed biomass was reduced by the highest rate of 4.5 MT ha-1. MSM at 4.5 MT ha-1 caused minor injury to potato (3 to 15%) at 3 weeks after emergence, but did not reduce total tuber yields or percentage of US No.1 tubers. MSM could be a component of an integrated weed control program in potato.