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The soil weed seedbank is the source of future weed infestations. Seed predation can result in a large number of seed losses, thus contributing to weed biocontrol. Earthworms are important predators of seeds and seedlings and affect seeds and seedling survival after gut passage. A study was conducted to assess the ability of Pheretima guillelmi (Kinberg) to ingest and digest the seeds and seedlings of 15 main farmland weed species. Pheretima guillelmi ingested the seeds and seedlings of each weed species tested. The percentages of seeds and seedlings ingested were 96.7% to 100% and 21.7% to 94.2%, respectively. Pheretima guillelmi showed greater ingestion of seeds than seedlings for each species and digested the seeds and seedlings of each weed species tested to varying extents. The percentages of seeds and seedlings digested were less than 15% irrespective of the weed species. Passage through the gut of P. guillelmi affected the survival of seeds and seedlings. The germination of large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.], green foxtail [Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv.], goosegrass [Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.], Chinese sprangletop [Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees], Malabar sprangletop [Leptochloa fusca (L.) Kunth], redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.], and ricefield flatsedge (Cyperus iria L.) seeds egested by P. guillelmi decreased by 46%, 49%, 47%, 25%, 38%, 26%, 32%, 13%, and 15%, respectively, compared with their respective controls. In contrast to seed ingestion, ingestion of seedlings by P. guillelmi was fatal to individuals of all weed species; no seedlings survived passage through the gut. Our results indicate that predation of weed seeds and seedlings by P. guillelmi probably depletes the soil weed seedbank and that the introduction of P. guillelmi into fields is a potential strategy for weed biocontrol in farmland.

Tolpyralate is a new 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)–inhibiting herbicide for weed control in corn. Previous research has reported efficacy of tolpyralate + atrazine on several annual grass and broadleaf weed species; however, no studies have evaluated weed control of tolpyralate + atrazine depending on time-of-day (TOD) of application. Six field experiments were conducted over a 2-yr period (2018, 2019) near Ridgetown, ON, to determine if there is an effect of TOD of application on tolpyralate + atrazine efficacy on common annual grass and broadleaf weeds. An application was made at 3-h intervals beginning at 06:00 h with the last application at 24:00 h. There was a slight TOD effect on velvetleaf, pigweed species, and common ragweed control with tolpyralate + atrazine; however, the magnitude of change throughout the day was ≤3% at 2, 4, or 8 wk after application (WAA). There was no effect of TOD of tolpyralate + atrazine on the control of lambsquarters, barnyardgrass, and green foxtail. All weed species were controlled ≥88% at 8 WAA. There was no effect of TOD of tolpyralate + atrazine application on corn yield. Results of this study show no evidence of a TOD effect on weed control efficacy with tolpyralate + atrazine.Nomenclature: Atrazine; tolpyralate; barnyardgrass; Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.; common ragweed; Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.; green foxtail; Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv; hemp sesbania; Sesbania herbacea (Mill.) McVaugh; lambsquarters; Chenopodium album L.; redroot pigweed; Amaranthus retroflexus L.; sicklepod; Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby; velvetleaf; Abutilon theophrasti Medik.; corn; Zea mays L.

Effective POST herbicides and herbicide mixtures are key components of integrated weed management in corn; however, herbicides vary in their efficacy based on application timing. Six field experiments were conducted over 2 yr (2017–2018) in southwestern Ontario, Canada, to determine the effects of herbicide application timing and rate on the efficacy of tolpyralate, a new 4-hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase inhibitor. Tolpyralate at 15, 30, or 40 g ai ha-1 in combination with atrazine at 500 or 1,000 g ai ha-1 was applied PRE, early POST, mid-POST, or late POST. Tolpyralate + atrazine at rates ≥30 + 1,000 g ha-1 provided equivalent control of common lambsquarters and Powell amaranth applied PRE or POST, whereas no rate applied PRE controlled common ragweed, velvetleaf, barnyardgrass, or green foxtail. Common ragweed, common lambsquarters, velvetleaf, and Powell amaranth were controlled equally regardless of POST timing. In contrast, control of barnyardgrass and green foxtail declined when herbicide application was delayed to the late-POST timing, irrespective of herbicide rate. Similarly, corn grain yield declined within each tolpyralate + atrazine rate when herbicide applications were delayed to late-POST timing. Overall, the results of this study indicate that several monocot and dicot weed species can be controlled with tolpyralate + atrazine with an early to mid-POST herbicide application timing, before weeds reach 30 cm in height, and Powell amaranth and common lambsquarters can also be controlled PRE. Additionally, this study provides further evidence highlighting the importance of effective, early-season weed control in corn.Nomenclature: atrazine; tolpyralate; barnyardgrass, Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv., ECHCG; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L., CHEAL; common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., AMBEL; green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv., SETVI; Powell amaranth, Amaranthus powelli S. Watson, AMAPO; velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medik., ABUTH; corn, Zea mays L.

SummaryIsolated gametes can be used to investigate fertilization mechanisms, and probe distant hybridization between different species. Pollen grains of wheat and Setaria viridis are tricellular, containing sperm cells at anthesis. Sperm from these plants were isolated by breaking open pollen grains in a osmotic solution. Wheat ovules were digested in an enzyme solution for 20 min, and then transferred to an isolation solution without enzymes to separate egg cells from ovules. The fusion of wheat egg cells with wheat and S. viridis sperm was conducted using an electro-fusion apparatus. Under suitable osmotic pressure (10% mannitol), calcium concentration of 0.001% (CaCl2·2H2O), and a 30–35 V alternating electric field for 15 s, egg cells and sperm adhered to each other and became arranged in a line. Electroporation of the plasma membrane of egg cells and sperm using a 300–500 V direct-current electric field (45 µs amplitude pulse) caused them to fuse.

Transgenic 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.Nomenclature Glyphosate; isoxaflutole; metribuzin; barnyardgrass, Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beav.; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L.; common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.; giant foxtail, Setaria faberi Herrm.; green foxtail, Setaria viridis L. P. Beauv.; horseweed, Erigeron canadensis L. Cronq.; Powell amaranth, Amaranthus powellii S. Watson; redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L.; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr.; velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medik.; waterhemp, Amaranthus tuberculatus Moq. J. D. Sauer

Tolpyralate is a new 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibiting herbicide for POST weed management in corn; however, there is limited information regarding its efficacy. Six field studies were conducted in Ontario, Canada, over 3 yr (2015 to 2017) to determine the biologically effective dose of tolpyralate for the control of eight annual weed species. Tolpyralate was applied POST at six doses from 3.75 to 120 g ai ha-1 and tank mixed at a 1:33.3 ratio with atrazine at six doses from 125 to 4,000 g ha-1. Regression analysis was performed to determine the effective dose (ED) of tolpyralate, and tolpyralate + atrazine, required to achieve 50%, 80%, or 90% control of eight weed species at 1, 2, 4, and 8 wk after application (WAA). The ED of tolpyralate for 90% control (ED90) of velvetleaf, common lambsquarters, common ragweed, redroot pigweed or Powell amaranth, and green foxtail at 8 WAA was ≤15.5 g ha-1; however, tolpyralate alone did not provide 90% control of wild mustard, barnyardgrass, or ladysthumb at 8WAAat any dose evaluated in this study. In contrast, the ED90 for all species in this study with tolpyralate + atrazine was ≤13.1 + 436 g ha-1, indicating that tolpyralate + atrazine can be highly efficacious at low field doses.Nomenclature: Atrazine; tolpyralate; barnyardgrass, Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. ECHCG; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. CHEAL; common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. AMBEL; green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv. SETVI; ladysthumb, Persicaria maculosa Gray POLPE; Powell amaranth, Amaranthus powelli S. Watson AMAPO; redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L. AMARE; velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medik. ABUTH; wild mustard, Sinapis arvensis L. SINAR; corn, Zea mays L.

Biofumigation is practiced to control soilborne pests and weeds in agronomic fields. The objectives of this research were to assess the dose response of weed seeds to Indian mustard biofumigation and associate responses to seed dormancy state, initial dormancy, and seed parameters. A petri dish biofumigation methodology was developed to expose seeds of common lambsquarters, bird vetch, wild carrot, common ragweed, green foxtail, velvetleaf, hairy galinsoga, and red clover to allelochemicals produced after rehydrating 0 (control), 1.94, 2.90, 5.81, 11.61, and 17.41 mg cm-2 of dried mustard powder. Weed species expressed specific dose responses, estimated ED50, LD50, and maximal mortality. Hairy galinsoga and wild carrot were consistently the most affected by biofumigation, with maximal mortality reaching 97% and 95%, ED50 values for germination were 1.91 and 2.68 mg cm-2, and LD50 values were 3.31 and 3.69 mg cm-2 of dried mustard tissue, respectively. Initial dormancy was assessed by germination and tetrazolium tests. Seed parameters such as testa thickness, relative weight of the testa, and seed size were measured directly by manual dissection, weighing seed structures, and stereomicroscopic imaging software measurements. Linear regression analyses revealed initial dormancy to be positively related to ED50 and LD50 values with a significant interaction with seed surface and seed width, respectively. Exposure to 5.81 mg cm-2 of dried mustard powder increased common ragweed seed mortality for after-ripened seeds by 293% and by 58% for primary dormant seeds compared with untreated seeds. Mortality of common lambsquarters secondary and primary dormant seeds increased by 730% and 106%, respectively, and for wild carrot by 1,193 and 156%, respectively. Results underline the potential to incorporate biofumigation into weed management programs for repression of susceptible weed species.Nomenclature: Indian mustard, Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. ‘cv. Caliente 199’; velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medik. ABUTH; bird vetch, Vicia cracca L. VICCR; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. CHEAL; common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. AMBEL; green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. SETVI; hairy galinsoga, Galinsoga quadriradiata Cav. GASCI; red clover, Trifolium pratense L. TRFPR; wild carrot, Daucus carota L. DAUCA.ED50: estimated half maximal effective dose of dry mustard biomass that decrease germination;LD50: lethal dose of dry mustard biomass that kills 50% of viable seeds.

Treerow vegetation abundance and biodiversity were measured in response to six orchard floor management strategies in organic peach in northern Utah for three growing seasons. A total of 32 weed species were observed in the treerow; the most common were field bindweed, dandelion, perennial grasses (e.g., red fescue and ryegrass), clovers, and prickly lettuce. Weed biomass was two to five times greater in unmanaged (living mulch) than in manipulated treatments. Tillage greatly reduced weeds for approximately one month; however, vegetation rebounded midseason. Tillage selected for species adapted to disturbance, such as common purslane and field bindweed. Straw mulch provided equivalent weed suppression to tillage in the early season. Straw required annual reapplication with material costs, labor, and weed-seed contamination (e.g., volunteer grains and quackgrass) as disadvantages. Plastic fabric mulch reduced weeds the most, but had high initial costs and required seasonal maintenance. Weed biomass declined within seasons and across the three years of the study, likely due to tree canopy shading. Neither birdsfoot trefoil nor a perennial grass mixture planted in the alleyways influenced treerow weeds. Our results demonstrate several viable alternatives to tillage for weed management in treerows of organic peach orchards in the Intermountain West.Nomenclature: Birdsfoot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus L.; clover, Trifolium; common purslane, Portulaca oleracea L.; dandelion, Taraxacum officinale G.H. Weber ex Wiggers; field bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis L.; red fescue, Festuca rubra L.; perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L.; green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.; prickly lettuce, Lactuca serriola L.; quackgrass, Elymus repens (L.) Gould; peach, Prunus persica L. Batsch.

White bean tolerance and weed control were examined by applying halosulfuron alone or in combination with pendimethalin, dimethenamid-P, or S-metolachlor applied PRE. All herbicides applied alone or in combination caused less than 3% visible injury 1 and 4 wk after emergence (WAE). Halosulfuron applied PRE provided greater than 95% control of common lambsquarters, wild mustard, redroot pigweed, and common ragweed and less than 55% control of green foxtail at 4 and 8 WAE. Weed density and dry weight at 8 WAE paralleled the control ratings. Dry bean yields in halosulfuron plus a soil applied grass herbicide did not differ compared to the weed-free control. Green foxtail competition with halosulfuron PRE applied alone resulted in reduced white bean yield compared to the weed-free control. Nomenclature: Dimethenamid-P; halosulfuron; pendimethalin; S-metolachlor; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L.; common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.; green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.; redroot pigweed, ...

Crop seedlings detect the presence of neighboring competitors by means of the red to far-red ratio (R/FR) of light reflected from the leaf surfaces of adjacent seedlings. Although previous studies have suggested that shifts in the R/FR initiate crop– weed competition, no studies have documented the R/FR of light reflected from weeds or explored how weed management practices may affect the R/FR. Experiments were conducted to test the following hypotheses: (1) the duration of R/FR signals reflected from the leaf surface of weed seedlings will vary among herbicides following treatment and will decline faster as the dose of a given herbicide increases, (2) the R/FR of reflected light will differ among weed species, and (3) the R/FR of reflected light will decrease as weed seedling leaf area and stage of development increases. Velvetleaf was used as a model weed species to examine herbicide chemistry and dose, and six weed species including Powell amaranth, velvetleaf, Eastern black nightshade, barnyardgrass, proso millet, and green foxtail were evaluated in order to characterize the R/FR of light reflected from their leaf surfaces. Results of this study confirm that the R/FR reflected from the leaf surface of weeds is affected by: herbicide chemistry, herbicide dose, weed species, stage of weed development, and distance of the weed from the crop. The relative decline in the R/FR (as a percent of the untreated control) was most rapid following treatment with paraquat, followed by glufosinate and then glyphosate. As glyphosate dose decreased, so did the reduction in the relative R/ FR. Based on reflected R/FR, weed species tended to be grouped into monocots and dicots, with the latter reflecting a lower R/FR per unit leaf area than the former. This disparity was attributed to the compact leaf arrangement and orientation of dicot weed canopies, which may contribute to the greater competitiveness of dicot weeds. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; glufosinate; paraquat; barnyardgrass, Echinochloa crus-galli L. Beauv. ECHCG; Eastern black nightshade, Solanum ptycanthum Dunal. SOLPT; green foxtail, Setaria viridis L. (Beauv.) SETVI; proso millet, Panicum milliaceum L. PANMI; Powell amaranth, Amaranthus powellii S. Wats. AMPO; velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medik. ABUTH.

Experiments were conducted to determine the efficacy, absorption, and translocation of nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, and nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron on barnyardgrass, green foxtail, longspine sandbur, and large crabgrass. In the greenhouse, nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, and nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron were applied at 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, and 2 times their label rates of 35, 13, and 26 + 13 g ai ha−1, respectively, on 5- to 10-cm plants. Three weeks after treatment (WAT), barnyardgrass was the most susceptible species to all three herbicides, and large crabgrass was the least susceptible. The nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, or nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron rates causing 50% visible injury (GR50) for barnyardgrass were 10.9, 4.8, and 6 + 3 g ai ha−1, respectively. Similarly, the GR50for large crabgrass were 25.6, 9.9, and 14.3 + 7.2 g ai ha−1, respectively, 3 WAT. Absorption of nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, and nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron was greater in barnyardgrass than in large crabgrass. Absorption of nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron in barnyardgrass and large crabgrass was 74% and 57%, respectively, 7 d after treatment (DAT). In addition, translocation of nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, and nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron out of the treated leaf was 14, 12, and 14% higher, respectively, in barnyardgrass than in large crabgrass. The differential response of these weed species to nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, and nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron might be due to differences in herbicide absorption and translocation.

Estimates of seed viability using the imbibed seed crush test, a method performed by applying pressure to imbibed seeds, were compared with estimates obtained from using the imbibed seed crush test supplemented with tetrazolium staining. The seeds of three weed species, giant foxtail, green foxtail, and yellow foxtail, were collected from three different crops and tested by each method. The results from the two approaches were strongly and significantly correlated. The imbibed seed crush test requires considerably less skill and time to perform and is a reasonable alternative to tetrazolium staining to test the seed viability of newly produced foxtail seeds. Nomenclature: Tetrazolium, 2,3,5 triphenyl tetrazolium chloride; giant foxtail, Setaria faberi Herrm. SETFA; green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. SETVI; yellow foxtail, Setaria glauca (L.) Beauv. SETLU. Seed viability is a critical measure in plant demographics and population dynamics research. Conducting seed-bank surveys and monitoring fluctuations in seed populations require intensive sampling and testing for seed viability on a large scale (Buhler and Hartzler 2001; Menalled et al. 2005; Nurse and DiTommaso 2005). Nonetheless, viability testing for weed seeds has proven especially difficult on account of the small size, the high number of seeds produced from each plant, and the long dormancy times that weed seeds can exhibit.

Laboratory studies were conducted to examine the leaf surface, epicuticular wax content, and spread area of primisulfuron spray droplet with and without surfactant on leaf surface of barnyardgrass and green foxtail. Adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy and leaf wax was extracted and quantified. The spread of 1-μl droplets of distilled water, primisulfuron solution (without surfactant), primisulfuron solution with a nonionic low foam wetter/spreader adjuvant (0.25% v/v), and with an organosilicone wetting agent (0.1% v/v) was determined on the adaxial leaf surfaces of each of the weed species. Stomata and trichomes were present on adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces in both species. Green foxtail had more stomata per unit area on the adaxial as compared to the abaxial leaf surface. Barnyardgrass had more stomata on the abaxial than on the adaxial leaf surface. There was no significant variation in the number of trichomes per unit leaf area of green foxtail, and the number of prickles per unit area of leaf was significantly higher in adaxial than the abaxial leaf surface, in both young and old leaves. In barnyardgrass, there were more trichomes on abaxial than adaxial leaf surface. The mean value of the wax content per unit of leaf area in barnyardgrass and green foxtail was 35.9 μg cm−2and 19.1 μg cm−2, respectively. On both species primisulfuron with a nonionic surfactant had more spread area than that without a surfactant, and the spread was even greater with organosilicone wetting agent. The spread area of primisulfuron droplet was higher on the leaf surface of barnyardgrass than on green foxtail when surfactant was added.

Sethoxydim, tralkoxydim, imazethapyr, quinclorac, propanil, glyphosate, and glufosinate were tested at rates below those recommended by the manufacturers withPyricularia setariaeNiskada under greenhouse conditions for control of green foxtail. At one-tenth of the recommended rate in a 100 L/ha carrier volume, only the sethoxydim–P. setariaecombination achieved more effective green foxtail control when compared with the herbicide or pathogen alone. Selected herbicides at one-tenth, one-fourth, and one-half of the recommended rates showed variable interactions with the pathogen on plants with three and five leaves. Propanil (recommended rate 0.99 kg ai/ha) was more synergistic at higher rates, especially on larger plants, for which the combined treatment increased green foxtail mortality from zero in the herbicide alone to 100%. Quinclorac (recommended rate 0.10 kg ai/ha) acted similarly to propanil with slightly lower synergy effects. Sethoxydim (recommended rate 0.15 kg ai/ha) at one-tenth or one-quarter of the rate plusP. setariaeoften enhanced green foxtail control on larger plants. On smaller plants, the herbicide and pathogen alone were highly efficacious. Compared with tank mixes withP. setariae, propanil, quinclorac, or sethoxydim applied 6 h before the pathogen or earlier generally showed greater efficacy. Delaying a tank mix application for up to 2 h had little negative effect, but longer than 4 h often reduced efficacy. When combining the pathogen at different doses with propanil, quinclorac, or sethoxydim at one-tenth, one-quarter, and one-half of the rate, both fungal dose and herbicide rate affected the efficacy. Coapplying any of the herbicides at the one-quarter rate with the pathogen at the sublethal dose of 2 × 107spores/ml achieved complete control of green foxtail.

The importance of spray retention to the biocontrol of green foxtail with Pyricularia setariae was characterized using airbrush and broadcast sprayers at variable application volumes. Spray retention was determined by measuring amounts of a tracer dye solution on treated plants using fluorescence spectrophotometry. Depending on the droplet size, broadcast spraying at 1,000 to 2,000 L/ha produced a level of retention equivalent to that of airbrush spraying until runoff. The trend of P. setariae spore retention on green foxtail was similar to that of liquid retention. Broadcasting P. setariae at volumes producing equivalent spray retention to that of airbrush inoculation resulted in a similar level of weed control under greenhouse conditions. Reducing broadcast volume from 2,000 to 250 L/ha lowered biocontrol efficacy only slightly, when the concentration of P. setariae was increased proportionally to keep the applied fungal dose the same. A nozzle with a fine droplet spectrum (volume median diameter [VMD] ...

Agronomic research on the effects of nitrogen fertilizer and weed control in corn has focused primarily on maintaining or increasing yield. Few studies have examined the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate or weed competition (or both) on whole plant growth and development. The objectives of this research were to determine how N influences the growth and development of corn and to explore how green foxtail density affects this relationship. Field experiments were conducted on a sandy low organic matter soil from 1999 to 2001. The experiment was designed as a factorial with N rate ranging from 0 to 200 kg N ha−1and targeted green foxtail density ranging from 0 to 300 plants m−2. Under weed-free conditions, a higher rate of N fertilizer increased corn leaf and grain N content, leaf area index (LAI), plant height, and aboveground dry matter (DM) production, including kernel weight. However, in the presence of green foxtail, corn leaf N content, LAI, growth rate, plant height, and aboveground DM were reduced at each N level. Despite having significant main effects, there was no interaction between N rate and green foxtail density. Results indicate that in corn grown on a coarse-textured soil with low organic matter, the additional stress brought about by the presence of green foxtail exacerbated the effect of low N rates on corn growth and development. More intensive weed management may be required in corn if N fertilizer rates are reduced.

Thirteen hard red winter wheat cultivars were evaluated for their ability to suppress summer annual weeds in grain production systems near North Platte, NE, from 1993 through 1997. ‘Turkey’, a 125-yr-old landrace selection, suppressed both broadleaf and grass weeds more than other cultivars. Some relatively new cultivars, such as ‘Arapahoe’, ‘Jules’, ‘Pronghorn’, and ‘Vista’ suppressed summer annual grasses almost as well as Turkey. Total weed density was negatively correlated with number of winter wheat stems/m2, mature winter wheat height, and lodging. Weed density after wheat harvest was positively correlated with delay in winter wheat seeding date and was negatively correlated with precipitation 0 to 30 d after winter wheat seeding, during tillering, tillering to boot stage, and heading to maturity stage. Mean air temperature 0 to 30 d after wheat seeding was positively correlated with weed density. In the spring, weed density was positively correlated with temperatures during the tillering stage, tillering to boot stage, and heading to maturity stage. Stinkgrass and witchgrass densities were positively correlated with severity of wheat leaf rust. The highest grain-producing cultivars included three medium height cultivars ‘Alliance’, Arapahoe, and ‘Niobrara’. Alliance wheat produced 53% more grain than Turkey, and the other two produced 43% more grain.

A biotype of green foxtail found in Spain exhibited cross-resistance among acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase)–inhibiting herbicides. Field doses that totally inhibited shoot fresh weight in the susceptible (S) biotype were determined for six aryloxyphenoxypropionates (clodinafop, diclofop, fenoxaprop-P, fluazifop-P, haloxyfop-P, and propaquizafop) and six cyclohexanediones (clefoxydim, clethodim, cycloxydim, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, and tralkoxydim). The resistant (R) biotype showed cross-resistance to all herbicides except fenoxaprop-P, propaquizafop, clefoxydim, and tepraloxydim. There were no differences in the absorption, translocation, and metabolism of [14C]diclofop between the S and R biotypes. On the basis of herbicide dose that inhibited ACCase activity by 50% (I50values), ACCase of the R biotype was 5.8-, 13.9-, 20.0-, 102.4-, 416.7-, and 625.0-fold less sensitive to clethodim, haloxyfop, diclofop, fluazifop, cycloxydim, and sethoxydim, respectively, than that of the S biotype. Two multifunctional ACCase isoforms (ACCase I and ACCase II) were purified partially and separated. ACCase II was highly resistant to diclofop acid in both biotypes, with I50values ranging between 92 and 95 μM. However, the I50values observed for ACCase I revealed that the R biotype was 30.8-fold less sensitive to diclofop than the S biotype. These results suggest the mechanism of resistance in green foxtail to diclofop relates to an altered ACCase I isoform.

One hundred and thirty-three fungal isolates, pathogenic to green foxtail, were evaluated for weed control potential under controlled conditions. To determine weed control efficacy, these pathogens were applied as spore or mycelial suspensions at approximately 105propagules ml−1to green foxtail at the three-leaf stage. One week after inoculation, most isolates caused only minor injury to the plants, but 15 isolates caused 50 to 100% disease. Among the most efficacious isolates, only those ofPyricularia setariaeexhibited strong host specificity to the target weed, revealing no significant pathogenicity on 28 other plant species tested, including many important crops such as wheat, barley, and oat. On green foxtail leaves, conidia of this fungus germinated readily at 14, 20, and 26 C, but the process of germination and appressorial formation was more rapid at the higher temperatures. The fungus applied at the concentration of 105spores ml−1reduced weed fresh weight by 34% 7 d after the treatment when compared with controls, whereas a concentration of 107spores ml−1reduced fresh weight by 87%. This efficacy was comparable with that of the herbicide sethoxydim. When applied to the weed at the one- to four-leaf stages, the fungus reduced green foxtail fresh weight by more than 80%. Efficacy was slightly lower on plants at the five-leaf stage or older. On the green foxtail biotype resistant to the herbicide sethoxydim,P. setariaecaused 80% fresh weight reduction compared with untreated controls, as opposed to 17% achieved with the herbicide. At 20 C, the fungus required a minimum of 6-h dew period to initiate infection, but a 10-h dew period was needed to cause severe damage to green foxtail.

Environmental legislation may impose limitations on the quantity of nitrogen (N) used in corn production on the basis of soil type and ground water flow. If N rates are reduced, this might influence the relative competitiveness of weed species. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to develop a surface response model to provide estimations of the effect of differing N rates on threshold values of green foxtail in corn and to use this model as a theoretical framework for hypothesis testing. Field experiments were conducted from 1999 to 2001 to examine the interaction of N rate and green foxtail density on corn grain yield. The experiment was designed as a two-factor factorial with N levels ranging from 0 to 200 kg N ha−1and targeted green foxtail densities ranging from 0 to 300 green foxtail plants m−2. The addition of up to 200 kg N ha−1increased corn grain yield in both weed-free and weedy treatments. Corn yield loss attributed to green foxtail ranged from 35 to 40% at 0 kg N ha−1to 12 to 17% at 200 kg N ha−1. Ridge analysis of the response surfaces indicated that optimal corn grain yield could be achieved at derived values of 131 to 138 kg N ha−1while maintaining a green foxtail density of 8 to 9 green foxtail plants m−2on a sandy soil with less than 2% organic matter. The analyses of simulation results led to the generation of hypotheses of practical relevance to N management. On the basis of the generated hypotheses, a legislated reduction in N or an increase in the cost of N fertilizer would result in a lower threshold value for green foxtail in corn. If legislation were to ban the use of all herbicides in corn production, higher N rates or an increase in mechanical weed control measures would be required to offset yield losses caused by green foxtail. The human health and environmental consequences of such legislation would be significant.

Mapping weed infestations in an annual crop has implications not only for site-specific herbicide applications but also for planning future management strategies and understanding weed ecology. A controlled laboratory experiment, involving detached leaves, was conducted to investigate the potential to discriminate two crop and five weed species using hyperspectral and multispectral remote sensing. Stepwise discriminant function analyses showed that reflectance in the visible and “red-edge” regions of the spectrum were consistently required for species discrimination. The seven species were correctly identified 90 and 89% of the time using the hyperspectral and multispectral data, respectively, and the classification rules derived from discriminant function analyses. Errant species prediction with the hyperspectral data resulted in a grass being predicted as a grass and a broadleaf as a broadleaf. However, for multispectral data, incorrect classifications were more serious because errant predictions someti...

At locations in Argentina and the United States, solaria (miniature, portable, plastic green- houses or a plastic sheet approximately 1 m 2 ) were placed on field soils in autumn or late winter in an attempt to predict summer annual weed densities. Initial emergence of summer annual weeds covered by solaria commenced weeks before that of weeds in exposed seedbeds. Cumulative emer- gence of many species in solaria reached asymptotes before crops were sown. At asymptotic cu- mulative emergence, densities of dominant weeds in solaria (common lambsquarters, green foxtail, and large crabgrass) were correlated with weed densities occurring 4 wk after sowing, the typical time for making postemergence weed control decisions. These results indicate that solaria may sup- plement seedbank-sampling techniques for predicting weed densities in crops. Nomenclature: Common lambsquarters, Chenopodium albumL. # 3 CHEAL; green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. # SETVI; large crabgrass, Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. # DIGSA. Additional index words: Decision making, emergence, postemergence control, seedlings, solariza- tion. Abbreviations: CWD, in-crop weed density; OM, organic matter; PPI, preplant incorporated; PRE, preemergence; SWD, weeds inside solaria; TWD; threshold weed density.

“Pesta” is a granular, extruded product made from a cereal grain flour and any biological control agent. A strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens, BRG100, which is a pathogen of green foxtail, has been formulated into a Pesta product. P. fluorescens BRG100 survived processing best in oat flour, and the addition of 20% (wt/wt) maltose extended the shelf life of the product to more than 32 wk. Field studies of 8-wk duration showed that a Pesta product containing BRG100 suppressed green foxtail emergence by as much as 90%. An optimally formulated and processed Pesta product has potential for the biocontrol of green foxtail. Nomenclature: Pseudomonas fluorescens; green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. #3 SETVI; oats, Avena sativa L. # AVESA. Additional index words: Biological control, encapsulation, lactose, maltose. Abbreviations: cfu, colony-forming units; DRB, deleterious rhizobacteria.

Field experiments were conducted in 1996 and 1997 to evaluate weed control and dry bean response to mechanical tillage and herbicide treatments. Herbicide treatments were EPTC plus ethalfluralin, dimethenamid, and imazethapyr plus bentazon. Herbicides were applied alone or combined with rotary hoeing and in-row cultivation. Differences in dry bean yields between years were due to differences in weed density. Weed species included redroot pigweed, common lambsquarters, hairy nightshade, wild proso millet, and green foxtail. Weed density in the untreated check plots at the end of the growing season was 35 plants/m2 in 1996 and 134 plants/m2 in 1997. Dry bean stands were not reduced by rotary hoeing, in-row cultivation, and herbicides in 1996, but in-row cultivation reduced dry bean populations 27% compared to the hand-weeded check in 1997. In-row cultivation and rotary hoeing provided similar weed control in both years. At low weed densities, either mechanical tillage or herbicides alone were effe...

Differences in the depth of weed seedling recruitment due to agronomic management practices, such as reduced tillage, have implications for weed competitive ability and management strategies. Depth of seedling recruitment of Avena fatua, Triticum aestivum, Setaria viridis, Polygonum convolvulus, and Echinochloa crus-galli was measured in situ in 1997 and 1998 prior to seeding (preseeding) and before in-crop spraying (prespray) in a total of 44 zero-tillage and 44 conventional-tillage fields located across approximately 3 million ha of southern Manitoba, Canada. For the monocot species, depth of recruitment was measured from the soil surface to the intact seed coats, which marked the point of germination. For P. convolvulus, a dicot, greenhouse studies were conducted prior to sampling in the field to identify a reliable morphological marker indicating the point of germination. For all species, mean recruitment depth was found to be significantly shallower in zero- vs. conventional-tillage fields a...

Dose–response curves for acetochlor with and without timely rotary hoeing (two passes) were derived for corn (Zea mays) fields over 2 yr. The fields were dominated by green foxtail (Setaria viridis), which constituted 73 to 86% of the weed vegetation, but also contained minor populations of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum), and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus). In the absence of herbicide, rotary hoeing achieved about 50% weed control. In the absence of rotary hoeing, weed control averaged > 90% at the full label rate of acetochlor (3 kg ai/ha on clay loam soil). With two timely rotary hoeings, however, this same level of control was achieved with only 1 kg/ha acetochlor. Given the suite of weed species present in these experiments, timely rotary hoeing substituted for 67% of the label rate of acetochlor. Timeliness of rotary hoeing operations also provided consistency of results from one year to the next. Nomenclature: Acetochlor...

A 2-yr study was conducted near Mead, NE, to determine the interaction of six corn (Zea mays) hybrids having different heights and leaf angles and four herbicide rates on velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) and green foxtail (Setaria viridis) biomass rating and seed production. Corn hybrid grain yields averaged over herbicide rates differed by up to 1,100 kg/ha in 1993 and 3,000 kg/ha in 1994, yet similar grain yield reductions occurred for all hybrids as herbicide rate decreased. Corn hybrids differed in suppression of weed growth and seed production, but suppression differences among hybrids were not consistent across years. Plots with the very tall, erect-leaf hybrid had 7.4 velvetleaf plants/m2, whereas other hybrids had 8.6 to 10.1 plants/m2. Plots with the very tall, erect-leaf hybrid also produced the lowest quantity of velvetleaf seeds of 23,100 seeds/m2 versus 25,100 to 30,700 seeds/m2 for plots with other hybrids. Erect-leaf hybrids suppressed weeds more effectively than horizontal-leaf ...

Field studies were conducted to assess weed control and potato (Solanum tuberosum) tolerance to ethalfluralin. Ethalfluralin applied preemergence (PRE) alone at 1.05 kg ai/ha generally did not control weeds adequately. However, ethalfluralin at 1.05 kg/ha combined with either metribuzin at 0.28 kg ai/ha or rimsulfuron at 0.018 kg ai/ha controlled common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), and green foxtail (Setaria viridis) ≥ 98%, which was similar to control observed with several currently registered herbicide mixtures. Volunteer oat (Avena sativa) control with either ethalfluralin at 1.05 kg/ha plus EPTC at 3.4 kg ai/ha or ethalfluralin plus metribuzin was equal to registered two-way mixtures. Ethalfluralin plus metribuzin did not adequately control hairy nightshade (Solanum sarrachoides), but ethalfluralin mixtures with either rimsulfuron or EPTC controlled hairy nightshade equal to or better than the registered two-way mixtures evaluated. A sequential...

Site-specific weed management recommendations require knowledge of weed species, density, and location in the field. This study compared several sampling techniques to estimate weed density and distribution in two 65-ha no-tillZea mays–Glycine maxrotation fields in eastern South Dakota. The most common weeds (Setaria viridis, Setaria glauca, Cirsium arvense, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, andPolygonum pensylvanicum) were counted by species in 0.1-m2areas on a 15- by 30-m (1,352 points in each field) or 30- by 30-m (676 points in each field) grid pattern, and points were georeferenced and data spatially analyzed. Using different sampling approaches, weed populations were estimated by resampling the original data set. The average density for each technique was calculated and compared with the average field density calculated from the all-point data. All weeds had skewed population distributions with more than 60% of sampling points lacking the specific weed, but very high densities (i.e., > 100 plants m−2) were also observed. More than 300 random samples were required to estimate densities within 20% of the all-point means about 60% of the time. Sampling requirement increased as average density decreased. The W pattern produced average species densities that often were similar to the field averages, but information on patch location was absent. Weed counts taken on the 15- by 30-m grid were dependent spatially and weed contour maps were developed. Kriged maps presented both density and location of weed patches and could be used to establish management zones. However, grid-sampling production fields on a small enough scale to obtain spatially dependent data may have limited usefulness because of time, cost, and labor constraints.

Understanding the environmental variables influencing the phenological development of weeds is essential for simulation model development. Temperature and photoperiod are important variables governing the phenological development of weeds. Growth cabinet studies were conducted to characterize the phenological development ofSetaria viridisin response to variations in temperature and photoperiod and to determine the duration of the juvenile phase and the effect of temperature and photoperiod on reproductive development.Setaria viridiswas adapted to a temperature range from 6.5 to 47 C. Phenological development ofS. viridiswas described accurately in terms of thermal days (cumulative day degrees above a base temperature) and biological days (Bd: chronological days at the optimum temperature and photoperiod). Four developmental phases ofS. viridiswere described: (1) a juvenile (photoperiod insensitive) phase of 2.6 Bd; (2) a photoperiod-sensitive inductive phase of 2.2 Bd; (3) a photoperiod-sensitive postinductive phase of 6.0 Bd; and (4) a photoperiod-insensitive inductive phase of 10.9 Bd. Photoperiod sensitivity ofS. viridisdid not differ with stage of development when expressed as a rate. Interpretation of constant sensitivity to photoperiod will simplify simulation of weed phenology in mechanistic models.

The ability ofMedicago sativato suppress weed growth may provide a viable alternative to chemical weed control and allow crop producers to reduce herbicide inputs. Quantitative information regarding the suppressive effect ofM. sativaon weed populations in current cropping systems is lacking. A survey was conducted in Manitoba, Canada, in 1993 and 1994 to investigate weed populations in commercial cereal fields that had been preceded by eitherM. sativahay or cereal grain crops. A total of 117 fields were surveyed; approximately half from each field type. Principle component analysis indicated that the inclusion ofM. sativain crop rotations resulted in weed communities different from those of continuous cereal fields. Naturally occurring populations ofAvena fatua, Cirsium arvense, Brassica kaber, andGalium aparinewere lower in cereal fields that had previously containedM. sativathan in cereal fields that had been preceded by a cereal crop. Lower field uniformity values forC. arvenseandAvena fatuaindicated that these weeds were also more patchy in theM. sativarotations. Population differences between field types were nonsignificant forAmaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album, andPolygonum convolvulus, and although populations ofTaraxacum officinaleandThlaspi arvensewere greater inM. sativa/cereal fields than in continuous cereal crops. No consistent effect of field type onSetaria viridispopulations was observed. These results show thatM. sativaeffectively suppressed some, but not all, of the weeds found in the study area. IncludingM. sativahay crops in crop rotations can be part of an integrated weed management strategy for weeds such asA. fatua, B. kaber, andC. arvense.

Field experiments were conducted over 3 yr at two locations in northwest Kansas to evaluate the efficacy and crop tolerance of EXP 31130A alone and with other herbicides in corn. EXP 31130A alone and in combination with acetochlor, atrazine, or metolachlor controlled kochia and redroot pigweed 93% or greater regardless of location, year, or tillage system. Green foxtail control in 1997 and 1998 was > 90% with EXP 31130A in combination with chloroacetamide herbicides but varied among experiments with EXP 31130A alone. Control of puncturevine with EXP 31130A alone or in tank mixtures was 75% or greater at five of six sites. EXP 31130A alone and in combinations caused minor, early-season, corn leaf bleaching and/or stunting under conven- tional tillage. However, no injury was detected in no-till systems. In 1996, no-till corn receiving EXP 31130A treatments yielded similarly or up to 29% more than hand-weeded corn. Yields did not differ among treated, untreated, and hand-weeded corn in 1996 under conventional tillage, where weed interference was not as intense as under no-till conditions. Conventional-tillage corn receiving EXP 31130A alone or in tank mixtures in 1997 yielded similarly to hand-weeded corn. Averaged over experiments, corn yield in 1998 increased by 10 to 18% with applications of EXP 31130A alone or in combinations compared to untreated corn. Nomenclature: Acetochlor, 2-chloro-N-(ethoxymethyl)-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)acetamide; atra- zine, 6-chloro-N-ethyl-N-( l-methylethyl)- 1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine; EXP 31130A, 5-cyclopropyl-4- (2-methanesulphonyl-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-isoxazole; metolachlor, 2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-meth- ylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide; green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. #a SET- VI; kochia, Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. # KCHSC; puncturevine, Tribulus terrestris L. # TRBTE; redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L. # AMARE; corn, Zea mays L. Additional index words: Conventional tillage, no-till, AMARE, KCHSC, SETVI, TRBTE. Abbreviations: CT, conventional tillage; DAT, days after treatment; NT, no-till.

Field studies were conducted to examine weed control efficacy and crop injury with SAN 582 (proposed name, dimethenamid) in irrigated ‘Russet Burbank’ potato. SAN 582 applied preemergence (PRE) at 1.1 to 1.7 kg ai/ha controlled light to moderate infestations of redroot pigweed, common lambsquarters, and hairy nightshade > 90%. Season-long control of these species with mixtures of SAN 582 plus metribuzin or rimsulfuron was > 98% and was similar to or better than registered mixtures. Green foxtail control with SAN 582 alone ranged from 83 to 100%, depending on rate and year. SAN 582 mixtures with metribuzin or rimsulfuron usually controlled green foxtail > 90%. In weed-free plots, SAN 582 was applied alone PRE or early postemergence (EPOST) at rates up to 3.4 kg/ha. SAN 582 applied EPOST usually caused 10 to 30% more potato injury than when applied PRE, but U.S. No. 1 yield was not reduced by SAN 582 applied either PRE or EPOST. SAN 582 shows good potential for PRE use in irrigated potato.

Green and yellow foxtail seed production following harvest of spring wheat is a concern of producers in the northern Great Plains of the United States and the Prairie Provinces of Canada. Experiments were conducted in 1996 and 1997 in three tillage systems, no till (NT), chisel plow (CP), and moldboard plow (MP), at the University of Minnesota West Central Experiment Station, Morris, MN, to determine whether time of glyphosate application or tillage after spring wheat harvest could reduce postharvest foxtail seed production. In both years, hard red spring wheat was planted in late April and a packaged mixture of fenoxaprop and 2,4-D ester and MCPA ester was applied at a rate of 53 g and 81 g and 246 g ai/ha for grass and broadleaf weed control. Following spring wheat harvest, each main plot was subdivided into seven subplots, including an untreated control. One subplot was disked twice at 4 to 6 d after harvest (DAH) of spring wheat, and five other subplots had glyphosate (0.25 kg ai/ ha) applied on different days (1 to 31 DAH). Foxtail seeds were collected from the soil surface following first frost, and the number of green and yellow foxtail seeds were determined. Tillage immediately after spring wheat harvest eliminated foxtail plants, and no new foxtail seedlings emerged in either tilled or glyphosate-treated plots despite ideal postharvest conditions for foxtail germination and emergence in 1997. Most viable green foxtail seeds were consistently obtained in NT plots, whereas yellow foxtail seed production varied among tillage systems. Either tillage soon after spring wheat harvest or glyphosate application within 16 DAH reduced green and yellow foxtail seed production by greater than 70%. Nomenclature: Fenoxaprop, (±)-2-[4-[(6-chloro-2- benzoxazolyl)oxy]phenoxy]propanoic acid; glyphosate, N- (phosphonomethyl)glycine; MCPA, (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid; 2,4-D, (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid; green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. # 3 SETVI; yellow foxtail, Setaria glauca (L.) Beauv. # SETLU; wheat, Triticum aestivum L. 'Sharpe'.

Field experiments were conducted to compare performance of glyphosate with three different boom arrangements in a winter wheat-fallow rotation near North Platte, NE, in 1994 and 1995. One boom was optically controlled, and the other boom was for broadcast herbicide applications. Spraying with both booms at the same time was called “dual boom.” The sprayers were tested during May, June, and July on two weed density levels established by applying glyphosate at 0.42 kg ae/ha with and without atrazine at 0.84 kg ai/ha in October following wheat harvest. The dual-boom and the broadcast herbicide applications were more efficient in controlling weeds than the optically controlled system. The dual boom reduced weed density 4.5-fold compared with the optically controlled sprayer used alone. Horseweed < 8 cm tall was more difficult to control with the optically controlled sprayer than redroot pigweed and kochia because of its cylindrical-shaped growth patterns. Barnyardgrass and green foxtail seedlings with an erect growth pattern were also difficult for the sensors to detect. Poorer control with the optically controlled sprayer was associated with failure to identify small weeds, chlorotic plants, inconsistency among sensors, and too wide a field of view (FOV), as sensors were spaced farther apart than presently recommended. The number of sensors on a boom needs to be increased to improve the performance of the optically controlled sprayer.

Green foxtail (Setaria viridis) is an annual grass widely distributed over the Old World, including China, where evidence of the earliest foxtail millet domestication to date has been discovered in the Cishan assemblage, Hebei province, dated to approximately 7900–7500 BP (Institute of Archaeology CASS 1991). Isozymic analysis and interspecific cross between S. viridis and S. italica (domesticated foxtail millet) demonstrated that S. viridis is the progenitor of domesticated foxtail millet (Gao & Chen 1988; Li et al. 1945). Yet little is known about the process of millet domestication, and even less about either the botanical characteristics of S. viridis or its cultural significance regarding human domestication.

Producers in the northern Great Plains are exploring alternative crop rotations, with the goal of replacing spring wheat-fallow. We charactenrzed the weed associations occurring with tillage system and nitrogen level in two rotations, spring wheat (SW)-fallow (F) and SW-winter wheat (WW)-sunflower (SUN). Weed density was measured 10 yr after initiation of the study. With both rotations, weed community density was highest with no-till. For SW-F, green foxtail, yellow foxtail, and fairy candelabra compnsed 99% of the weed community, whereas 13 species were observed in SW-WW-SUN. Fairy candelabra, a rangeland species, was observed only in the no-till system of SW-F In SW-WW-SUN, no-till favored kochia, Russian thistle, and foxtails, whereas common lambs- quarters and annual sowthistle were more common in tilled systems. Nitrogen fertilizer increased crop competitiveness in SW-WW-SUN with no-till, subsequently reducing weed density. Cultural strategies that disrupt weed associations will aid producers in managing weeds. Nomenclature: Annual sowthistle, Sonchus oleraceus L. #1 SONOL; common lambsquarters, Che- nopodium album L. # CHEAL; fairy candelabra, Androsace occidentalis Lunell; green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. # SETVI; kochia, Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. # KCHSC; Russian thistle, Salsola

Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to evaluate early postemergence (POST) tank mixtures of SAN 582 with fluazifop-P, imazethapyr, or sethoxydim. In the greenhouse, SAN 582 synergistically improved barnyardgrass, broadleaf signalgrass, and johnsongrass control from imazethapyr and sethoxydim. Half-rates of imazethapyr and sethoxydim tank-mixed with SAN 582 controlled grass weeds as well as full rates of either herbicide applied alone. Grass weed control with imazethapyr increased up to 40% with the addition of SAN 582. In field experiments, SAN 582 increased grass control with imazethapyr to a lesser degree than observed in the greenhouse. In a multispecies study, grass weed control increased up to 15% when SAN 582 was tank-mixed with a reduced rate of imazethapyr, although the full rate of imazethapyr applied POST with or without SAN 582 controlled grass weeds 80% or less. The combination of SAN 582 with sethoxydim was synergistic for barnyardgrass and johnsongrass control in this experiment. When applied POST in soybean, SAN 582 plus fluazifop-P or sethoxydim controlled barnyardgrass throughout the season better than a single POST application of a graminicide.

Fifty irrigated cornfields in five eastern Colorado counties were sampled for their seed- banks and annual weed seedlings and mature populations between 1988 and 1992. Fourteen annual broadleaf species and seven annual grass species were identified in the 50 seedbanks sampled after the fields were tilled in the fall. Redroot pigweed and a mixture of green and yellow foxtail were the weed species encountered most, occurring in 90 and 54% of the fields, respectively. The single- plant populations of broadleaf and grass species in June and September were similar to those observed in the seedbanks. The number of weed species as seeds in the seedbank, June seedlings, and Sep- tember plants per field ranged from zero to five grass species and zero to eight broadleaf species. Nomenclature: Green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. #3 SETVI; redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L. # AMARE; yellow foxtail, Setaria glauca (L.) Beauv. # SETLU; corn, Zea mays L.

Foxtail emergence patterns were evaluated in spring wheat under three tillage regimes, moldboard plow, chisel plow, and no-till, and three wheat planting dates. The first planting date was as soon as feasible in spring, and the second and third planting dates averaged 9 and 17 d later. Foxtail emergence patterns and seedbank density were evaluated each year for three consecutive years. Green foxtail was the dominant weed species. Tillage regime did not influence initial percent emergence of foxtail. Subsequent percent foxtail emergence was sometimes lower in no-till or chisel plow than in moldboard plow regimes until emergence approached 100%. By the third year, total foxtail plant emergence was greater in no-till and chisel plow than in moldboard plow and also greater in no-till than chisel plow. Earlier planting generally increased percent foxtail emergence until midseason. At 22 d after planting, average emergence of foxtail was 48, 67, and 81% for planting dates one, two, and three, respectively. Delayed planting increased rate of foxtail emergence but decreased density of emerged seedlings. Producers adopting chisel plow or no-till systems can expect to see greater foxtail infestations than in moldboard plow systems. Subsequently, more extensive weed management in reduced tillage systems will be needed to prevent heavy foxtail infestations. Delaying wheat planting may be a viable option for foxtail management through reduced plant densities and more simultaneous emergence patterns.

Greenhouse and field experiments were initiated to evaluate rapeseed and mustard species as green manure crops for weed suppression. Under greenhouse conditions incorporating 20 g fresh wt leaf and stem tissue of rapeseed, two white mustards, and brown mustard into 450 g Sharpsburg, silty clay loam soil resulted in significant reductions in weed emergence, biomass, and height. Kochia, shepherd's-purse, and green foxtail emergences were reduced by all green manure crops. Redroot pigweed emergence was reduced by all green manure crops except brown mustard, and velvetleaf emergence was reduced by white mustards only. Kochia and shepherd's-purse fresh weights were reduced by all green manure crops, while redroot pigweed and velvetleaf fresh weights were reduced by brown mustard and white mustard var. Salvo. Green foxtail fresh weight was reduced by all green manure crops except rapeseed. With the exception of shepherd's-purse, no relationship between glucosinolate content of the incorporated green manure and suppression of weed growth was found. Under field conditions, early spring-planted green manure crops reduced early season weed biomass in soybean at one of the two locations. Mustard species as green manure crops reduced total weed biomass in soybean by 40% 4 weeks after emergence (WAE) and 49% 6 WAE. Soybean biomass and yield were sometimes reduced by the incorporation of green manure crops in treatments containing weeds; however, hand-weeded plots with green manure treatments yielded similar to hand-weeded plots without green manure.

Louis J. Molnar Duane F. Chevalier C. Wayne Lindwall Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1J 4B1 Field experiments were conducted for 3 yr to determine the effect of various biological and physical factors on the operation of the weed-sensing Detectspray system. Plant detection is achieved by sensors measuring differential reflectance of red and near-infrared wavelengths of light from green plants, crop residues, and soil. Weed detection was greatly reduced 70 to 80 min after sunrise and before sunset when operated at lat 50?N because of reduced solar irradiance. Tall, dense-standing crop stubble limited detection of small weeds at the soil surface. Weed detection varied with plant species. Canola with three to four leaves consistently was detected, but wheat or green foxtail usually required five to six leaves to be detected. Small weeds were detected if present at densities greater than 70 plants m-2. Growers and commercial applicators need to be aware of the limitations of the Detectspray system to use it effectively to control weeds with concurrent reductions in herbicide use.

Field studies were conducted to evaluate preemergence weed control in irrigated potatoes with rimsulfuron plus metribuzin or three-way mixtures of rimsulfuron plus metribuzin plus EPTC, metolachlor, or pendimethalin. Redroot pigweed control was ≥ 96% with rimsulfuron plus metribuzin at 18 g ai/ha + 140 g/ha, and common lambsquarters control was ≥ 97% with rimsulfuron plus metribuzin at 26 g/ha + 210 g/ha. Hairy nightshade control with rimsulfuron plus metribuzin ranged from 58 to 99%, and green foxtail control ranged from 50 to 98%. EPTC, metolachlor, or pendimethalin rates required for acceptable green foxtail and hairy nightshade control in combination with a given rate of rimsulfuron plus metribuzin varied with environmental conditions. Potato tuber yield generally improved with rimsulfuron plus metribuzin application.

Field experiments were initiated at Alliance and Hairy Hill, Alberta, in 1989 to investigate the effects of conventional tillage, zero tillage, and four levels of nitrogen fertilizer on continuous barley production. In both tillage systems, the nitrogen was banded 6 to 8 cm deep between alternate barley rows. Herbicides were used for weed control each year. The influence of tillage and nitrogen on weed seed population dynamics was determined in 1991 and 1992. In the zero-tillage system, a large proportion of the weed seeds were present either at the soil surface or at the 5- to 10-cm depth. Green foxtail, the dominant species at Alliance, was also present at Hairy Hill where field pennycress was dominant. Green foxtail was consistently associated with low (residual) nitrogen and, in most cases, with conventional tillage. At both locations, green foxtail populations tended to decrease to very low levels as nitrogen rate increased, especially in zero tillage. At Hairy Hill, field pennycress populations in the soil seedbank were higher in zero tillage compared with conventional tillage, but plants that emerged from the soil seedbank in the field in spring were lower in zero tillage. Field pennycress populations were highest under low nitrogen. The results indicate that banding nitrogen has the potential to be an effective tool for green foxtail and field pennycress management in conventional- and zero-tillage systems, resulting in less dependence on herbicides for their control.

Frank Forcella Michael J. Lindstrom Donald C. Reicosky USDA-ARS, North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory, Morris, MN 56267 Regression models of the effect of weed density on crop yield can form the basis of weed management programs by helping growers decide whether weed control is economically justified. However, few studies have examined whether one regression model can be used across a wide range of tillage systems and crop rotations. We used a nonlinear analysis of covariance to examine experiments conducted in 1990 and 1991 on the interaction of weed interference with conventional, fall chisel, and no-till systems, and rotations of corn, soybean, and wheat on a clay loam soil. Corn and soybean suffered heavy losses due to interference by green foxtail (a mixed population of robust purple and robust white varieties). Both tillage system and crop rotation altered the relationship between weed density and yield for corn in 1990 and 1991, but tillage was not a factor for soybean in 1991. Companion experiments on a sandy loam soil found no relationship between weed density and dryland corn yield in the drought year 1990, but weed density greatly decreased yield in irrigated corn. In 1991, the same model fit both dryland and irrigated corn grown in sandy loam soil. Foxtail density did not affect average weight per foxtail plant in any of our experiments, which indicates a lack of intraspecific competition. Competitiveness of corn better explained variation in dry weight per foxtail than did weather. Economic thresholds for foxtail interference are not constant but vary with weather, cropping system, and soil type.

In the summer of 1995, green foxtail seed samples were collected from 17 fields in southwestern Manitoba where trifluralin resistance was first identified in 1988. Since 1988, six of these fields had not been treated with dinitroaniline herbicides (DNAHs), four had been treated once, and seven had been treated two or more times. The proportions of resistant (R) and susceptible (S) seeds in each sample were determined using a petri-dish seed bioassay. Among the samples collected from fields that had not been treated between 1988 and 1995, two contained > 99% R seeds. The others ranged from 40 to 83%. Among the four samples collected from fields that were treated once, two contained > 99% R seeds and the other two contained 59 and 67% R seeds. Five of the seven samples collected from fields treated two or more times contained > 97% R seeds and the other two approximately 89 and 68% resistant seeds. There was no statistical correlation between the proportion of R seeds and the frequency of DNAH use since 1988. The proportion of R seeds present in 1988 and 1995 could not be compared because of the way in which fields were treated prior to sampling in the 2 yr; however, the results clearly indicate that trifluralin resistance can persist in green foxtail populations for at least 7 yr. By inference, the results indicate that trifluralin-resistant green foxtail plants are almost, if not equally, as fit as susceptible plants. Consequently, once resistance is present in a green foxtail population, DNAHs cannot be used for its control, even in the absence of additional selection pressure, for at least 7 yr and probably much longer. Nomenclature: Trifluralin, 2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenamine; green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. #3 SETVI.

Field experiments were conducted to determine the effect of CGA 184927 rate, weed growth stage, and tank mixes with various broadleaf herbicides on the control of green foxtail and wild oat in spring wheat. CGA184927 controlled green foxtail and wild oat equally well when applied at the 2- to 3- or 4- to 5-leaf stages. Green foxtail and wild oat were controlled at similar rates of CGA184927 but the application rate giving > 90% control ranged from 22 to 90 g/ha over locations and years, indicating that CGA184927 efficacy is sensitive to environmental conditions. CGA184927 in tank mixtures was compatible with bromoxynil, clopyralid, and 2,4-D ester. However, tank mixing with metsulfuron or dicamba reduced activity on green foxtail and wild oat. Broadleaf herbicide activity on kochia and redroot pigweed was not reduced when such herbicides were tank-mixed with CGA184927. Spring wheat tolerated 120 g/ha of CGA184927. CGA184927 provides growers with another herbicide option to control green foxtail and wild oat in wheat. Nomenclature: Bromoxynil, 3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile; CGA184927, 2-propynyl(R)-2-(4-(5-chloro-3-fluoro-2-pyridinyloxy)-phenoxy)-propionate/5-chloro-8-quinolinoxyacetic acid-l-methylhexylester; clopyralid, 3,6-dichloro-2-pyridine-carboxylic acid; dicamba, 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid; metsulfuron, 2-[[[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]benzoic acid; 2,4-D, (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid; green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. # 3 SETVI; kochia, Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. # KCHSC; redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L. # AMARE; wild oat, Avena fatua L. # AVEFA; wheat, Triticum aestivum L. 'Katepwa.'

Seedling emergence was characterized for five weeds that infest summer annual crops in the central Great Plains as affected by crop canopy or tillage. The study was established in winter wheat stubble between 1987 and 1990, with seedling emergence recorded weekly between April 1 and November 1. Kochia emerged primarily from early April to late June, whereas green foxtail, wild-proso millet, and redroot pigweed began emerging in late May and continued until August. Volunteer wheat emerged throughout the growing season. Tillage did not affect the emergence pattern of any species, but the numbers of kochia, volunteer wheat, and green foxtail seedlings were increased in no-till. Conversely, wild-proso millet emergence was greater with tillage. Only volunteer wheat's emergence was affected by crop canopy, as fall emergence of volunteer wheat was more than three times greater in corn than in proso millet. Nomenclature: Green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. # 3 SETVI; kochia, Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. # KCHSC; redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L. # AMARE; volunteer wheat, Triticum aestivum L.; wild-proso millet, Panicum miliaceum L. # PANMI; corn, Zea mays L.

Recently, roundleaved mallow, redroot pigweed, and annual smartweed species have become problems for flax producers in the Canadian prairies. The use of thifensulfuron to enhance weed control with commonly used herbicide mixtures was tested at Indian Head, SK and Morden, MB. Visible crop injury and reduced height, yield, and quality occurred at rates as low as 0.5-1.0 g/ha. Improved control of broadleaf weeds was not consistent and antagonism of grassy weed control with sethoxydim occurred. Nomenclature: Sethoxydim, 2-[1-(ethoxyimino)butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclo-hexen-1-one; thifensulfuron, 3-[[[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-amino]carbonyl]amino] sulfonyl]-2-thiophenecarboxylic acid; annual smartweed species, Polygonum sp. # 3 POLXX; redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L. # AMARE; roundleaved mallow, Malva pusilla Sm. # MALPU; flax, Linum usitatissimum L.