Use of activated carbon to protect tomato against metribuzin

Protection of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cv. UC 134) against metribuzin was increased by placing a small quantity of activated carbon near each seed position before pre-emergent application of the herbicide. The most protective location of the carbon was the surface of the soil, immediately above the seed. In this location, 0.10 g of activated carbon protected tomatoes from the phytotoxic effects of 0.700 kg metribuzin ha^?1 whereas, without the activated carbon, 0.175 kg metribuzin ha^?1 killed both tomato and blackberry nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.). Placing plastic discs in this location did not reduce the phytotoxicity; however, a barrier that prevented lateral invasion by the herbicide, of the zone of soil through which the plumule emerged, partially protected the plains from 0.350 kg metribuzin ha^?1, showing that metribuzin entered the plants in substantial quantities via the plumule as well as the roots. This result suggests that activated carbon maintained a lower metribuzin concentration in the plumule/root zone than the bulk concentration. It also explains way the soil surface was the most protective carbon location. These findings provide the basis for extending the use of preemergent herbicides to situations in which previously they could not be used safely or economically.     

Availability and biodegradation of metribuzin in alluvial soils as affected by temperature and soil properties

Herbicide degradation in soils is highly temperature‐dependent. Laboratory incubations and field experiments are usually conducted with soils from the temperate climatic zone. Few data are available for cold conditions and the validation of approaches to correct the degradation rate at low temperatures representative of Nordic environments is scarce. Laboratory incubation studies were conducted at 5, 15 and 28°C to compare the influence of temperature on the dissipation of metribuzin in silt/sandy loam soils in southern and northern Norway and in a sandy loam soil under temperate climate in France. Using ¹⁴C‐labelled metribuzin, sorption and biodegradation were studied over an incubation period of 49 days. Metribuzin mineralisation and total soil organic carbon mineralisation rates showed a positive temperature response in all soils. Metribuzin mineralisation was low, but metabolites were formed and their abundance depended on temperature conditions. The rate of dissipation of ¹⁴C‐metribuzin from soil pore water was strongly dependent on temperature. In Nordic soils with low organic content, metribuzin sorption is rather weak and biodegradation is the most important process controlling its mobility and persistence.     

Effect of long‐term field application of pendimethalin: enhanced degradation in soil

The effect of long‐term application of pendimethalin in a maize–wheat rotation on herbicide persistence was investigated. Pendimethalin was applied at 1.5 kg AI ha⁻¹ separately as one or two annual applications for five consecutive years in the same plots. Residues of pendimethalin were determined by gas chromatography. Harvest‐time residues of the herbicide decreased gradually over the years and at the end of five years less than 3% of applied pendimethalin was recovered from soil as against 18% in the first year. Residues were found distributed in the soil profile up to 90 cm depth at the end of the experiment with peak distribution of 0.03 µg g⁻¹ in the surface layer of soil treated with 10 herbicide applications. The minimum distribution was, however, in the deepest soil (75–90 cm) profile. Some of the metabolites of pendimethalin ie dealkylated pendimethalin derivative, partially reduced derivative and cyclized product were also traced in surface and sub‐surface soils up to 90 cm. A study of the rate of degradation of pendimethalin in field‐treated soils under laboratory conditions revealed faster degradation compared to control soils. Only the surface soil (0–15 cm) showed this enhanced degradation of the herbicide, which could be due to the adaptability of the aerobic micro‐organisms to degrade pendimethalin. Microbes capable of degrading herbicide were isolated, identified and pendimethalin degradation was confirmed in nutrient broth. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Metribuzin mobility in soil columns as affected by urea fertiliser

Application of urea fertilisers to soils influences the soil solution characteristics and thus may affect the sorption of soil-applied herbicides. The present investigation reports the influence of urea co-application on sorption and leaching of metribuzin, a triazine herbicide. Urea application at 60 and 120 kg N ha(-1) increased metribuzin sorption in soils over that in untreated natural soil. The Kf (Freundlich adsorption coefficient) values of metribuzin for natural, 60 and 120 kg N ha(-1) treatments were 0.43, 0.46 and 0.84 microg(1 - 1/n) g(-1) ml1/n respectively. Downward mobility of metribuzin was studied in packed soil columns (300 mm length x 59 mm i.d.) at two irrigation intensities, 720 m3 ha(-1) (72 mm) and 3600 m3 ha(-1) (360 mm). After 720 m3 ha(-1) irrigation, metribuzin did not leach out of any column and was not detected in the leachate. Urea amendment slowed the leaching of metribuzin by 20 and 40% in 60 and 120 kg N ha(-1) urea-treated columns respectively. Also, following urea application, greater amounts of metribuzin were retained in the application zone. Upon increasing the irrigation intensity fivefold, urea application did not have any effect on metribuzin mobility, and its breakthrough from both natural and urea-amended columns occurred after 126 mm irrigation. However, there was a marked difference in the maximum concentration of metribuzin in the breakthrough curves obtained from natural and urea-amended columns. The study indicated that co-application of metribuzin and urea fertiliser is a safe practice as far as leaching of herbicide is concerned.     

Reduced metribuzin pollution with phosphatidylcholine-clay formulations

BACKGROUND: Metribuzin is a widely used herbicide that has been identified as a groundwater contaminant. In this study, slow‐release formulations of metribuzin were designed by encapsulating the active ingredient in phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles and adsorbing the vesicles onto montmorillonite. RESULTS: The maximum active ingredient content in the slow‐release formulations was 246 g kg^?1. Infrared spectroscopy results revealed that the hydrophobic interactions between metribuzin and the alkyl chains on PC were necessary for encapsulation. In addition, water bridges connecting the herbicide and the PC headgroup enhanced the solubility of metribuzin in PC. Adsorption experiments in soils were performed to evaluate the relationship between sorption and leaching. Funnel experiments in a sandy soil revealed that the herbicide was not irreversibly retained in the formulation matrix. In soil column experiments, PC–clay formulations enhanced herbicide accumulation and biological activity in the top soil layer relative to a commercial formulation. PC–clay formulations also reduced the dissipation of metribuzin by a factor of 1.6–2.5. CONCLUSIONS: A reduction in the recommended dose of metribuzin can be achieved by employing PC–clay formulations, which reduces the environmental risk associated with herbicide applications. Moreover, PC and montmorillonite are non‐toxic and do not negatively affect the environment. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

The influence of soil properties on the rates of degradation of metamitron,metazachlor and metribuzin

The rates of degradation of metamitron, metazachlor and metribuzin were measured in 12 mineral soils and the first order rate constants were compared with soil properties by regression analysis. Rates of metamitron degradation were best described by a multiple regression involving the silt content of the soil and the fraction of the total herbicide content which was available in the soil solution. Metazachlor degradation was best described by a multiple regression involving the sand content of the soil, the availability of the herbicide in the soil solution and soil microbial respiration. There was evidence that metribuzin degradation in any one soil was closely related to microbial activity, and rate constants per unit microbial respiration were derived for each soil. These rate constants were best described by a multiple regression involving the Freundlich adsorption constant and the sand content of the soils. The best regression equations for each herbicide were tested against observed degradation rates in an additional group of six soils. The calculated rates compared favourably with those observed for both metamitron and metazachlor, but with metribuzin, there was good agreement with one soil only.     

Leaching potential and decomposition of fluroxypyr in Swedish soils under field conditions

The mobility and decomposition of the herbicide fluroxypyr (4-amino-3,5-dichloro-6-fluoro-2-pyridyloxyacetic acid) was studied under field conditions in a sandy soil and a clay soil. Leachate was collected in lysimeters with undisturbed soil (sand) and in tile-drained plots (clay). Soil samples to a depth of one metre were also collected in both soils to characterize the temporal depth distribution of fluroxypyr in the profiles. The herbicide was applied as the I-methylheptyl ester of fluroxypyr at two rates, 187.5 and 375.0 g a.e. ha^?1, representing the normal and double the dose of the compound used for spring cereals. Some lysimeters received supplementary watering. Only two leachate samples (one from each soil) had concentrations of fluroxypyr above the detection limit (1 μg litre^?1), i.e. 2 and 5 μg litre^?1. Both samples were collected within two months after application, when less than 2 mm of drainage had been collected. The methylheptyl ester of fluroxypyr was not found in any of the samples. Fluroxypyr levels above the detection limit in soil (5 μg kg^?1 dry soil), were never found below the topsoil (0.2 m) in the clay profile, while, in the sandy profile, levels just above the detection limit were found occasionally in deeper soil layers. Concentrations were reduced to undetectable or very low levels within three months after spraying.     

Adsorption-leaching study of the herbicides metamitron and chloridazon

Freundlich isotherms were obtained for the adsorption equilibrium of the herbicides metamitron and chloridazon with the components of a representative soil in a pesticide concentration range of 10-1000 γg ml^?1 for metamitron and 10-500 μg ml^?1 for chloridazon. The mobility of these herbicides through soil columns was also studied using the displacement technique described by Davidson (Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc., 32 (1968) 629). The experiment was carried out simultaneously in three columns, two of which were fed with solutions of the herbicides while the third was used as a control. The herbicide solutions flowed down by gravity and were collected at the outlet at different times. The herbicide content of these outlet solutions was determined by Differential Pulse Polarography.     

Metribuzin degradation in soil: I—effects of soybean residue amendment,metribuzin level,and soil depth

Plant residue and soil depth effects on metribuzin degradation were investigated. Dundee silt loam soil collected at depth increments of 0–10 cm (SUR) and 10–35 cm (SUB) was treated with labeled [5^?14 C]metribuzin. Samples were assayed at several time points up to 140 days after treatment. Soybean residue was added to half of the SUR samples (RES), with remaining SUR unamended (NORES). None of the SUB samples were amended with soybean residue. Metribuzin mineralization to ¹⁴CO₂ proceeded more slowly in RES and SUB than in NORES and SUR, respectively. Extractable components in SUR samples included polar metabolites, plus deaminated metribuzin (DA) in the RES, and parent metribuzin in the NORES. Deaminated diketometribuzin (DADK) and metribuzin comprised major ¹⁴C components extracted from SUB, while in SUR, faster degradation of metabolites resulted in metrizubin as the primary identifiable compound. Unextractable ¹⁴C increased until day 35 for both RES and NORES, after which it remained constant for NORES. but declined for RES. A corresponding rise in RES polar ¹⁴C suggested that as soybean residue decomposed, ¹⁴C bound in the residue was released as extractable polar material. Soil with soybean residue accumulation may alter metabolite degradation patterns, but does not impede initial metribuzin degradation. Depth differences in metribuzin degradation were attributed to reductions in microbial activity with increasing soil depth.     

Effects of microbial inhibitors on the degradation rates of metamitron,metazachlor and metribuzin in soil

Rates of carbon dioxide evolution and degradation rates of metamitron, metazachlor and metribuzin were measured in two soils in the presence of three microbial inhibitors. The nonselective microbial inhibitor sodium azide reduced both carbon dioxide evolution and the rate of loss of all three herbicides in both soils, although the reduction in degradation rate of metamitron was small. The antibacterial antibiotic novobiocin enhanced carbon dioxide evolution from both soils but had variable effects on the rates of herbicide degradation. It inhibited degradation of metazachlor and metribuzin, and in one of the soils its effects on metazachlor degradation were similar to those of sodium azide. Novobiocin inhibited degradation of metamitron to a small extent in one soil only. The antifungal antibiotic cycloheximide also enhanced carbon dioxide evolution from both soils. In general, its effects on herbicide degradation were similar to those of novobiocin, although the extent of inhibition was usually less pronounced. The results are discussed in terms of the relative involvement of microorganisms in degradation of the three herbicides.     

Soil persistence studies with bromoxynil, propanil and [14C]dicamba in herbicidal mixtures

The persistence of bromoxynil (3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile), [¹⁴C]dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic-7-¹⁴C acid) and propanil [N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)propionamide] at rates equivalent to 1 kg ha^?1, were studied under laboratory conditions in a clay loam, a heavy clay and a sandy loam at 85% of field capacity and at 20±1°C, both singly and in the presence of herbicides normally applied with these chemicals as tank-mix or split-mix components. The degradation of bromoxynil was rapid with over 90% breakdown occurring within a week in the heavy clay and sandy-loam soils, while in the clay-loam approximately 80% of the bromoxynil had broken down after 7 days. In all three soils degradation was unaffected by the presence of asulam, diclofop-methyl, flamprop-methyl, MCPA, metribuzin or propanil. Propanil underwent rapid degradation in all soil treatments, with over 95% of the applied propanil being dissipated within 7 days. There were no noticeable effects on propanil degradation resulting from applications of asulam, barban, bromoxynil, dicamba, MCPA, MCPB, metribuzin or 2,4-D. The breakdown of [¹⁴C]dicamba in a particular soil was unaffected by being applied alone or in the presence of diclofop-methyl, flampropmethyl, MCPA, metribuzin, propanil or 2,4-D. The times for 50% of the applied dicamba to be degraded were approximately 16 days in both the clay loam and sandy loam, and about 50 days in the heavy clay.     

Evaluation of herbicides against Phalaris minor in wheat in north-western Indian plains

Phalaris minor, the most serious weed in wheat in north‐western India, has developed extensive isoproturon resistance due to continuous isoproturon use. For its control, alternative herbicides (flufenacet, metribuzin and sulfosulfuron) at different application rates and timing were evaluated in wheat. In addition, herbicide carryover risk onto rotational crops (sorghum; maize and green gram, Vigina radiata) was also assessed. Isoproturon at 1 and 2 kg a.i. ha^?1 provided only 10.5% and 51.8%P. minor control respectively. Of the other herbicides, early post‐emergent [15–21 days after sowing (DAS)] flufenacet at 180–480 g a.i. ha^?1 provided acceptable control of P. minor, but failed to control broad‐leaved weeds and was phytotoxic to the wheat crop. Metribuzin at 210 g a.i. ha^?1 was effective in controlling both Phalaris and dicotyledonous weeds. Mixtures of both flufenacet and metribuzin at reduced rates were better than flufenacet for weed control and grain yield. The efficacy of flufenacet and metribuzin was drastically reduced with later growth stages of P. minor (four to five leaf). Whereas sulfosulfuron at 25–30 g a.i. ha^?1, applied either early post‐emergence (19 DAS) or post‐emergence (30–42 DAS), was quite effective. Overall, sulfosulfuron was the most effective treatment with regard to weed control and crop yield. However, maize and sorghum grown in rotation after harvest of sulfosulfuron‐treated wheat plots showed 65–73% crop biomass inhibition. The residual effect of sulfosulfuron was also noticed on Trianthema portulacastrum (Horse purslane), causing 73.5% dry matter reduction. By contrast, no carryover damage with flufenacet was observed on maize, sorghum and green gram. Glasshouse pot experiments and field trials investigating crop sensitivity to pre‐plant applications of sulfosulfuron found the decreasing order: sorghum > maize > green gram. The risk of carryover onto rotational crops should be considered when choosing alternative herbicides for P. minor control in wheat.     

An analytical procedure for bromoxynil and its octanoate in soils; persistence studies with bromoxynil octanoate in combination with other herbicides in soil

A method is described for the analysis of the herbicide bromoxynil and its octanoate in soils. Following extraction with aqueous acidic acetonitrile, the octanoate was separated from the phenolic bromoxynil by solvent partitioning. The ester and the phenol were assayed by gas-liquid chromatography without further modification or preparation of a derivative. Recoveries in excess of 93% were obtained from soils treated with the phenol and the ester at levels of 0.5 or 0.1 μg g^?1. The persistence of bromoxynil octanoate applied at a rate of 3 μg g^?1 was studied in the laboratory on a heavy clay and a sandy loam at 85% of field capacity moisture and 20°1°C, both alone and in the presence of 2,4-D (2 μg g^?1); MCPA (2 μg g^?1); MCPA+asulam (both at 2 μg g^?1); and MCPA+difenzoquat (both at 2 μg g^?1). In each soil there was a rapid conversion of bromoxynil octanoate to the free phenol, which then underwent a rapid degradation, so that after 7 days, over 90% of the original treatment had disappeared. There appeared to be no effect on bromoxynil breakdown by any of the herbicides added in combination. Small field plots were treated, in early May 1977 and 1978 at two locations in Saskatchewan, with a combination of commercial formulations containing asulam, bromoxynil octanoate, and MCPA at rates of 1 kg ha^?1 each. After 10 weeks the plots were sampled and analysis showed that in all cases, no asulam, bromoxynil, or bromoxynil octanoate could be extracted from the top 10 cm of soil.     

Residualwirkung von Chlortriazin-Herbiziden im Boden an drei rumänischen Standorten. II. Prognose möglicher Folgekulturen bei Atrazinrükständen im Boden

Residual effects of chlorotriazine herbicides in soil at three Rumanian sites. II. Prediction of the phytotoxicity of atrazine residues to following crops Total and plant-available atrazine residues in the top 10 cm soil were measured 120 days after application of 3 kg ai ha^?1 to maize (Zea mays L.) at three sites in Rumania. At one site, similar measurements were made 3?5 years after application of 100 kg ai ha^?1. Plant-available atrazine residues were estimated by extraction of soil samples with water, and by bioassay using Brassica rapa as the test plant. It was calculated that between 30 and 120μg atrazine 1^?1 was potentially available to plants in the different soils. Dose-response relationships for atrazine and the most important rotational crops with maize in Rumania—sunflower, winter wheat, soybean and flax—were determined in hydroponic culture using herbicide concentrations corresponding with the plant-available fractions measured in the different soils. ED₅₀ values were determined by probit analysis and the results showed that sunflower (ED₅₀, 22μg 1^?1) was the most sensitive crop, and soybean (ED₅₀, 78μg 1^?1) was the least. The residual phytotoxicity of atrazine to succeeding crops in the different soils was predicted using the appropriate availability and phytotoxicity data, and the results showed good agreement with those observed. The results suggest that measurements of plant-available herbicide residues afford a rapid method of assessing possible phytotoxicity to following crops.     

Soil persistence studies with [14C]MCPA in combination with other herbicides and pesticides

The persistence of [¹⁴C]MCPA at a rate equivalent to 1 kg ha^?1 was studied under laboratory conditions in a clay loam, heavy clay and sandy loam at 85% of field capacity moisture and 20±1°C both alone and in the presence of tri-allate, trifluralin, tri-allate and trifluralin, malathion, Vitaflow DB, malathion and Vitaflow DB, bromoxynil, bromoxynil and asulam, bromoxynil and difenzoquat, dicamba, dicamba and mecoprop, linuron, MCPB, metribuzin, propanil, TCA, benzoylprop-ethyl, diclofop-methyl, and flamprop-methyl. Except in the soils treated with asulam, the half-lives of [¹⁴C]MCPA in all three soil types were similar, being approximately 13±1 days, thus indicating that none of the other chemicals studied adversely affected the soil degradation of MCPA. In the asulam treated soils, the half-lives of the MCPA were about 3 days longer than in non-asulam treated soils; the effect was most marked in the clay loam.     

Metribuzin degradation in soil: II—effects of tillage

A 140-day laboratory incubation, using surface soil from a long-term soybean tillage study, evaluated tillage influence on [¹⁴C]metribuzin degradation. Higher plant residue conditions in no-tillage (NT) soil inhibited metribuzin mineralization to [¹⁴C]carbon dioxide as compared to metribuzin degradation patterns observed in conventional tillage (CT) soil. At 140 days, relative abundance of extractable ¹⁴C components in NT included polar metabolites > metribuzin = deaminated metribuzin (DA) = deaminated diketometribuzin (DADK), while in CT, components included metribuzin > polar metabolites > DADK?DA. Conditions in NT apparently inhibited polar ¹⁴C degradation, and resulted in its accumulation, while in CT polar ¹⁴C degradation proceeded relatively rapidly. For both NT and CT, more ¹⁴ C was measured in an unextractable fraction than in any other fraction. A greater portion of the unextractable fraction in NT was associated with decomposed plant residue than in CT. Surface accumulation of crop residue, such as occurs under NT, provided a soil environment which altered metribuzin degradation patterns.     

Soil metabolism of flupyrsulfuron in winter wheat crops

The sulfonylurea herbicide flupyrsulfuron was applied post‐emergence in March at the rate of 10 g a.i. ha^?1 on winter wheat crops. In the 0–8 cm surface soil layer of the crops grown on sandy loam and loam soils, the flupyrsulfuron half‐life was 64 and 40 days respectively. Flupyrsulfuron and its metabolites were not detected during both crops or 1 month after crop harvest in the 8–15 and 15–20 cm soil layers. Soil degradation of flupyrsulfuron successively generated the cyclization products 1‐(4,6‐dimethoxypyrimidine‐2‐yl)‐2,4‐diketo‐7‐trifluoromethyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidine 2 and N‐(4,6‐dimethoxypyrimidine‐2‐yl)‐N‐(3‐methoxycarbonyl‐6‐trifluoromethylpyridine‐2‐yl)‐amine 3 , which were the main metabolites of flupyrsulfuron in soil. Hydrolysis of 3 successively generated N‐(4,6‐dimethoxypyrimidine‐2‐yl)‐N‐(3‐car‐ boxylic acid‐6‐trifluoromethylpyridine‐2‐yl)‐amine 4 and N‐(4‐methoxy‐6‐hydroxypyrimidine‐2‐yl)‐N‐(3‐carboxylic acid‐6‐trifluoromethylpyridine‐2‐yl)‐amine 5 . Low and temporary concentrations of 2‐sulfonamido‐3‐carbomethoxy‐6‐trifluoromethyl‐pyridine 6 and 2‐amino‐4,6‐dimethoxypyrimidine 7 were observed. Bioassays with sugarbeet as test plants indicated that 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 had herbicide activities corresponding to 100%, 80%, 75%, 75%, 75% and 15% of that of flupyrsulfuron respectively. The metabolites thus extended the herbicidal protection given by flupyrsulfuron and explain the high herbicidal protection given by the low dose of flupyrsulfuron applied. One month after the harvest of the winter wheat, no more significant residue of flupyrsulfuron or of its metabolites was detected in soil.     

Weed Control Efficacy: Response of Chickpea to Pre- and Post-Emergence Herbicides

Lack of control options for cool-season broadleaf weeds is a major deterrent to autumn-sown chickpea. Weed control and chickpea tolerance to PRE (pre-emergence) and POST (post-emergence) application of isoxaflutole and oxyflurofen, PRE metribuzin, POST pyridate, and flumetsulam were investigated at three locations, including Kermanshah, Kurdistan, and Hamedan provinces during 2017–2018. Untreated and weed-free checks were added for comparison. Pyridate and PRE oxyflurofen 125?g ai ha^?1 caused the minor visual crop injury according to EWRS score (1–1.8), while the highest crop injury occurred with metribuzin (EWRS score 3.5–8.5) in whole locations. The most effective herbicides for weed reduction were pyridate (70–75%), PRE oxyfluorfen (69–76%), and POST oxyfluorfen (65–73%) at Kermanshah, PRE oxyfluorfen at 125 and 175?g ai ha^?1 (70–78%), POST oxyfluorfen (70–76%) and pyridate (70–78%) at Kurdistan, PRE oxyfluorfen at 125 and 175?g ai ha^?1 (88–96%), metribuzin (91–100%) and Pyridate (80–97%) at Hamedan. Pyridate and PRE oxyfluorfen at 125?g ai ha^?1 resulted in the highest chickpea grain yield at the three locations. In general, PRE oxyfluorfen (125?g ai ha^?1) was similar to pyridate in terms of efficacy in weed control and grain yield enhancement.

     

Influence of herbicide application rate and timings for post-emergence control of Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. maize

Field experiments were carried out in Greece from 1990 to 1992 to study the effect of application timing and rate of nicosulfuron and rimsulfuron on Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. control and maize yield. All herbicide rates are given in terms of active ingredient (a.i.). Nicosulfuron applied at 22.5, 30.0 and 37.5 g ha^?1 to S. halepense at height 20–35 cm provided greater than 93% control 90 days after treatment, while rimsulfuron applied at 7.5,10.0 and 12.5 g ha^?1 resulted in 81–91% control. Split applications of nicosulfuron and rimsulfuron, as well as tank-mixtures of nicosulfuron+rimsulfuron, gave 91–94% control. Maize yield in all herbicide treatments was greater than that of the weed-infested control and similar to that of the hand-weeded control. S. halepense control with nicosulfuron and rimsulfuron applied to plants 20–35 cm tall was greater than that obtained with their application to plants 5–15, 10–20 or 35–60 cm tall. Rates of 10 and 20 g ha^?1 of rimsulfuron provided control of S. halepense similar to or significantly lower than that achieved with 30 and 60 g ha^?1 of nicosulfuron, respectively. Maize yield produced by all herbicide treatments applied at any time was significantly greater than that of the weed-infested control.