Using chemical seed dormancy breakers with herbicides for weed management in soyabean and wheat

Variable dormancies result in periodicity in the germination of weeds and make weed control a repetitive practice. Under some conditions, repeated applications of selective herbicides can lead to the dominance of perennial weeds like Cyperus rotundus . Our hypothesis was that applying a chemical dormancy breaker (DB ) plus herbicide mixture would better control a mixture of weed species. Three experiments were designed to develop a cost‐effective DB treatment and to evaluate its dose with herbicides tank‐mixtures for effective weed management. KNO ₃ and gibberellic acid GA ₃ as dormancy breakers offered comparable effects, but KNO ₃ was more economical than GA ₃. KNO ₃ at a 6% concentration was more effective in promoting weed germination than a 3% concentration in soyabean. A combination of KNO ₃ (6%) and pre‐emergence pendimethalin 0.75 kg a.i. ha^?1 + imazethapyr 0.10 kg a.i. ha^?1 controlled annual weeds by 99% and reduced C. rotundus growth by 83%. This treatment gave significantly higher soyabean yield and net returns. Similarly, a tank‐mixture comprising of clodinafop 0.06 kg a.i. ha^?1 + metsulfuron 0.006 kga.i. ha^?1 was more effective against weeds than pre‐emergence tank‐mix application of pendimethalin 0.75 kg a.i. ha^?1 + carfentrazone‐ethyl 0.02 kg a.i. ha^?1 and isoproturon 0.75 kg a.i. ha^?1. The use of pre‐emergence tank‐mixture of pendimethalin 0.75 kg a.i. ha^?1 + imazethapyr 0.10 kg a.i. ha^?1 should exhaust seed/tuber bank if repeated and reduce the application cost of herbicides by 50% and the dose, residue and cost of pendimethalin by 25%.     

Tolerance of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to trifluralin deep-incorporated in the autumn or spring

Field experiments at Lacombe on a Ponoka loam soil (9·6% organic matter) during 1982 and 1983 investigated the tolerance of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Neepawa in a weed free situation to trifluralin applied at 0·0–3·0 kg ai ha^?1 in the autumn or spring and incorporated to a depth of 10 cm. Rates of trifluralin above 1·0 kg ai ha^?1 applied in the autumn or spring reduced the percent stand of wheat compared to an untreated control. Two weeks after emergence the crop showed 37 or 47% injury indicated by delayed growth, following application at 1·0 kg ai ha^?1 in the autumn or spring, respectively. The wheat recovered throughout the course of the growing season. At harvest, trifluralin applied in the autumn or spring at rates below 1·0 kg ai ha^?1 caused a yield increase while higher rates caused a yield decrease compared to the untreated control. Spring application caused a greater yield loss than autumn application. The tolerance of spring wheat to trifluralin at rates required for weed control (1·1 kg ai ha^?1 or higher) on this soil type is marginal.     

Impact of Irrigation Timing and Weed Management Practices on Chlorophyll Content and Morphological Traits of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.)

Weeds are a major biotic constraint; compete with crop for the same resources and ultimately reduce productivity. This study evaluated the impact of irrigation intervals and weed management treatments on chlorophyll content and morphological growth of tomato to find an appropriate integrated weed management strategy. Two-year field experiments (2018/2019) were conducted at district Mardan (34°15′38″ N and 72°6′36″ E). Tomato F1 hybrid (Taj?3592) was transplanted during March. The experiments were laid out in a randomized complete-block design in split-plot arrangement with three replications. The main block comprised three irrigation intervals (3, 6, and 9 days) and the sub-block included weed management treatments: transparent polythene, black polythene, weeding except Orobanche, sole weeding of Orobanche, weeding of all weeds, copper oxychloride 1.5?kg a.i ha^?1 (single dose), copper oxychloride 1.5?kg a.i ha^?1 (split doses), copper oxychloride?+?humic acid 25?kg ha^?1 (single dose), copper oxychloride?+?humic acid 25?kg ha^?1 (split doses), copper sulphate 2?kg ha^?1 (single dose), copper sulphate 2?kg ha^?1 (split doses), ammonium sulphate 200?kg ha^?1 (single dose), ammonium sulphate 200?kg ha^?1 (split doses), pendimethalin 33 EC 1.44?kg a.i ha^?1, glyphosate 48 SL 1.5?kg a.i ha^?1, and weedy check. Lowest relative weed density (RWD) of O. cernua (2.23%) and highest RWD of O. cernua (38.01%) were recorded in the 3? and 9?day irrigation intervals, respectively. However, 3?day irrigation interval resulted in highest fresh weed biomass (5794?kg ha^?1). Moreover, the 6?day irrigation interval significantly increased chlorophyll content by 11 and 5%, leaf area by 23 and 6%, and number of branches plant^?1 by 30 and 22% compared to 9? and 3?day irrigation intervals, respectively. Among the weed management treatments, black polythene resulted in the highest weed control efficiency (96%), increasing chlorophyll content by 16%, leaf area by 33%, and number of branches plant^?1 by 64% vs. weedy check. Consequently, 6?day irrigation intervals?×?black polythene could be the best weed management strategy, followed by transparent polythene, weeding of all weeds, pendimethalin, glyphosate, and ammonium sulphate.

     

Chemical weed control in transplanted onion (Allium cepa L.) in the Sudan Gezira

Unrestricted weed growth reduced the yield of transplanted onions (Allium cepa L.) by 26–48%. Hand-weeding once, 42 days after transplanting reduced the yield loss to 15%. Application of oxadiazon (1.1–1.3 kg ai ha^?1), pendimethalin (1.2–1.8 kg ai ha^?1), oxyfluorfen (0.14–0.43 kg ai ha^?1) and chlorthal-dimethyl (8.3–13.1 kg ai ha^?1) resulted in yields comparable to the hand-weeded control (82–126%). When sprayed at transplanting these herbicides gave excellent and persistent control of grasses (86–100%). However, they were less effective on broad-leaved weeds (38–94% control). Désherbage chimique de l'oignon repiqué (Allium cepa L.) dans la Gezireh soudanaise La croissance incontrôlée des mauvaises herbes réduit le rendement des oignons repiqués de 26–48%. Un désherbage manuel, 42 jours après le repiquage, ramène la baisse de rendement à 15%. L'application d'oxadiazon (1,1–1,3 kg ma ha^?1), de pendiméthalin (1,2–1,8 ka ma ha¹), d'oxyfluorfen (0,14–0,43 ka ma ha^?1) et de chlortal-diméthyle (8,3–13,1 kg ma ha^?1), a permis d'atteindre des rendements comparables aux témoins désherbés manuellement (82–126%). Lorsqu'ils ont été administrés au moment du repiquage, ces herbicides ont permis un contrôle efficace et persistant des monocotylédones (86–100%). Toutefois, ils se sont montrés moins efficaces à l'égard des dicotylédones (38–94% du témoin). Chemische Unkrautbekämpfung in verpflanzten Zwiebeln (Allium cepa L.) in der Region Gezira (Sudan) Ungehinderte Unkrautentwicklung in verpflanzten Zwiebeln (Allium cepa L.) verringerte die Ernte um 26–48%. Eine Handjätung, 42 Tage nach dem Auspflanzen, reduzierte den Ernteverlust auf 15%. Die Applikation von Oxadiazon (1,1–1,3 kg ai ha^?1), Pendimethalin (1,2–1,8 kg ai ha^?1), Oxyfluorfen (0,14–0,43 kg ai ha^?1) und Chlorthal- dimethyl (8,3–13,1 kg ai ha^?1) erbrachte Ernten, die mit denjenigen, der von Hand gejäteten Kontrollparzellen vergleichbar waren (82–126%). Diese Herbizide, zur Ausflanzzeit ausgebracht, ergaben eine ausgezeichnete und andauernde Kontrolle von Gräsern (86–100%), während die Wirkung gegen breitblättrige Unkräuter geringer ausfiel (38–94%).     

Survey and Assessment of the Natural Enemies of Water Hyacinth,Eichhornia crassipes

Abstract

In northern Queensland, the addition of 2,4,5‐T butyl ester was found to be unnecessary to maintain the control of Echinochloa colona (L.) Link and Cyperus Iria L. In dry seeded rice when propanil rates were reduced below the registered rate of 4 kg a.i. ha^?1. Adequate weed control was obtained with 1.3 kg a.i. ha^?1 propanil alone. No adverse effects on rice yield were found with any of the propanil × 2,4,5‐T treatments. Low rates of propanil, 1.3 and 0.72 kg a.i. ha^?1, compared favourably with pre‐emergence treatments of thiobencarb, butachlor, oxyfluorfen and pretilachlor (plus a safener) when weed yields were low. Where water management was poor and Ischaemum rugosum Salisb. was the dominant weed, oxyfluorfen applied pre‐emergence at 0.96 kg a.i. ha^?1 produced a higher rice and a lower weed yield than the low rates of propanil. In three of the five experiments, weed growth was insufficient to depress rice yields significantly.     

Control by glyphosate and its alternatives of glyphosate‐susceptible and glyphosate‐resistant Echinochloa colona in the fallow phase of crop rotations in subtropical Australia

Echinochloa colona is the most common grass weed of summer fallows in the grain‐cropping systems of the subtropical region of Australia. Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide for summer grass control in fallows in this region. The world's first population of glyphosate‐resistant E. colona was confirmed in Australia in 2007 and, since then, >70 populations have been confirmed to be resistant in the subtropical region. The efficacy of alternative herbicides on glyphosate‐susceptible populations was evaluated in three field experiments and on both glyphosate‐susceptible and glyphosate‐resistant populations in two pot experiments. The treatments were knockdown and pre‐emergence herbicides that were applied as a single application (alone or in a mixture) or as part of a sequential application to weeds at different growth stages. Glyphosate at 720 g ai ha^?1 provided good control of small glyphosate‐susceptible plants (pre‐ to early tillering), but was not always effective on larger susceptible plants. Paraquat was effective and the most reliable when applied at 500 g ai ha^?1 on small plants, irrespective of the glyphosate resistance status. The sequential application of glyphosate followed by paraquat provided 96–100% control across all experiments, irrespective of the growth stage, and the addition of metolachlor and metolachlor + atrazine to glyphosate or paraquat significantly reduced subsequent emergence. Herbicide treatments have been identified that provide excellent control of small E. colona plants, irrespective of their glyphosate resistance status. These tactics of knockdown herbicides, sequential applications and pre‐emergence herbicides should be incorporated into an integrated weed management strategy in order to greatly improve E. colona control, reduce seed production by the sprayed survivors and to minimize the risk of the further development of glyphosate resistance.     

Glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) on rice paddy levees in Japan

The rapid range expansion of naturalized Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in farmland is a serious problem in Fukuroi city in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Glyphosate has been used to control Italian ryegrass in the levees of rice paddy fields and wheat fields for ～20 years, but this weed in Fukuroi city is poorly controlled by glyphosate. In order to elucidate the level of resistance to glyphosate in Italian ryegrass populations, seed bioassays and a foliar application experiment, using seeds collected from 16 wild populations in and around Fukuroi city and from three susceptible cultivars, were conducted. For the susceptible cultivars and one population from a site where glyphosate had not been applied for >10 years, the shoot length in the seed bioassays was greatly suppressed at a glyphosate concentration of 10 mg ai L^?1 and no seedling survived after the foliar application of glyphosate at a rate of 2.3 kg ai ha^?1. Nine wild populations from levees in the southern part of Fukuroi city showed vigorous shoot growth at a glyphosate concentration of 10 mg ai L^?1 and had at least a 78% survival rate after the application of glyphosate at 2.3 kg ai ha^?1. Four wild populations from levees in the northern part of Fukuroi city showed a slight suppression of the shoot growth as a result of the glyphosate treatment and their survival rates ranged from 20 to 64%. The results suggested that resistance to glyphosate has evolved in the wild populations of Italian ryegrass that are growing on the levees. This is the first report of a glyphosate‐resistant weed in Japan.     

Response of wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) to sulfosulfuron: The role of degradation

Wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum) is one of the most troublesome weed species in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) in Iran. Two bioassay experiments were conducted in order to study the response of wild barley and wheat to different herbicides and to study the efficacy of pre‐emergence (PRE), postemergence (POST), and PRE followed by POST applications of sulfosulfuron on wild barely. Moreover, the degradation of sulfosulfuron was studied by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). The results showed that wild barley was highly tolerant to clodinafop‐propargyl and its dry weight was reduced by only 15%, compared to the control, at the recommended dose (64 g ai ha^?1). Sulfosulfuron reduced the wild barley biomass by ≤50% at the highest dose (90 g ai ha^?1) in the first bioassay but by not more than 20% and 12% at the recommended dose (22 g ai ha^?1) in the first and second bioassay, respectively. Significant differences were found among the application methods of sulfosulfuron, with the POST application being the least effective method. In contrast to the POST application, wild barley was severely injured by the PRE application of sulfosulfuron, with an ED₅₀ dose of 7.3 g ai ha^?1. The degradation study showed that wild barley can metabolize sulfosulfuron that is applied POST, but at a lower rate than wheat. By 4 h after application, wild barley had metabolized 26% of the sulfosulfuron, compared to 46% by wheat. In conclusion, wild barley can metabolize the recommended dose of sulfosulfuron that is applied POST; thus, the PRE application of sulfosulfuron or other integrated methods should be considered for the effective control of wild barley in wheat.     

Effects of some integrated management options on parthenium interference in sorghum

Parthenium is widely distributed across the uncropped areas of the tropics. It has slowly encroached into many crops and causes considerable yield loss. It heavily infests sorghum, which is widely cultivated by the resource‐poor farmers in Africa and Asia. Its interference and management in sorghum in these cropping systems is not well understood. Therefore, this experiment was undertaken to determine the appropriate parthenium management techniques to use in sorghum crops. All the studied weeds, in combination with parthenium, offered greater competition to sorghum than parthenium alone. Similarly, under a composite stand of weeds, parthenium was inferior in competitiveness to the other weeds until 60 days after sowing (DAS); by 90 DAS, it could accumulate a higher dry weight due to its consistent growth. A pre‐emergence treatment of atrazine (0.75 kg ha^‐1) with wheat straw mulch (5.0 t ha^?1) brought about a consistent and significant reduction in the parthenium growth and, consequently, increased the sorghum yield by 90.8%. Cowpea intercropping with and without pendimethalin (1.0 kg ha^?1) as a pre‐emergence treatment could not control parthenium between 0 and 60 DAS, but could reduce the parthenium growth during the later period of 60–90 DAS, which resulted in a significant increase in sorghum growth. These intercropping treatments increased the sorghum grain yield by 156.2% and 142.4%, respectively, over the unweeded control and by 18.5% and 12.1%, respectively, over the weed‐free control. These treatments also promoted a higher uptake of N, P, and K by the sorghum crop. Thus, cowpea intercropping was the most effective method for parthenium management vis‐à‐vis sorghum yield improvement, followed by cowpea intercropping with pendimethalin and then by atrazine as a pre‐emergence treatment with wheat straw mulch.     

A new molecular method for the rapid detection of a metamitron‐resistant target site in Chenopodium album

BACKGROUND: Resistance to photosystem II inhibitors—triazines (atrazine) and triazinones (metamitron, metribuzin)—in Chenopodium album L. is caused by the serine 264 to glycine mutation in the D1 protein. This mutation has been detected in C. album collections from Belgium with unsatisfactory metamitron efficacy in the field and was confirmed in greenhouse resistance bioassays. Incomplete herbicide efficacy in practice can also be caused by reduced uptake due to environmental conditions. Hence, for reliable differentiation and resistance identification, a rapid method for mutation detection in the target gene psbA is required. RESULTS: Dose–response curves obtained in herbicide greenhouse assays with metamitron‐resistant and ‐susceptible reference biotypes showed that a dose of 2 L ha^?1 metamitron was suitable for discrimination. A psbA PCR‐RFLP was developed, based on the presence of a FspBI restriction enzyme recognition site, covering D1 codon 264 in susceptible genotypes. A paper‐based DNA extraction allowed direct processing of leaf samples already in the field. In order to detect the mutation even in mixed seed samples, a nested PCR‐RFLP was also developed. CONCLUSION: The method allows exhaustive surveys screening C. album leaf or seed samples for the occurrence of the D1 Ser264Gly mutation to confirm or disprove metamitron resistance in the case of unsatisfactory control. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Integrated weed management for cassava intercropped with maize

Trials were conducted in the tropical rainforest zone of Nigeria from 1982 to 1984 to compare manual weeding with chemical and integrated weed control systems in cassava (Manihot esculenta Krantz)/maize (Zea mays L) intercrop. Uncontrolled weeds reduced cassava and maize component yields by 2-year averages of 49 and 62% respectively; and their combined energy yield by 53% compared with 30 572 kcal ha^?1 obtained from the control plots hand-hoed at 3 and 8 weeks after planting. Highest economic returns were obtained from using cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) or Egusi melon (Colocynthis citrullus (L.) O. Ktze) which gave 2-year average net returns of N2843 ha^?1 and 2944 ha^?1 compared with N1598 ha^?1 generated from the control that received two hand-hoeings. Integrated use of cowpea and pre-emergence application of alachlor at 2.0 or chloremben at 3.4 kg ai ha^?1 and pre-emergence application of either fluometuron or chloramben at 2.5 and 3.4 kg ai ha^?1 respectively or their mixture gave more economic net returns than two hand-hoeings. Under similar management level, intercropping cassava and maize resulted in 36–43% more land being made available to the farmer for other uses than sole cropping them. Lutte intégrée contre les mauvaises herbes en culture de manioc semé entre les lignes du mäis Des essais ont été installés de 1982 à 1984 dans la zone forestiére tropicale humide du Nigéria dans le but de comparer le désherbage manuel avec des systèmes de lutte chimique et intégrée contre les adventices d'une culture de manioc (Manihot esculenta Krantz) semé entre les lignes d'une culture de mäis (Zea mays L.). Faute de désherbage, les mauvaises herbes ont amené une réduction moyenne sur deux ans de 49% et 62% respectivement dans les rendements de manioc et de mais; le rendement global en énergie des deux espèces a subi une réduction de 53% par rapport à la somme de 30 572 kcal ha^?1, obtenues sur les parcelles témoin recevant un sarclage manuel 3 et 8 semaines après le semis. Une lutte culturelle, utilisant une culture de niébé (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) ou de melon Egusi (Colocynthis citrullus (L.) O. Ktze) s'est révélée le plus rentable des systèmes de désherbage; ce système a rapporté net, en moyenne sur 2 ans, N2843 ha^?1 et N2944 ha^?1 tandis que le témoin recevant deux sarclages manuels n'a rapporté que N1598 ha^?1. Une lutte intégrée, utilisant le niébé et un traitement herbicide de prélevée, soit alachlore 2,0 kg ou chloramben 3,4 kg ma ha^?1, ainsi qu'une lutte chimique (fluométuron 2,5 ou chloramben 3,4 kg ma ha^?1, ou bien un mélange des deux) a fait preuve d'une rentabilité supérieure à celle de deux sarclages manuels. Etant donné le même système de désherbage, la combinaison manioc-mäis a mis 36–43% plus de superficie à la disposition du fermier pour d'autres emplois que la culture de chaque espèce à part. Integrierte Unkrautkontrolle in Cassava/Mais—Mischkultur In der tropischen Regenwaldzone von Nigeria wurden von 1982 bis 1984 Versuche zum Wirkungsvergleich zwischen manueller, chemischer und integrierter Unkrautkontrolle in Mischkulturen von Cassava (Manihot esculenta Krantz) und Mais (Zea Mays L.) Durchgeführt. Die nicht kontrollierte Unkrautpopulation reduzierte die Cassava- resp. Maisernte im Durchschnitt von zwei Jahren um 49 resp. 62%; der kombinierte Energieertrag wurde um 53% verringert, bezogen auf 30 572 kcal ha^?1, die in den 3 und 8 Wochen nach der Pflanzung handgejätet Parzellen erzielt wurden. Die wirtschaftlich günstigsten Resultate wurden in Mischkulturen von Mais und Kuhbohne (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) oder Egusi-Melonen (Colocynthis citrullus (L.) O. Ktze) erhalten; diese erzielten im Mittelzweier Jahre Nettoerträge von N 2843 ha^?1 und N 2944 ha^?1, verglichen mit N 1598 ha^?1 aus den zweimal manuell gejäteten Parzellen. Integrierter Einsatz von Kuhbohne und Vorauflaufapplikation von 2,0 kg ai ha^?1 Alachlor oder 3,4 kg ai ha^?1 Chloramben, sowie Verauflaufapplikationen von 2,5 kgai ha^?1 Fluometuron oder 3,4 kg ai ha^?1 Chloramben, allein oder gemischt verwendet, ergaben wirtschaftlich bessere Resultate als zwei Handjätungen. Unter vergleichbaren landwirtsehaftlichen Bedingungen ermöglichten Mischkulturen von Cassava und Mais dem Landwirt 36–43% mehr Land für andere Verwendung einzusetzen, als bei separatem Anbau der beiden Kulturpflanzen.     

The role of pendimethalin in the integrated management of propanil-resistant Echinochloa colona in Central America

Pre-emergence activity of pendimethalin on propanil-resistant jungle rice (Echinochloa colona) was demonstrated in glasshouse trials. Both susceptible and resistant populations, collected from Costa Rica, were controlled by 1·25 kg ha^-1, the usual application rate used in the field where Rottboellia cochinchinensis is also a problem. When applied post-emergence, propanil performance was improved by the addition of low doses of pendimethalin to the herbicide mixture. A propanil-resistant selection was controlled by 0·23 kg ha^-1 pendi-methalin+0·54 kg ha^-1 propanil at the one-to-two leaf stage, and 0·23 kg ha^-1 pendimethalin+1·08 kg propanil at the three-to-four leaf stage compared to 1·08 kg and 2·16 kg ha^-1 respectively when propanil was applied alone. This suggests that pendimethalin improves post-emergence control in the field compared to the standard propanil treatment and can provide residual pre-emergence control of late-germinating individuals, so reducing the propanil selection pressure. For effective jungle rice control, growers apply propanil (3·84 kg ha^-1) at 10 and 20 days after planting (DAP) followed by one application of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (0·045 kg ha^-1) at 35 DAP. Field experiments, conducted in dry-seeded upland rice in southern Costa Rica, demonstrated that under high jungle-rice population pressure, one application of pendimethalin at 1·5 kg ha^-1 provided an effective replacement for propanil, resulting in reduced weed-control costs. ©1997 SCI     

Eleven years of integrated weed management: long‐term impacts of row spacing and harvest weed seed destruction on Lolium rigidum control

Long‐term research aimed to determine whether narrow row spacing and harvest weed seed destruction, in combination with herbicide use, would be sufficient to drive a Lolium rigidum population to extinction. A trial was run from 1987 to 2013, with treatments including crop row spacings of 9, 18, 27 or 36 cm and crop residue burning or retention. Herbicides were applied to reflect regional practices. The initial trial design was randomised, but treatments were maintained in each plot over the following years. Lolium rigidum seed production at harvest was assessed from 2003 to 2013. Average crop yield was higher in the unburnt plots (1638 kg ha^?1) than the burnt plots (1530 kg ha^?1) and greater at narrow row spacing, with an average yield of 1658, 1637, 1548 and 1492 kg ha^?1 in the 9‐, 18‐, 27‐ and 36‐cm spacings. Lolium rigidum seed at harvest was reduced in the burnt plots (57 seeds m^?2) compared with the unburnt plots (297 seeds m^?2) and was reduced at narrow row spacing, with an average of 58, 78, 223 and 333 seeds m^?2 in the 9‐, 18‐, 27‐ and 36‐cm row spacings. By 2013, L. rigidum seed production was reduced to an average of 0 seeds m^?2 in the narrow row spacing, burnt plots.     

Chemical control of weedy rice in precise hill‐direct‐seeded rice in South China

Precise hill‐direct‐seeded rice, which is both cost‐ and labor‐saving, is based on the direct seeding of rice by using a precision rice hill‐drop drilling machine. Weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea), also known as “red rice”, is a major weed in precise hill‐direct‐seeded rice, causing an ≤80% yield loss and a reduction in grain quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the control efficiency of weedy rice by pretilachlor (a pre‐emergence herbicide) and fenclorim (a safener) and their safety for precise hill‐direct‐seeded rice in two consecutive years. The amount of rice seed germination was accelerated by soaking the seeds in the safener at 0.67 g ai L^?1 for 1 h before sowing. The pre‐emergence pretilachlor treatments were applied 2 days after sowing cultured rice. The inhibition of the shoot fresh weight of the cultured rice was reduced by 3.3, 6.4 and 7.4% with 450, 900 and 1350 g ai ha^?1 of pretilachlor at 32 days after sowing (DAS) and that of the root fresh weight was reduced by 2.6, 4.9 and 8.1%, respectively. With fenclorim and pretilachlor in a precise hill‐direct‐seeded rice field in 2010 and 2011, the weedy rice control efficiency at 32 DAS was reduced by 100 and 98.0%, respectively. The pre‐emergence pretilachlor treatments that were applied at 2 DAS were much more efficient in the weedy rice control and less inhibitory to the cultured rice growth. The rice yield was increased by 26.1–26.7% in the mechanical precise hill‐direct‐seeded rice, relative to the manual‐seeding rice, with the application of fenclorim and pretilachlor.     

Herbicidal activity on acetolactate synthase‐resistant barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus‐galli) in Arkansas,USA

The intensive use of the acetolactate synthase (ALS)‐inhibiting herbicides, imazethapyr, penoxsulam and bispyribac‐sodium, in imidazolinone‐resistant (Clearfield) rice increases the risk of the evolution of ALS‐resistant barnyardgrass. In 2009, imazethapyr failed to control barnyardgrass that was collected from a field in Arkansas, USA, following the failure of the herbicide in 2008. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to confirm and document the level of resistance of the biotype against three ALS‐inhibiting herbicides that currently are labeled in rice. The level of control of the resistant biotype at the labeled rate of bispyribac‐sodium of 35 g ai ha^?1 was 10%, penoxsulam at 22 g ai ha^?1 was 0% and imazethapyr at 70 g ai ha^?1 was 25%. The level of mortality of the susceptible biotype was 100% with all the herbicides at the labeled rate. The dose needed to kill 50% of the resistant plants was 49 g ha^?1 of bispyribac‐sodium, 254 g ha^?1 of penoxsulam and 170 g ha^?1 of imazethapyr. For the susceptible biotype, bispyribac‐sodium at 6 g ha^?1, penoxsulam at 10 g ha^?1 and imazethapyr at 12 g ha^?1 killed 50% of the treated plants. Based on these findings, it was confirmed that a barnyardgrass population has evolved cross‐resistance to three ALS‐inhibiting herbicides in rice culture in Arkansas. Furthermore, an experiment was conducted to determine if the ALS‐resistant biotype could be controlled using other mechanisms of action. The results indicated that propanil, a photosystem II inhibitor, and quinclorac, a synthetic auxin, failed to control the resistant biotype at the labeled rates, whereas all the other evaluated herbicides provided effective control of both biotypes.     

Weeding and nitrogen effects on farmers' wheat crops in semi-arid Morocco

The effects of three weeding systems with and without top-dressed nitrogen were examined in 40 experiments on bread wheat and durum wheat planted by farmers in the Chaouia (semi-arid area of Morocco) in 1984–1985 and 1985–1986 growing seasons. In both years, hand-weeding to simulate collection of forage reduced weed numbers by 30% and removed 63% of the weed dry weight. Treatment with 2, 4-D removed 66% of the weeds and reduced weed dry weight by 82%, in 1985–1986. Hand-weeding for forage produced 427 kg ha^?1 weed dry matter in both years, but wheat grain yields were 179 kg ha^?1 lower than with 2.4-D treatments. Over both years, the cost of each kg weed forage was 0·43 kg grain yield loss. Without weeding grain yields were 130 kg ha^?1 lower than 2, 4-D treatments. Weed control with 2,4-D increased wheat grain yields over both non-weeded and hand-weeded treatments by an average of 154 kg ha^?1. Overall, there were no significant effects of nitrogen on wheat or weed yields nor interactions between top-dressed nitrogen and weeding systems. A total of 157 weed species belonging to 29 botanical families were identified on the 40 experimental sites over both years; 89% were dicotyledons. Papaver rhoeas L. (common poppy), 2, 4-D susceptible plant, was the most annual weed in wheat fields in Chaouia.     

Effects of Aglaia odorata granules on the seedling growth of major maize weeds and the influence of soil type on the granule residue's efficacy

This study was undertaken to explore the potential of Aglaia odorata Lour. granules in various soil types (sand, sandy loam and clay) at 0.25, 0.5 and 1 t ai ha^?1 to inhibit two major maize weeds, Digitaria adscendens and Trianthema portulacastrum L., in an experimental greenhouse. The results indicated that the emergence and seedling growth of both weeds were inhibited but varied with the soil type: the inhibitory effect of the A. odorata granules was stronger when applied in sand, followed by sandy loam and clay. The weed species responded differently to the A. odorata granule application. Generally, the inhibitory effect was greater for D. adscendens than for T. portulacastrum. Additionally, the potential of the A. odorata granules for weed control in maize field plots was evaluated. The three major weeds that were found in the experimental field were D. adscendens, T. portulacastrum and Amaranthus gracilis. The highest A. odorata granule dose (1 t ai ha^?1) had a significant inhibitory effect on the emergence and growth of all of the weed species and their emergence was reduced by 96.7%, 47.2% and 56.2%, respectively, compared with the control treatment (unweeded). The dry weight of the weeds was reduced in a similar manner to their emergence. In contrast, the emergence of maize was not affected by any of the A. odorata granule applications. Rather, at an application rate of 1 t ai ha^?1, the maize yield increased significantly and the effect was similar to that observed with an atrazine herbicide application under field conditions.     

A novel pre‐emergence herbicide (Diclosulam) as an environmentally friendly weed management option in peanut and its phytotoxicity evaluation

A two‐season field experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of diclosulam compared with recommended doses of pendimethalin and oxyfluorfen for weed management in peanut. Persistence of diclosulam in oil, de‐oiled cake, haulm of peanut, and soil was also studied. Diclosulam 22 and 26 g a.i. ha^?1, and a weed‐free check had a high pod yield due to more mature pods and their mass. Pre‐emergence application of diclosulam 26 g a.i. ha^?1 provided better weed management and enhanced peanut growth and yield with high net returns. Phytotoxicity studies indicated that the diclosulam application did not cause any phytotoxic symptoms (vein clearing, epinasty, hyponasty, wilting, and injury) on leaf tips and leaf surface of peanut. Diclosulam residues in peanut viz. oil, de‐oiled cake, haulm, and soil were below the detection level after harvesting of peanut from the experimental field. Further, germination percentage and seed cotton yield of cotton crop cultivated after peanut were also not affected significantly.     

An investigation to enhance understanding of the stimulation of weed seedling emergence by soil disturbance

Enhanced understanding of soil disturbance effects on weed seedling recruitment will help guide improved management approaches. Field experiments were conducted at 16 site‐years at 10 research farms across Europe and North America to (i) quantify superficial soil disturbance (SSD) effects on Chenopodium album emergence and (ii) clarify adaptive emergence behaviour in frequently disturbed environments. Each site‐year contained factorial combinations of two seed populations (local and common, with the common population studied at all site‐years) and six SSD timings [0, 50, 100, 150, 200 day‐degrees (d°C, base temperature 3°C) after first emergence from undisturbed soil]. Analytical units in this study were emergence flushes. Flush magnitudes (maximum weekly emergence per count flush) and flush frequencies (flushes year^?1) were compared between disturbed and undisturbed seedbanks. One year after burial, SSD promoted seedling emergence relative to undisturbed seedbanks by increasing flush magnitude rather than increasing flush frequency. Two years after burial, SSD promoted emergence through increased flush magnitude and flush frequency. The promotional effects of SSD on emergence were strongest within 500 d°C following SSD; however, low levels of SSD‐induced emergence were detected as late as 3000 d°C following SSD. Accordingly, stale seedbed practices that eliminate weed seedlings should occur within 500 d°C of disturbance, because few seedlings emerge after this time. However, implementation of stale seedbed practices will probably cause slight increases in weed population densities throughout the year. Compared with the common population, local populations exhibited reduced variance in total emergence measured within sites and across SSD treatments, suggesting that C. album adaptation to local pedo‐climatic conditions involves increased consistency in SSD‐induced emergence.     

Problems in control of Rottboellia exaltata L.f. in maize in Bukidnon Province, Mindanao, Philippines

Various methods were tested to control the annual grass Rottboellia exaltata L.f. in maize (Zea mays L.) under small-farm conditions in Bukidnon Province, Mindanao, Philippines during 1977 and 1978. No single method was satisfactory. Despite adequate early season control, late-germinating Rottboellia tillered profusely. By harvest, plots had heavy infestations and were carpeted with seed. At harvest, untreated controls averaged 8·6 t Rottboellia dry matter ha^?1 and only half the maize yield of handweeded plots. The ‘karase’ spike-tooth harrow, or 0·2 kg paraquat ha^?1, effectively removed Rottboellia flushes before maize emergence, but these techniques delayed planting, which can intensify downy mildew disease (Sclerospora sp.). Even though handweeding increased maize yields and decreased Rottboellia dry weights, it is impractical on typical 3- to 5-ha maize farms. Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek var. aureus), intercropped with maize, suppressed Rottboellia initially. Openings caused by mungbean harvest, however, allowed explosive late-season weed growth in maize. Three herbicide treatments were as effective as handweeding: pendimethalin plus atrazine, either banded over the maize row (followed by cultivation), or broadcast; and pendimethalin followed by 2, 4-D, both broadcast. In one experiment, low-cost practices, including weed flush removal, cultivation, or handweeding, provided high net returns, whereas expensive herbicide treatments produced low net returns. Fertilizer, applied without weed control, increased maize yield 62%. Without fertilizer, weed control increased yield 107%. Combining the two raised yield 167%.