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Kochia [Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott] is an invasive species in the High Plains of the United States that poses formidable management challenges in agricultural systems, primarily due to its evolution of resistance to glyphosate. Resistance is due to a transposon-associated increase in 5-enolpyruvyl-3-shikimate phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene copy number relative to the sensitive biotype. Factors behind the rapid spread of glyphosate-resistant biotypes are likely associated with certain aspects of B. scoparia biology, such as a protogynous flower morphology producing large amounts of pollen, that encourages outcrossing and favors high genetic diversity. Furthermore, its ability to tumble over long distances ensures a rapid spread of the resistance trait. Herein, we explore glyphosate resistance in B. scoparia in Colorado. There was no difference in EPSPS gene (Type I, Type II) and FAR1 copy numbers between parent and progeny B. scoparia populations across multiple years (2018, 2020, and 2022), suggesting stable inheritance of glyphosate resistance. Further, the inheritance of glyphosate resistance was investigated using three specific microsatellites or simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers viz. 2656, 2896, and 1792. SSR marker analysis revealed an outcrossing rate of 78% and a selfing rate of 22% in B. scoparia progeny. By investigating the complex interplay between B. scoparia’s biology and genetics, this study investigates the inheritance of glyphosate resistance in B. scoparia, estimates the outcrossing rate under field conditions, and underscores the importance of developing effective management strategies to mitigate its impact on agricultural ecosystems.

Mesotrione is a carotenoid biosynthesis‐inhibiting herbicide labeled for pre‐emergence and postemergence weed control in corn production. Understanding the factors that influence the dissipation of mesotrione in soil and in the plant‐available water (PAW) is important for the environmental fate assessment and optimal weed management practices. The present research investigated the role of soil properties and microbial activities on the interrelated sorption and degradation processes of mesotrione in four soils by direct measurements of PAW. We found that mesotrione bound to the soils time dependently, with approximately 14 d to reach equilibrium. The 24‐h batch‐slurry equilibrium experiments provided the sorption partition coefficient ranging from 0.26 to 3.53 L kg−1, depending on soil organic carbon and pH. The dissipation of mesotrione in the soil‐bound phase was primarily attributed to desorption to the PAW. Degradation in the PAW was rapid and primarily dependent on microbial actions, with half‐degradation time (DT50) <3 d in all four soils tested. The rapid degradation in the PAW became rate limited by sorption as more available molecules were depleted in the soil pore water, resulting in a more slowed overall process for the total soil–water system (DT50 <26 d). The dissipation of mesotrione in the PAW was due to microbial metabolism and time‐dependent sorption to the soils. A coupled kinetics model calibrated with the data from the laboratory centrifugation technique provided an effective approach to investigate the interrelated processes of sorption and degradation in realistic soil moisture conditions.

Kochia is one of the most problematic weeds in the United States. Field studies were conducted in five states (Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota) over 2 yr (2010 and 2011) to evaluate kochia control with selected herbicides registered in five common crop scenarios: winter wheat, fallow, corn, soybean, and sugar beet to provide insight for diversifying kochia management in crop rotations. Kochia control varied by experimental site such that more variation in kochia control and biomass production was explained by experimental site than herbicide choice within a crop. Kochia control with herbicides currently labeled for use in sugar beet averaged 32% across locations. Kochia control was greatest and most consistent from corn herbicide programs (99%), followed by soybean (96%) and fallow (97%) herbicide programs. Kochia control from wheat herbicide programs was 93%. With respect to the availability of effective herbicide options, glyphosate-resistant kochia control was easiest in corn, soybean, and fallow, followed by wheat; and difficult to manage with herbicides in sugar beet. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; kochia, Bassia scoparia (L.) A. J. Scott, KCHSC; corn, Zea mays L. ZEAMX; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. GLXMA; sugar beet, Beta vulgaris L. BEAVX; wheat, Triticum aestivum L. TRZAX

Canada thistle is a serious weed of many crop, rangeland, pasture, and natural areas throughout North America. Aminopyralid is a new pyridine carboxylic acid herbicide that has activity on Canada thistle at lower use rates than current standard treatments. The objectives of this study were to compare aminopyralid efficacy, rates, and application timing with several commercial standards for Canada thistle control. Studies were conducted across the Great Plains at ten locations, which encompassed a wide range of environments. Aminopyralid provided Canada thistle control comparable to picloram, picloram + 2,4-D amine, and clopyralid and better control than clopyralid + 2,4-D amine, dicamba, dicamba + 2,4-D amine and dicamba + diflufenzopyr. Canada thistle control was similar when aminopyralid was applied between 0.08 and 0.11 kg ai/ha and application timing (spring bolting vs. fall rosette/regrowth) did not strongly influence control 1 yr after treatment (YAT). Aminopyralid provided effective Canada thistle control at lower use rates than current commercial standards and might be useful in areas where herbicides such as picloram and clopyralid are not recommended for use. Nomenclature: Aminopyralid; clopyralid; dicamba; diflufenzopyr; picloram; 2,4-D amine; Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense L. Scop. CIRAR.

An area of interest in precision farming is variable-rate application of herbicides to optimize herbicide use efficiency and minimize negative off-site and non-target effects. Site-specific weed management based on field scale management zones derived from soil characteristics known to affect soil-applied herbicide efficacy could alleviate challenges posed by post-emergence precision weed management. Two commonly used soil-applied herbicides in dryland corn (Zea mays L.) production are atrazine and metolachlor. Accelerated dissipation of atrazine has been discovered recently in irrigated corn fields in eastern Colorado. The objectives of this study were (i) to compare the rates of dissipation of atrazine and metolachlor across different soil zones from three dryland no-tillage fields under laboratory incubation conditions and (ii) to determine if rapid dissipation of atrazine and/or metolachlor occurred in dryland soils. Herbicide dissipation was evaluated at time points between 0 and 35 d after soil treatment using a toluene extraction procedure with GC/MS analysis. Differential rates of atrazine and metolachlor dissipation occurred between two soil zones on two of three fields evaluated. Accelerated atrazine dissipation occurred in soil from all fields of this study, with half-lives ranging from 1.8 to 3.2 d in the laboratory. The rapid atrazine dissipation rates were likely attributed to the history of atrazine use on all fields investigated in this study. Metolachlor dissipation was not considered accelerated and exhibited half-lives ranging from 9.0 to 10.7 d in the laboratory.

Effectiveness of rotary hoeing with cultivation and comparison of an in-row cultivator with a standard row-crop cultivator were determined in dry edible bean. The effectiveness of in-row cultivation conducted at various timings and frequencies was examined. The in-row cultivator was more effective in reducing weed populations than the standard cultivator, although at least two mechanical weeding operations were needed to reduce weed populations to levels of the herbicide check (EPTC [S-ethyl dipropyl carbamothioate] plus ethalfluralin). When the in-row cultivation was delayed until the second trifoliolate stage or later, weed populations were greater than those in the herbicide check. In situations with high weed populations, rotary hoeing prior to cultivation was required to reduce weed populations to levels similar to the herbicide check. An in-row cultivator has potential to improve mechanical weed control options in a crop such as dry edible bean. The types of adjustments made in combination with soil textures, soil moisture, and operator experience affect overall weed control. Thus, it is expected that the level of weed control will vary from year to year and even field to field for the same operator.

Spurred anoda is an increasing weed problem in Colorado pinto bean production. This research was designed to evaluate reduced rates of bentazon and imazethapyr applied at various times for spurred anoda control and profitability. In 1993, spurred anoda control with early applications of either bentazon or imazethapyr was superior to late applications. Bentazon provided better spurred anoda control than imazethapyr in June. Spurred anoda control in 1993 was better than in 1994 due to late-emerging weeds and herbicide treatments not providing residual control. In 1994, bentazon controlled spurred anoda better than imazethapyr 1 and 3 wk after late POST, but no treatment provided commercially acceptable full-season control. The number of treatments with gross margins greater than the untreated check increased as pinto bean prices increased, but ranking of gross margin did not change due to pinto bean prices.

Information on the effects of multiple weed management tactics in corn is needed to develop integrated weed management systems. The effectiveness and compatibility of an in-row cultivator as compared to a standard interrow cultivator used with reduced rates of a soil-applied herbicide, rotary hoeing, and/or a bioeconomic model for POST herbicide selection was examined. Weed control with a single rotary hoeing at corn emergence controlled annual weeds similarly to two rotary hoeings. One-third recommended use rate of alachlor controlled weeds similarly to a two-thirds rate. Reduced rates of alachlor controlled more weeds than rotary hoeing over 2 yr. The in-row cultivator required early-season weed control (rotary hoeing or reduced alachlor rate) for optimum efficacy. The in-row cultivator provided better weed control than the standard cultivator while the cost of operating the two cultivators was similar. Thus, the in-row cultivator was more efficient than the standard cultivator. Furthermore, less intensive early-season weed control was required with the in-row cultivator for maximum weed control as compared to the standard cultivator. Rotary hoeing plus the in-row cultivator provided similar weed control to other weed management tactics that required both soil-applied and POST herbicides. Gross margin was influenced more by corn yield than cost of weed management tactics.

An integrated approach to weed management in pinto bean is needed since available herbicides seldom adequately control all weed species present in a field. A two-year study was conducted to assess weed control efficacy and pinto bean tolerance to mechanical weeding from a rotary hoe or flex-tine harrow at crook, unifoliolate, and trifoliolate stages of bean development. Weed control was similar for both implements and all timings in 1993. In 1994, mechanical weeding at trifoliolate and both crook and trifoliolate stages controlled more weeds than at other growth stages, regardless of type of implement. Using the flex-tine harrow reduced pinto bean stand, but results based on growth stage were not consistent each year. Damage to pinto bean hypocotyls and stems was observed with the flex-tine harrow used at both crook and trifoliolate stages in 1994. Rotary hoeing did not reduce pinto bean stand or cause injury. Yield and seed weight did not differ among treatments in either year.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the effect of 1-aminomethanamide dihydrogen tetraoxosulfate (AMADS) as a spray adjuvant on the efficacy of three different glyphosate formulations, the isopropylamine salt (glyphosate-IPA), potassium salt (glyphosate-K), and the acid of glyphosate dissolved in AMADS (glyphosate-A). All formulations were tested at multiple rates with and without AMADS (2% v/v) on greenhouse-grown corn, and growth inhibition was determined by measuring the elongation of the newest emerging leaf between 1 and 7 d after treatment. AMADS increased the efficacy of all three glyphosate formulations by threefold to fourfold. The IC50 values for glyphosate-IPA, glyphosate-K, and glyphosate-A without AMADS on corn were 77, 54, and 53 g ae/ha, respectively; and with AMADS the values were 20, 18, and 21 g/ha, respectively. AMADS was more effective than ammonium sulfate (2% w/v) in overcoming the antagonism of hard water (200 parts per million Ca+2) on glyphosate-K efficacy on corn. The rainfastness of glyphosate-IPA, glyphosate-A, and glyphosate-K was improved with AMADS. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; corn, Zea mays L. ‘Triumph 1416’. Additional index words: Ammonium sulfate, rainfastness, surfactant. Abbreviations: AMS, ammonium sulfate; DAT, days after treatment; glyphosate-TMS, formulated trimethylsulfonium salt of glyphosate; HAT, hours after treatment; IC50, concentration that inhibits growth by 50%; NIS, nonionic surfactant.