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Flurprimidol is a plant growth regulator that can be applied as a granular formulation. Understanding flurprimidol release from a granular formulation and movement in various mediums will impact how it is used. Dissipation of flurprimidol from a granular formulation and movement through organic media and sand were evaluated in a greenhouse and laboratory experiment. Experimental variables included media type, depth, and irrigation event. Dissipation isotherms were determined by applying nonlinear regression. Mobility was evaluated using columns filled with media, which was surface-spiked with the granular formulation and then irrigated once daily for 22 consecutive days. Leachate was collected and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectroscopy. Half-life (DT₅₀), defined as time to 50% reduction, varied among sand, media, and media depth. Flurprimidol dissipation was rapid through sand with DT₅₀ of 6 days. DT₅₀ increased with increasing media depth from 5 to 10 cm for pine bark plus sand, 18 and 35 days, and hardwood bark plus sand, 77 and 173 days, respectively. Maximum flurprimidol leaching was a cumulative 71% of applied amounts over 22 irrigation events through the sand. Hardwood and pine bark media allowed less than 25% of flurprimidol to escape through the column. Data for all media indicated that flurprimidol was mobile through the substrates but exhibited hysteresis with pine bark and hard wood bark media. An initial pulse of flurprimidol will release slowly from this formulation over time. These results indicate that flurprimidol will dissipate from a granular formulation over time and that it will have movement through sand soil and pine bark and hardwood bark media to reach the roots of growing plants.

Pecan production in the southeastern United States has increased because of the worldwide demand for the nuts of this tree. Information about the effects of the residual herbicides indaziflam and halosulfuron on newly planted pecan trees was evaluated over time for 4 years on sandy loam soils. After winter pecan tree planting, multiple spring or autumn herbicide applications were applied to the same pecan trees in different experiments in consecutive years. Visual injury, height, and caliper diameter measurements were taken up to six times during the growing season. Regression analysis of treatments over time indicated no differences in pecan tree growth for indaziflam at 73 or 146 g a.i./ha or halosulfuron at 35 g a.i./ha applied up to six times in 3 years, or for indaziflam at 37, 73, or 146 g a.i./ha applied up to five times in 3 years, as compared with nontreated controls. This information will benefit growers seeking viable weed control options when establishing new groves to meet the increased worldwide demand for pecan nuts.

Field studies were conducted in 1993, 1994, and 1996 to determine the tolerance of several cultivars of zucchini and yellow crookneck squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) to various rates and methods of application of clomazone, ethalfluralin, and pendimethalin. Applying herbicides preplant soil incorporated (PPI), preemergence (PRE), at seedling emergence (SE), or early postemergence (EPOT) resulted in plant injury that varied from 0% to 98%. Ethalfluralin and pendimethalin (PPI) at 1.12 kg·ha^–1 a.i. resulted in the greatest stand and yield reductions across all cultivars. Fruit number and weight declined for all cultivars in 1993 and 1994 as the amount of pendimethalin applied PRE was increased. Zucchini (`Senator') fruit size was significantly reduced for the first three harvests in 1993 by PRE application of pendimethalin or PPI application of ethalfluralin, at all rates. Yellow squash (`Dixie') fruit size was unaffected by herbicide treatment for any harvests during 1993 or 1996. Yellow and zucchini squash yield, fruit number, and average fruit weight were equal to, or greater than, those of the untreated control for PRE clomazone using either the emulsifiable concentrate formulation (EC) during 1993, 1994, and 1996 or the microencapsulated formulation (ME) during 1996. Foliar bleaching and stunting by clomazone was evident in early-season visual observations and ratings, but the effect was transient. Foliar bleaching by clomazone PPI (1.12 kg·ha^–1 a.i.) was more evident in `Senator' zucchini, and yield was significantly reduced in 1993. These effects of clomazone PPI were not evident in 1994 for either `Elite' or `Senator' zucchini squash. Chemical names used: 2-[(2-chlorophenyl)methyl]-4, 4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone (clomazone); N-ethyl-N-(2-methyl-2-propenyl)-2,6-dinitro-4-(trifluoromethyl) benzenamine (ethalfluralin); N-(1-ethylopropyl)-3,4-dimethyl-2,6-dinitrobenzenamine (pendimethalin).

Field studies were conducted in 1993, 1994, and 1995 to determine tolerance of seeded and transplanted watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum and Nak.] to clomazone, ethalfluralin, and pendimethalin using method of stand establishment (directseeded vs. transplanted) and time of herbicide application [preplant soil incorporated (PPI), preplant to the surface (PP), or postplant to the surface (POP)] as variables. Yield and average fruit weight in plots with clomazone were equal to or greater than those in control plots for the 3-year study regardless of method of application. Bleaching and stunting were evident with clomazone in early-season ratings, but injury was transient and did not affect quality or yield. Of the three herbicides, ethalfluralin PPI resulted in the greatest injury, stand reduction, and yield reduction of the three herbicides. Pendimethalin (PPI, PP, or POP) reduced yield of direct-seeded but not of transplanted watermelon. Chemical names used: 2-[(-2-chlorophenyl)methyl]-4, 4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone (clomazone); N-ethyl-N-(2-methyl-2-propenyl)-2,6-dinitro-4-(trifluoromethyl) benzenamine (ethalfluralin); N-(1-ethylopropyl)-3,4-dimethyl-2,6-dinitrobenzenamine (pendimethalin).

Field studies were conducted to evaluate the tolerance of several pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars to the herbicide clomazone. Peppers tested included the bell cultivars Yolo Wonder and Jupiter; the banana cultivar Sweet Banana; and the pungent cultivars Jalapeno and Red Chili. Treatments were clomazone at 0.56 or 1.12 kg·ha^-1 a.i. applied either preplant incorporated (PPI), pretransplant (PRE-T), or posttransplant (POS-T) on the day of transplanting, plus a nontreated control. Clomazone at 1.12 kg·ha^-1 a.i. PPI and PRE-T significantly injured (bleaching or chlorosis of foliage) `Sweet Banana' (40% and 20%, respectively) and `Red Chili' (30% and 18%, respectively) in 1993 in early-season evaluations, but this injury was transient and did not significantly affect total fruit number or yield. Injury to any cultivar from POS-T clomazone at 0.56 and 1.12 kg·ha^-1 a.i. was nonsignificant. Overall, tolerance to clomazone was excellent for all treatments and across all cultivars. Yield was not reduced significantly by any treatment. Chemical names used: 2-[(2-chlorophenyl) methyl]-4, 4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone (clomazone).

Field studies were conducted to determine the tolerance of 11 sweet corn (Zea mays L.) cultivars to the herbicides nicosulfuron and primisulfuron. The su cultivar `Merit' was intolerant of nicosulfuron and primisulfuron, as indicated by significant differences from the untreated check for all measured variables. Most other su cultivars exhibited stunting, but injury was ≤19% (0% = no injury; 100% = dead) with nicosulfuron and primisulfuron in 1992. The se cultivars Alpine and Harris Moran Silverado exhibited variable stunting to nicosulfuron (25% and 23% injury, respectively) and primisulfuron (43% and 50%, respectively) in 1992. The sh2 cultivar Supersweet Jubilee was injured less by nicosulfuron (16%) than by primisulfuron (33%) in 1992. All cultivars except Merit recovered from early-season herbicide injury in 1992 and 1993. Significant differences among the se, su, and sh2 cultivars were recorded for the remaining variables (stalk height, marketable ear number and yield, ear length and diameter), but no patterns with respect to a specific sugary genetic background developed in 1992 or 1993. Nicosulfuron and primisulfuron were safely applied to the cultivars Alpine, Harris Moran Silverado, Royal Gold, Seneca Chief, Calumet, Jubilee, and Supersweet Jubilee without reductions in fresh ear yield. Chemical names used: {2-[[[[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)amino] carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]-N,N-dimethyl-3-pyridinecarboxamide} (nicosulfuron); {methyl 2[[[[[4,6-bis(difluoromethoxy)-2-pyrimidinyl]amino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]benzonate} (primisulfuron).

Planting cole crops and leafy greens in plastic mulch free of summer and winter annual broadleaf weeds is challenging. Because these crops are often grown as a second or third crop on mulch, weeds emerge in previously punched plant holes, tears in plastic, and row middles. Without the ability to use tillage and with limited herbicide options available for weed control, achieving a weed-free planting window is not often feasible. Additional herbicide options are needed, but their interaction with plastic mulch must be understood. Therefore, research has determined the persistence of preplant applications of 2,4-D tank-mixed with glyphosate applied over plastic mulch. Analytical laboratory analyses of plastic samples from field experiments, in conjunction with bioassays using broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) and collard (Brassica oleracea var. viridis L.), evaluated herbicide dissipation. Analytical studies determined that 0.5 cm of irrigation after herbicide application and 1 day before planting removed 99% of 2,4-D, and 100% of glyphosate from the plastic mulch. Waiting an additional 14 days after application and irrigation further reduced the amount of 2,4-D on the plastic mulch 88% to 95%. For the field bioassay, preplant applications of 2,4-D tank-mixed with glyphosate resulted in 7% or less visual broccoli or collard injury without influencing crop growth, biomass, early season yield, or total yield as long as the mulch was washed with 0.5 cm of irrigation before planting. These studies also demonstrated there were no differences between the 1× and 2× use rates with respect to all response variables measured. Results suggest that 2,4-D and glyphosate can be effectively removed from the surface of plastic mulch with irrigation or rainfall before planting broccoli and collard.

Adsorption, mobility, and filtration ability of organic media toward metolachlor were evaluated in a series of laboratory experiments. Experimental variables included media type, metolachlor concentration, and equilibration time. Adsorption isotherms were determined by applying the log form of the Freundlich equation. Mobility was evaluated using glass columns filled with media, which were then surface spiked with metolachlor and then leached daily for 10 consecutive days. Peat, pine bark, combinations of these two media and a mixture of pine bark and sand adsorbed >90% of the ¹⁴C metolachlor. Freundlich sorption coefficients were 10.9, 18.2, 13.4, 14.2, and 11.0 for pine bark, peat, 5 pine bark: 1 peat, 3 pine bark: 1 peat, and 5 pine bark: 1 sand, respectively. In a timed exposure experiment using bark, minimum metolachlor adsorption (57%) was at 90 seconds and maximum adsorption (82%) required at least 1440 minutes. In column leaching studies, data for all media indicate that metolachlor is relatively immobile through these substrates. An initial pulse of metolachlor (<1.0 μg·liter^-1) was detected with each medium up to the third wetting event with a subsequent decline (>0.5 μg·liter^-1 for each medium) in the metolachlor recovered. Filtration efficiency of commercially formulated metolachlor from water passed through different lengths of pine bark filled filters was 0%, 17%, 20%, 22%, 23%, and 29% for filters 4, 20, 12, 8, 16, and 24 cm in length, respectively. These results support the contention that such filtration would be effective provided the residence time of water within the filter was sufficient for adsorption of the contaminant by the media to occur.