Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) Management as Influenced by Herbicide Selection and Application Timing

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Abstract
Field experiments were conducted in 2009 and 2012 at Fayetteville, AR, to compare four herbicides across three application timings for johnsongrass control and to evaluate the effect of late-season herbicide applications on johnsongrass control, fecundity, seed viability, and progeny emergence. In the first experiment, glyphosate at 840 g ae ha−1and clethodim at 68 and 136 g ai ha−1provided 75 to 94% control of 15- to 60-cm tall johnsongrass and up to 98% stand reduction 4 wk after treatment (WAT). Glufosinate and nicosulfuron were generally effective on ≤30-cm tall johnsongrass; however, efficacy declined as johnsongrass size increased. In the second experiment, glyphosate at 840 g ha−1provided at least 89% johnsongrass control when applied at boot or after panicle emergence and up to 95% stand reduction 3 WAT. Applications of glyphosate at 420 and 840 g ha−1, clethodim at 68 and 136 g ha−1, and glufosinate at 740 g ai ha−1at the boot stage reduced viable seed production of treated plants 94 to 99%. Irrespective of rate, glyphosate and clethodim applied at boot stage reduced progeny emergence by 77 to 95% and 100-seed weight of treated plants 62 to 96% compared to the nontreated check. This research demonstrates the importance of herbicide selection, particularly for controlling johnsongrass plants larger than 30 cm. Additionally, the results demonstrate the benefits of a single application of glyphosate or clethodim at the boot stage of johnsongrass for decreasing the soil seedbank and reducing the success of johnsongrass progeny in future years.

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