Field and greenhouse bioassay experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of mesotrione soil residues on injury and yield of soybean, green bean, pea, cucumber, sugar beet and lettuce. There was a significant difference of mesotrione carryover between studies which can be explained by differences in soil pH and moisture. The conventional and the simulated field residue carryover studies successfully measured mesotrione persistence and rotational crop sensitivity. The simulated residue carryover study provided a more rigorous test of rotational crop sensitivity to mesotrione residues than the conventional residue carryover study, especially at higher doses for the more sensitive crops. The greenhouse bioassay was a simple and sensitive tool in detecting small amounts of herbicides present in the soil. Dose-response curves developed for sugar beet and green bean indicate similarities between results from the greenhouse and from the field mesotrione residue carryover study. Under similar environmental and soil conditions to those observed in these studies and using similar dose applications, sugar beet, green bean and cucumber injury and yield reductions are likely when these crops are grown in soils containing mesotrione residues.