DCPA (Dacthal®) herbicide was applied preemergence (PE) to the soil surface after onion planting and no crop injury was observed for rates of 5.3, 7.5, and 10.5 lb. a.i. /A at one of two locations. Dacthal® gave good control of London rocket and cheeseweed (90 -94 %) at one location and marginal control at the second location (79 -85 %). Dacthal® did not exhibit a rate response to control the two weeds common to both locations. The lower rate of Dacthal® did not differ in efficacy compared to higher rates to completely control lambsquarters and nettleleaf goosefoot. All rates of Dacthal® marginally controlled yellow sweetclover and other mustard weeds present. Dacthal® provided adequate weed control to allow onion stand establishment.

Oxyfluorfen (Goal®) herbicide at 0.125 to 0.25 lb. a.i./A applied postemergence (POST) to onions at the 3-leaf stage of growth effectively controlled London rocket, yellow sweetclover, and prostrate pigweed with marginal injury to onions. Earlier POST applications on 1- and 2-leaf onions caused injury and some stand reduction. Bromoxynil (Buctril®) herbicide at 0.25 lb. a.i./A applied early POST gave generally good weed control but did not adequately control sweetclover. Buctril® applied in clear weather did not injure 1-leaf onions but caused severe injury on 2- and 3-leaf onions when applied during cloudy weather conditions. Buctril® plus pendimethalin (Prowl®) tank-mix combination applied POST provided good control of London rocket, sweetclover, and prostrate pigweed; however, onion injury was severe due to applying Buctril® in cloudy weather. Buctril® and Goal® effectively controlled weeds present in the onions but timing of POST applications was critical with respect to onion size and weather conditions to minimize injury.

Oxyfluorfen (Goal®) herbicide at 0.25 lb. ai./A and bromoxynil (Buctril®) at 0.38 lb.a.i. /A applied early postemergence (POST) to onions at the 1- to 2-leaf stage of growth gave near complete control ( >98 %) of lambsquarters, knotweed, cheeseweed, London rocket, and good control ( -90 %) of shepherd's purse. Buctril® did not control annual bluegrass and Goal® only slightly reduced some of the heavy population. Both herbicides caused marginally unacceptable onion injury at 17-20 %. Buctril® plus pendimethalin (Prowl®) tank-mix combination applied POST also gave very good broadleaaved weed control but annual bluegrass was reduced only 50 %. Similar onion injury was observed for the combination treatment as Buctril® alone. Buctril® caused onion injury when it was applied during cloudy weather. Buctril® and Goal® were effective for broadspectrum broadleaved weed control but onions were sensitive when treated before reaching the full 2-leaf stage of growth. Cloudy weather during applications also intensified the onion injury by Buctril® treatments.

Second year field studies continued to evaluate and determine efficacy and safety of postemergence herbicides for broccoli weed control. Goal® 2XL. a newly introduced formulation of oxyfluorfen. severely injured broccoli after application. London rocket (Sisvmhrium irio) control was not acceptable at less than 80%. Pvridate (Lentagran®) and clopyralid (Stinger®) were relatively safe on broccoli but did not affect London rocket.

Preplant incorporated and/or preemergence herbicide treatments including metolachlor (Dual®), EPTC with safener (Eradicane®), cyanazine (Bladex®), pendimethalin (Prowl®), and tank-mix combinations provided good (88 %) to excellent ( >98 %) weed control of prostrate and tumble pigweeds and purslane in sweet corn.

Preemergence herbicide treatments metolachlor (Dual®) and pendimethalin (Prowl®) gave better than acceptable weed control ( >85 %) of prostrate and tumble pigweeds, puncturevine, common purslane, and groundcherry in cantaloupes. Preplant incorporated treatments provided less than adequate control of pigweeds and groundcherry. Bentazon (Basagran®) applied postemergence gave good control of pigweeds but groundcherry control was marginal. Napropamide (Devrinol®), trifluralin (Treflan®), and DCPA (Dacthal (D) caused cantaloupe stand reduction and injury. Bensulide (Prefar®) and Basagran® were safe when applied on cantaloupes.

Three commonly used herbicides for use in broccoli were effective when applied alone or in combinations as a preplant incorporated (PPI) or a preemergence (PE) application. DCPA (Dacthal®) at 10.0 lb product/A PE gave acceptable control of most weeds. Trifluralin (Treflan® SEC) at 1.0 pt/A and bensulide (Prefar® 4EC) PPI were also effective but mustard weeds were not adequately controlled. Combinations of the herbicides at lower rates did not provide any advantage in improving weed control efficacy.

Pre plant and pre- emergence herbicides are commonly used in lettuce production. We investigated possible effects the herbicides benefin (Balan), pronamide (Kerb) and bensulfide (Prefar) had on emergence and seedling growth of several iceberg lettuce varieties that had been primed and pelleted by seed enhancement companies The herbicide Prefar and a mixture of Balan + Prefar had the greatest impact on dry weight regardless of variety, while seedlings grown on Kerby plots were not significantly different than seedlings from untreated plots. Dry weight accumulation and field emergence were influenced significantly by pellet types and priming methods.

The sequence of preemergence (PREE) herbicide metolachlor (Dual II®) followed by postemergence (POST) herbicide mixture of primisulfuron plus prosulfuron (Exceed®) provided season-long near complete weed control in sweet corn. Preplant incorporated (PPI) treatments of dimethenamid (Frontier®), EPTC plus safener (Eradicane®), and herbicide mixture FOE 5043 plus metribuzin (Axiom®, Bayer) provided effective weed control for most of the season. Similar effective weed control was observed for PREE treatments of pendimethalin (Prowl®), Frontier, and Axiom.

An exploratory field study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Nortron® (ethofumesate) herbicide for potential use in an onion weed control program. A rate range of 1.0 to 2.5 lb AI/A applied preemergence (PREE) demonstrated good safety on onions and no injury or crop stand reduction was observed. Sowthistle was the most numerous weed present and Nortron did not reduce it relative to the untreated check. Dacthal® (DCPA) significantly reduced the number of sowthistle relative to the untreated and to Nortron treatments. Onion height was reduced by Dacthal about 40 %.