Although foliar herbicide absorption has been studied intensively, there is currently no standardized method for data analysis when evaluating herbicide absorption over time. Most peer-reviewed journals require the treatment structure of data be incorporated in the analysis; however, many herbicide absorption studies published in the past 5 yr do not account for the time structure of the experiment. Herbicide absorption studies have been presented in a variety of ways, making it difficult to compare results among studies. The objective of this article is to propose possible nonlinear models to analyze herbicide absorption data and to provide a stepwise framework so that researchers may standardize the analysis method in this important research area. Asymptotic regression and rectangular hyperbolic models with similar parameterizations are proposed, so that the maximum herbicide absorption and absorption rate may be adequately modeled and statistically compared among treatments. Adoption of these models for herbicide absorption analysis over time will provide a standardized method making comparison of results within and among studies more practical.

Imazamox is an imidazolinone herbicide used to control many grasses and broadleaf weeds in leguminous crops such as soybean, alfalfa, and dry bean; however, imazamox cannot be used on red lentil due to unacceptable injury. Studies were conducted to compare imazamox absorption, translocation, and metabolism in red lentil and dry bean to determine if any or all of these factors contributed to differential crop sensitivity. Radiolabeled imazamox was applied to three young red lentil leaves and the youngest, fully expanded dry bean trifoliolate leaf. Absorption, translocation, and metabolism were followed over a 96-h time course. Red lentil had more rapid absorption compared to dry beans with 64 and 54% of the applied dose absorbed 12 h after treatment (HAT), respectively. Maximum absorption was also greater in red lentil than dry bean, 79 and 61%, respectively. Translocation out of the treated leaf was significantly higher in red lentil compared with dry bean, 16 and 0.5%, respectively, at 96 HAT. Translocation was greater to red lentil roots compared to shoots, 9 and 7%, respectively, at 96 HAT. In dry bean only 14% of applied14C-imazamox remained intact 24 HAT, while 79% of the radioactivity was imazamox in red lentil 24 HAT. Both species metabolized the herbicide to more polar metabolites. The inherent sensitivity of aceolactate synthase (ALS) from dry bean and red lentil was also evaluated. ALS from both species had similar I50values for imazamox, 7.2 and 8.2 µM, respectively. The combined effects of increased imazamox absorption and reduced imazamox metabolism are the major contributors to differential selectivity between dry bean and red lentil. Rapid imazamox metabolism in dry bean significantly limited herbicide translocation out of the treated leaf.

Field, greenhouse, and laboratory studies were conducted to determine the effect of MCPA ester, fertilizer type, and fertilizer rate on feral rye control with imazamox. In field studies near Sidney, NE, increasing the concentration of liquid ammonium phosphate (10–34–0) from 2.5 to 50% of the spray solution decreased feral rye control with imazamox by as much as 73%. Conversely, adding MCPA ester to imazamox significantly increased feral rye control in field studies by up to 77%. Initial greenhouse studies confirmed the liquid ammonium phosphate antagonism effect, but subsequent greenhouse studies were inconsistent with regard to the interaction between fertilizer and imazamox. At least one source of liquid ammonium phosphate was shown not to be antagonistic, and therefore fertilizer source or contaminants may be responsible for initial field observations. Greenhouse studies confirmed the synergistic interaction between MCPA and imazamox. MCPA ester applied at 560 g ai ha−1 decreased the rate of imazamox required to cause 50% reduction in feral rye dry weight (GR50) to 13 g ha−1 compared to 35 g ha−1 for imazamox alone. Although addition of MCPA ester increased 14C-imazamox absorption by 8% in laboratory studies, less 14C translocated out of the treated leaf; therefore the mechanism of synergism does not appear to be related to imazamox absorption or translocation.

One method that appears promising for the treatment of Eurasian watermilfoil in areas of high water exchange is the use of herbicide-impregnated granules. Experiments were conducted using liquid triclopyr-triethylamine and granules impregnated with triclopyr-triethylamine to test this theory. Uniform, multistemmed Eurasian watermilfoil plants were selected for these experiments. Plants were treated in clear acrylic cylinders containing 7 L of water with 0.5 mg/L triclopyr as the liquid triethylamine plus 20 kBq 14C-triclopyr or blank granules impregnated with triclopyr triethylamine plus 20 kBq of 14C-triclopyr. Plants were harvested 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, and 192 h after treatment (HAT) and the radioactivity in the apical meristems, remaining shoot and root was determined with sample oxidation and liquid scintillation spectroscopy. There were no significant differences in overall herbicide absorption by Eurasian watermilfoil following liquid and granular triclopyr treatments; however, differences were observed between plant parts. Apical meristems accumulated the most radioactivity, whereas roots accumulated very little radioactivity following liquid treatment. Granular applications resulted in 7.5 times more radioactivity in the Eurasian watermilfoil roots then the liquid triclopyr application; therefore, long-term control of well-established Eurasian watermilfoil plants could improve with granular applications, especially in areas where rapid herbicide dilution could be an issue.