Morningglory is considered to be the most troublesome weed in cotton in North Carolina and South Carolina. In Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, morningglory is considered as the second, third, and sixth most troublesome weed, respectively. The relative abundance of morningglory species varies by state. Pitted, entireleaf, and ivyleaf morningglory are the most common species in North Carolina and South Carolina while entireleaf, ivyleaf, and smallflower morningglory are the most common species in Georgia and Florida. Pitted, entireleaf, and smallflower morningglory are the most common species in Alabama.

Components of a management program for morningglory should include crop rotation, cultivation, and proper herbicide usage. Planting continuous cotton results in more problems with morningglory and other troublesome broadleaf weeds. Herbicide programs for morningglory control in the southeastern states begin with a preemergence application of Cotoran. With sufficient rainfall for activation, this treatment will give acceptable initial control of morningglory. A preplant incorporated application of Treflan or Prowl will increase morningglory control 25 to 30%. The at-planting herbicides are followed by one or more postemergence directed herbicide applications. The most commonly used early-directed treatment is Probe plus MSMA while Bladex plus MSMA is the most commonly used late-directed treatment. Timeliness in application of the postemergence-directed herbicides is the key to success.

lat-directed application of Cobra plus MSMA (currently no registered) has given excellent control of morningglory. Postemergence over-the-top application of KIH-8921 has given excellent morningglory control with no injury to the crop.

Gramoxone application following normal defoliation will give good desiccation of morningglory. Application of Harvade plus Prep will also give relatively good morningglory can be obtained.