Rangeland Ecology & Management

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PROFITABILITY OF TRONADOR® HERBICIDE TO CONTROL BRITTLEBUSH IN BUFFELGRASS PASTURES AT CENTRAL SONORA, MÉXICO
Author
Mcalister, Jason R.
Fox Iii, William E.
Wilcox, Brad
Srinivasan, Raghavan
Hoffman, Dennis
Denogean-Ballesteros, Francisco G.
Retes-Lopez, Rafael
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2014
Body

Profitability of controlling high densities of brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) in buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris) pastures is not well documented. The study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Tronador® herbicide to control brittlebush and the benefit-cost relation associated with infestation reduction. Treatments were: Tronador® at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% in water, Tordon 101® 1.0% in water and the untreated check. The herbicide was applied to the foliage in 40 m2 plots during the summer of 2010 by using a back sprayer. Evaluated variables were: brush mortality, grass density, height, basal cover and forage production of buffelgrass and native grasses. A randomized complete block design was used with 6 treatments and 3 replications. All variables were analyzed by ANOVA. Financial runs were conducted by using a computer program for Project analysis and formulation. Tronador® herbicide controlled 20, 80, 100 and 100% of brittlebush at rates of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0%, and Tordon 101® at 1% controlled 100% of plants. Neither native grasses nor buffelgrass plants were damaged by the herbicide. Buffelgrass density, height, basal cover and forage production was increased 28.8 to122.8% with herbicide application. Herbicide treated areas produced annually 1.3 tons of additional dry forage per hectare. Mean annual income during the projected 14 years was $241.6 and $597.6 pesos/ha in a ranch without and with the application of Tronador® at 1.5% as brush control practices, respectively. A producer with a brittlebush invasion problem which applies these herbicide for vegetation control may gain additionally $356.00 pesos/ha, annually.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Orlando, FL