Rangeland Ecology & Management

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FOLIAR-APPLIED HERBICIDES FOR SALTCEDAR CONTROL IN SOUTHWEST KANSAS
Author
Fick, Walter H.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2015
Body

Saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima) is an introduced deciduous shrub found throughout the Great Plains and southwestern U.S. The species has been used as an ornamental and grows in floodplains, along riverbanks, marshes, and roadsides. In Kansas, saltcedar is found primarily along the Cimarron and Arkansas rivers. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of nine foliar-applied herbicides for saltcedar control. The study site was located on the Cimarron National Grasslands near Elkhart, KS. Herbicides were applied with a backpack sprayer at 467 L ha-1 total spray solutions with the addition of a 0.5% non-ionic surfactant. Herbicides were applied on July 27, 2012 and August 13, 2013 with 10 to 25 trees per treatment. Saltcedar mortality was determined the growing season after application. Chi square analysis was used to determine differences among treatments at the 0.05 level of probability. The most effective treatments were imazapyr at 1.2 and 2.4 g L-1 providing greater than 80% mortality both years. Other treatments providing at least 50% mortality both years included imazapyr + glyphosate at 1.2 + 5.4 g L-1, imazapic at 2.4 g L-1, and triclopyr at 4.8 g L-1.  Aminopyralid + triclopyr amine (0.3 + 3.6 g L-1) provided no more than 40% mortality both years. Control with aminopyralid + metsulfuron (0.26 + 0.05 g L-1), aminopyralid + metsulfuron + triclopyr (0.26 + 0.05 + 1.2 g L-1), and aminocyclopyrachlor + metsulfuron (0.44 + 0.14 g L-1) were more effective when applied in 2013. Greater than average precipitation in June and July 2013 apparently enhanced control. Further research is needed with herbicides such as imazapic, aminopyralid, and aminocyclopyrachlor that cause less damage to understory species when treating saltcedar.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Sacramento, CA