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Rangeland
Weed Management - Managing
large infestations through chemical control
Chemical
Control
| NOTE:
Long-term
repeated mowing can cause prostrate growth. Periodic herbicide
treatmenst can remove weeks that have acclimated to frequent
mowing.
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Herbicides eradicate
weeds or greatly reduce weed vigor. Herbicides can reduce photosynthesis,
disrupt vegetative growth, or interrupt the production of essential
proteins. Treating weeds increases the availability of resources
needed by desired neighboring plants.
Herbicides are
particularly effective in providing long-term control of an infestation
when a healthy plant community is present. When a healthy plant
community is not present, the target weed or another weed species
can become established after the residual effects of the herbicide
have dissipated. Revegetate if necessary to attain long-term control
of an infestation.
Selecting
the right herbicide
The selection
of an appropriate herbicide depends upon:
- The target
weed
- Weed density
- Herbicide
toxicity
- Herbicide
degradation time
- Desired
vegetation cover
- Soil attributes
- Proximity
to water, and
- Environmental
conditions
Land managers
should familiarize themselves with each of these factors to select
the most appropriate herbicide. Extension specialists or county
weed coordinators are good sources for herbicide recommendations.
Local commercial herbicide applicators are available to help with
choosing and applying herbicides, and are particularly good resources
when restricted-use herbicides are advised.
Rhizomatous
Weeds and Fire
Noxious
weeds will increase growth as a result of survival coupled
with fire-produced disturbances. Growth of rhizomatous weeds
is especially enhanced through the survival of underground
reproductive structures that have access to large energy reserves.
When above-ground weed growth is removed, such as by fire,
vegetative shoot production is strongly stimulated, directly
producing great numbers of individual weeds. Because of the
established root reserves, these shoots are immediately aggressive
and highly competitive.
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