Chemical Control of Brush and Environmental Safety of Roadside Vegetation Management Chemicals.

摘要

The herbicide 2,4,5-T,alone or in combination with 2,4-D (brush killer) either as an ester formulation or as an amine salt,applied either as a dormant treatment in winter or to foliage in summer or early fall,remains as the most effective chemical treatment for control of roadside brush. However,regulatory rulings prohibit the use of 2,4,5-T on home grounds,recreational areas,and in or near water areas. Discontinuance of the use of 2,4,5-T in roadside applications on the basis of environmental safety should be seriously questioned. In the meantime,it became necessary to identify and test other herbicide mixtures as alternative brush control agents for inclusion in roadside maintenance programs. A mixture of equal parts of an amine salt formulation of 2,4-D + 2,4,5-TP(Silvex) + dicamba (Banvel) is recommended for inclusion in the Fall-Spring spraying rotation to be applied by off-road equipment to unmowed portions of the Interstate System. This same mixture or 'Krenite'brush control agent are recommended as a foliar application for control of brush along county roads and other situations where hydraulic spray applications directly to stems and foliage are indicated. Environmental safety of these herbicides was also investigated and is reported. Potential hazards were found to be minimal if the sprays were used as recommended. Control of herbicide drift is an important aspect of any chemical control of brush.