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To deliver reliable electricity to consumers on a dependable basis, electric utility companies must control undesirable woody vegetation growing on powerline rights-of-way (ROW). Six study sites were utilized for field experiments conducted in the summers of 2008 and 2009 in Neshoba County, Mississippi. This research focused on brush control on electric utility powerline distribution rights-of-way (ROW) using treatments with a recently formulated herbicide (aminocyclopyrachlor) compared to existing conventional treatments in a standard vegetation treatment program. Aminocyclopyrachlor treatments, regardless of rate or method of application, were ineffective as a stand-alone herbicide on most brush species in the study. Another experiment was conducted in the spring of 2008 on one site in Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties, Mississippi to evaluate efficacy of DAS 2706 compared with other selected bareground herbicides. Results of the experiment indicate that DAS 2706 is not a likely candidate for successful stand-alone bareground herbicide treatment.

Flazasulfuron is one of the newest sulfonylurea (SU) herbicides to be registered for use in the fine turf industry. Flazasulfuron is safe for use on bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), and zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica) yet controls several grass, broadleaf, and sedge weeds. In fine turf, flazasulfuron controls cool-season grasses such as tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) without harming warm-season grasses. Although SU herbicides like flazasulfuron bring several potential benefits to turfgrass markets, there are also several concerns related to using these herbicides in turfgrass areas. For many plant species, SU herbicides can cause phytotoxicity or death at less than 1 g ai/ha-1indicating small quantities of active ingredient are required to cause problems if herbicide moves in the environment. Herbicide moves to nontarget plants either after it has been applied via lateral relocation or during application via spray drift. Trials were conducted to evaluate flazasulfuron and trifloxysulfuron sodium tracking, runoff and drift in turfgrass environments. Field trials were conducted at six locations across the US to evaluate effects of irrigation, herbicide treatment, nontreated buffer distance, and time of tracking on creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) putting green response to dislodged herbicide residues. Although average turf injury did not exceed 2%, significant differences were noted when treated plots were irrigated prior to tracking. In addition, putting green injury was negatively correlated and normalized difference vegetative index was positively correlated with increasing buffer distance. Data indicate the importance of post treatment irrigation to reduce lateral relocation of SU herbicides like flazasulfuron and trifloxysulfuron sodium in turfgrass. In other studies, herbicides were applied to turfgrass on 7 to 11 % slopes and perennial ryegrass injury was assessed at various distances down slope following an irrigation or rainfall event. Herbicide movement in runoff water was indicated by perennial ryegrass discoloration as much as 18 m below treated plots when excessive herbicide rates were applied to saturated soils. Based on perennial ryegrass injury, flazasulfuron at the rates tested was equivalent or more mobile than trifloxysulfuron sodium and equivalent or less mobile than pronamide when subjected to irrigation or rainfall soon after application to saturated soils. To assess spray drift, a bioassay based on corn height reduction was conducted and corn plants were exposed to potential spray drift in field conditions using conventional turfgrass spray equipment. A sprayer was operated when wind speeds were between 6.4 and 9.6 km h-1 and sentry plants were placed various distances between 0 and 30 m down wind. Wind speeds and direction were confirmed with anemometers and neutrally-buoyant balloons. Herbicide drift was not detected beyond 4.6 m downwind of either herbicide application. Data suggest a 5- to 8-m nontreated buffer area should sufficiently protect neighboring cool-season turfgrasses and other plants against flazasulfuron drift, runoff, and tracking as long as product is not applied to saturated soils and irrigated prior to traffic. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

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Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

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