Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Repeated partial cutting in the Appalachian hardwood region has often favored the development of tolerant species like American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) and stands with a high proportion of cull trees. Crop tree release is a widely recommended practice to improve species composition and growth rates in these unevenaged structured stands. Chemical control offers some distinct advantages from the standpoint of safety and residual stand damage, over mechanical methods. Control of American beech was the primary focus of this study. Beech is a low value timber tree, normally considered difficult to control. It is a major competitor to more valuable trees, especially on better sites in the Appalachians. Research plots were established in hardwood stands at three sites in central West Virginia to evaluate the effectiveness of glyphosate (Accord), imazapyr (Arsenal AC and Chopper), and triclopyr (Garlon 3A and Garlon 4) using the hack-and-squirt application method and low volume basal spray treatments. In the injection treatments .051 fl oz (1.5 ml) of solution was used per inch of diameter (dbh). The basal spray treatments used 0.101 fl oz (3 ml) of solution per inch of diameter. The following concentrations were used: Accord (65.2%), Arsenal AC (7.5%), Garlon 3A (50%), Garlon 4 (26.25%), and Chopper (6.25% ). These concentrations were determined by using the highest costing injection and basal treatment at the lowest recommended labeled rate as standards, Garlon 3A and Chopper respectively. Eighteen 0.1 acre plots were systematically located at each study site where crop trees were present and to maximize the number of American beech on each plot. Crop trees, mostly black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) were chosen on a 0.025 acre subplot established at each plot center. All beech two inches and larger on the 0.1 acre plots and competing trees touching crop trees were treated in June 1998. The treatments were evaluated in September of 1998 and again in June of 1999. A numerical rating system ranging from 1-7, (0-100% crown affected), which utilized visual symptoms, was used to evaluate the efficacy of each treatment. Trees receiving a rating of 5 (75 % crown control) or greater were considered controlled. The relationship between the kinds of herbicide, application method, and numerical rating were analyzed by means of one-way analysis of variance with an incomplete random factorial design. The most effective treatments for the three month evaluations were the Accord and Garlon 3A injection treatments. Average beech crown control ranged from 95-99% for Accord to 96-99% for Garlon 3A across all study sites. The basal spray treatments were not effective. Average crown control ranged from 1-22%, across all study sites. Accord, Garlon 3A, and Arsenal AC were the most effective treatments for the 12 month evaluations, with average beech crown control ranging from 99-100% across all study sites. The imazapyr treatments (Arsenal Ac and Chopper) had adverse effects on the crop trees and are not recommended for hardwood crop tree release. The cost effectiveness based on treatment costs and the amount of basal area (BA) controlled were averaged for all study sites. The average treatment costs based on the 12 month evaluations expressed in dollars/ft2 BA controlled were as follows: Accord ($0.91), Garlon 3A ($1.04), Arsenal AC ($0.84), Garlon 4 ($15.09), and Chopper ($7.74). NE-TWIGS was used to predict future composition and value of the projected stands. The stem injection treatments decreased the amount of beech and increased the amount of black cherry sawtimber thereby dramatically increasing the future value of the stands. Real rates of return were calculated for the stem injection (8.81%) and low-volume basal spray (-0.81%). / Master of Science

Woody plant herbicide screening techniques were evaluated in an attempt to expedite the screening process and decrease amounts of herbicide active ingredient required. Rapid greenhouse screening of woody plant seedlings was performed in less than six months while rapid seed screening was performed in less than twenty days. A traditional field screen, requiring ten months, was performed for comparison purposes. Leaf area – biomass ratios were also examined for their influence on herbicide efficacy. Linear regressions were performed using traditional field screen data as the dependent variable and rapid screening technique data as the independent data. Rapid screens using triclopyr produced more statistically significant regressions compared to those involving imazapyr. Significant regressions were produced that could predict field response of several species using both herbicides and either rapid screening technique. This indicated that rapid screening techniques could determine herbicide efficacy and/or species spectrum of control in much less time with much less herbicide. Rapid seed screens could estimate species spectrum within five days after treatment. The rapid greenhouse screen and rapid seed screen techniques can provide woody plant herbicide developers initial efficacy and spectrum of control data in a cost- and time- effective manner. Testing showed that as woody plants mature from seedling to sapling, there is a decrease in the leaf area — total aboveground biomass ratio. The decrease in this ratio consistently decreased efficacy of both imazapyr and triclopyr at the lower active ingredient rates. Seedlings with the higher leaf area – biomass ratio had, on the average, higher efficacy response rates to herbicide treatments. / Master of Science

Submitted by Reginaldo Soares de Freitas (reginaldo.freitas@ufv.br) on 2017-05-04T12:52:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 461376 bytes, checksum: ebce43d3eaec55f6b986b8dd7b485895 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-04T12:52:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 461376 bytes, checksum: ebce43d3eaec55f6b986b8dd7b485895 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2002-03-01 / Com a finalidade de avaliar o efeito do trinexapac-ethyl como regulador de crescimento e florescimento e a eficácia do triclopyr no controle de plantas daninhas em gramados formados pela grama-batatais (Paspalum notatum flugge), foram conduzidos dois experimentos em campo. No primeiro avaliaram-se 13 tratamentos: seis doses de trinexapac-ethyl (0,00; 0,25; 0,50; 0,75; 1,00; e 1,25 kg/ha), aplicadas aos dois e cinco dias após o corte; e uma testemunha com cortes a cada três semanas, distribuídos em esquema fatorial (6 x 2 + 1). Foram efetuadas avaliações a três, seis, nove e doze semanas após o corte para biomassa seca total, altura e número de inflorescências. Verificou-se relação direta entre doses do trinexapac-ethyl aplicadas e o período de controle do crescimento vegetativo e do florescimento, evitando-se cortes no gramado por até 12 semanas com a aplicação de 0,75 kg/ha. Não houve efeito da época de aplicação sobre o crescimento vegetativo e, ou, florescimento, e nenhuma das doses avaliadas alterou a coloração do gramado. No segundo experimento, os tratamentos avaliados foram seis doses do triclopyr (0,00; 0,24; 0,48; 0,72; 0,96; e 1,20 kg/ha) e uma do 2,4-D + picloram (0,48 + 0,128 kg/ha), dispostos em delineamento experimental com blocos ao acaso e quatro repetições. Foram realizadas avaliações visuais de fitotoxicidade e do nível de controle para Desmodium incanum e Zornia latifolia. Em nenhum dos tratamentos avaliados, verificaram-se danos na qualidade do gramado. A partir das doses de 0,48 e 0,66 kg/ha de triclopyr, foram obtidos controles iguais ou superiores a 90% de Desmodium respectivamente. incanum e Zornia latifólia, / Two field experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of trinexapac-ethyl as a growth regulator, a seedhead emission and the effectiveness of triclopyr in controlling weeds in lawns formed by bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge). In the first experiment, 13 treatments were evaluated: six trinexapac-ethyl doses (0.00; 0.25; 0.50; 0.75; 1.00 and 1.25 kg/ha), applied at two and five days after clipping and a witness with clips every three weeks, distributed in a factorial design (6 x 2 + 1). Evaluations were made for three, six, nine and twelve weeks after clipping for total dry biomass, and height and number of the seedhead. A direct relationship was verified between trinexapac-ethyl doses and the control period of the vegetative growth and seedhead emission, with lawn clips being avoided for until 12 weeks with the application of 0.75 kg/ha. Application time had no effect on the vegetative growth and seedhead emission, and no alteration in lawn coloration was observed. In the second experiment, the treatments were six triclopyr doses (0.00; 0.24; 0.48; 0.72; 0.96; 1.20 kg/ha) and one of the 2,4-D + picloram (0.48 + 0.128 kg/ha) disposed in a randomized complete blocks design and four repetitions. Visual evaluations of phytotoxicity and control level were accomplished for Desmodium incanum and Zornia latifolia. In none of the treatments, it was verified damages in lawn quality. Starting from doses of 0.48 and 0.66 triclopyr kg/ha, controls similar or superior to 90% of Desmodium incanum and Zornia latifolia were obtained, respectively. These results were similar to that of the standard treatment (2,4-D + picloram for 0.48 + 0.128 kg/