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Effect and Persistence of Herbicides Applied to Soil in Puerto Rican Forests

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Clyde C. Dowler ,
Wilson Forestier  and
F. H. Tschirley
Clyde C. Dowler
Affiliation:
Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal Experiment Station, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
Wilson Forestier
Affiliation:
Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal Experiment Station, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
F. H. Tschirley
Affiliation:
Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal Experiment Station, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
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Abstract

Six herbicides were applied at 3, 9, and 27 lb/A to the soil in forests of three types in Puerto Rico. The forests differed in soil type, amount and pattern of rainfall, and species composition. Defoliation occurred slowly, but the correlation between percentage defoliation and plants killed was significant at the 1% level of probability. Some defoliation was evident 1 month after treatment and increased slowly during the next 6 to 8 months. The most effective herbicide was 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram). Generally, 2-methoxy-3,6-dichlorobenzoic acid (dicamba), 2-methoxy-4,6-bis(isopropylamino)-s-triazine (prometone), and 5-bromo-3-sec-butyl-6-methyluracil (bromacil) were less effective than picloram. Both 2,3,6-trichlorophenylacetic acid (fenac) and 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-l,l-dimethylurea (diuron) were ineffective. Defoliation was greatest and more plants were killed in the driest site.

One year after treatment, fenac was the most persistent herbicide in the soil. Herbicides were found to a 36 to 48-in depth within 3 months after application.

Herbaceous and woody seedlings were present at all sites within 18 months after herbicide application. There was no definite relationship between herbicidal treatment and secondary succession, except that the number and frequency of successional species were greater on plots having the highest percentage of defoliation.

Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 16 , Issue 1 , January 1968 , pp. 45 - 50
Copyright
Copyright © 1968 Weed Science Society of America 

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References

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