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Rangeland Vegetation Response Following Control of Brownspine Pricklypear (Opuntia phaecantha) with Herbicides

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

David L. Price ,
Rodney K. Heitschmidt ,
Steven A. Dowhower  and
James R. Frasure
David L. Price
Affiliation:
Texas Agric. Exp. Stn., Box 1658, Vernon, TX 76384
Rodney K. Heitschmidt
Affiliation:
Texas Agric. Exp. Stn., Box 1658, Vernon, TX 76384
Steven A. Dowhower
Affiliation:
Texas Agric. Exp. Stn., Box 1658, Vernon, TX 76384
James R. Frasure
Affiliation:
Texas Agric. Exp. Stn., Box 1658, Vernon, TX 76384
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Abstract

Brownspine pricklypear (Opuntia phaecantha Engelm. & Bigel.) was effectively controlled within 2 yr following application of a 1:1 mixture of 2,4,5-T [(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] and picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid) at a rate of 0.6 kg ae/ha. Brownspine pricklypear canopy cover and dry weight declined from approximately 23% and 3800 kg/ha to 8% and 1600 kg/ha, respectively. No significant difference in total herbaceous forage dry weight was found between plants growing inside brownspine pricklypear canopy areas and plants growing outside the canopy areas. Differences between areas in species composition were significant in that cool-season grasses dominated the canopy area of the brownspine pricklypear colonies while warm-season grasses dominated the area outside the canopy. Control of brownspine pricklypear will enhance livestock carrying capacity of rangeland in the Rolling Plains of Texas by increasing forage availability but not forage production.

Keywords

Range improvementrange ecologyforage productionpicloram2,4,5-T
Type
Weed Biology and Ecology
Information
Weed Science , Volume 33 , Issue 5 , September 1985 , pp. 640 - 643
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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References

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