|
Pasture Sage and Buckbrush
Control Demonstration
Project Summary: Pasture sage and Western Snowberry (buckbrush) has
become a major problem in pasturelands in the area. Dry conditions and
overgrazing by livestock have left forages more prone to invasion by the
pasture sage. In 1994, a mixture of fertilizer and 2,4-D (“Weed and Feed”) was
applied to pasture sage. This mixture did help control the pasture sage. We
found the best control was achieved when the “weed and feed” mixture was
applied two consecutive years to the same sage plants. Dow Agro Science has
produced a chemical called Grazon that will kill sage, buck brush and numerous
other invaders. They guarantee zero re-establishment for up to 5 years with one
application. 2001 was the first year that we tried the Grazon in a
demonstration project.
Objectives:
·
To demonstrate
that pasture sage can be controlled without using tillage on lands that are
highly susceptible to erosion.
·
To determine the
most cost-effective chemical control for pasture sage.
Cooperators: Sage: Ralph
Maull
Jay Motley
Buckbrush: Doug Bullock
Cooperating
Agencies: Dow Agro Science
Project Advisors: Dow Agro Science – Scott Middleton
Burt Forbes- Ag.
Fieldman
Legal Land Location: Sage: SW-17-41-4-W4
SW-04-41-6-W4
Buck Brush:
SE-26-40-6-W4
Background/Project
Description: In 2001, two pasture
sage sites and one buckbrush site were used to experiment with the new Grazon
product. The chemical was applied on July 10, 2001 under the following
conditions. Air temperature: 22˚C, relative humidity: 43%, wind speed: 19
km/hr SE, percent cloud cover: 20%, time
to first rain: 3 days, time of day: 1 p.m.- 5 p.m. Length of application was 45
minutes to 1hour.
The chemical was applied at a rate of 1.5 L/acre for the
pasture sage and a rate of 2.0 L/acre for the buckbrush. A blue dye was added
to the chemical to distinguish what area had been previously sprayed. The
chemical for the pasture sage trials were applied by two booms, covering 10-12
feet per pass, which were mounted onto the back of a truck. The booms were
touching the top of the sage. Application occurred at 5km/hr with a pressure of
47-50 psi. Due to the height and density of the Buckbrush Demonstration, the
Grazon was applied by a hand wand. Each demonstration site had a control area
10-15 feet away from the experiment area and was equivalent in size.
When rating the Pasture Sage plots the first step was to
count the sage plants in a 1m square area on the experiment and control areas.
The second was to take 3 reps, of 10x10 square meters, randomly throughout the
experiment area and assess how many plants look like they are dying or are
going to die. This procedure was also done to the control area and all the data
recorded in a percentage. When rating the Buckbrush site the first step was to
count how many of each species is in a 1m square area in the control and experimental
sites. The second step was to take 3 reps, of 5x5 square meters, randomly
throughout the experiment and control area and assess how many plants look like
they are dying or going to die. All the data was recorded in a percentage.
Rating occurred 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks after application.
Another rating was done 12 months from the date of application, which was July
10, 2002.
Observations:
Ralph’s Pasture Sage
Demonstration:
This site was first visited in the middle of May. There was a kill in the sage plant
population, but it wasn’t quite 95%. When this site was revisited on the
one-year anniversary date of July 10, 2002 there was a noticeable difference
between the sprayed area and the control area. At the one-year date there was
definitely a 95-100% kill in the sprayed area. In the control area there were
still 100% live plants. There was a considerable difference between the
experimental and control sides of the project. The Grazon proves it works in
eliminating unwanted sage. The
cooperator did note that the grass appeared to be a paler color and thinner on
the sprayed side. During drought
conditions the chemical can hurt some grass species.
Jay’s Pasture Sage
Demonstration:
When the re-check was done at this demonstration site we
discovered a great deal of control had occurred on the sage plants. It showed
that at the one-year date incredible results had occurred at this site. There
was approximately 40-45% of the area covered by the sage plants on the control
site. There had been 100% control of the sage on the experimental side of the
plot.
Doug’s Buck Brush
Demonstration:
The re-check was done at this demonstration site on July
10, 2002. Results were very satisfying.
In the experimental side there was 90-95% kill of the Buckbrush, Silver willow
and other species found in this area. On the control side there was still 100%
live plants. The Grazon worked very well on the Buckbrush and Silver
Willow. Silver willow was killed,
however there was a small amount (approximately 1%) green regrowth starting in
the bottom of the Buckbrush. This is to
be expected with the rate of chemical we used.
Results:
|
|
Ralph’s Pasture Sage
|
|
|
Jay's Pasture Sage
|
|
|
Doug's Buck Brush
|
|
|
Date
|
.1m squared
|
10mx10m
|
|
.1m squared
|
10mx10m
|
|
.1m squared
|
5mx5m
|
|
July 30,2002
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Experiment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
rep 1
|
0 plants
|
100% kill
|
|
0 plants
|
100% kill
|
|
70% Buck Brush
|
95% kill
|
|
rep 2
|
2 plants
|
100% kill
|
|
1 plant
|
100% kill
|
|
20% Silver willow
|
90% kill
|
|
rep 3
|
2 plants
|
100% kill
|
|
3 plants
|
100% kill
|
|
10% Weeds
|
90% kill
|
|
Control
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
rep 1
|
2 plants
|
100% live
|
|
2 plants
|
100% live
|
|
75% Buck Brush
|
100% live
|
|
rep 2
|
0 plants
|
100% live
|
|
0 plants
|
100% live
|
|
20% Silver Willow
|
100% live
|
|
rep 3
|
1 plant
|
100% live
|
|
2 plants
|
100% live
|
|
5% other species
|
100% live
|
Grazon is priced at $20.50/ acre and is guaranteed to last
for five years. Therefore, the price is $4.10/acre/ year. This price does not
include application of the chemical.
Future Plans: The
forage association will be monitoring these fields for another 3 years to see
the results of this demonstration.
Back to top
|
