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Chapter 1Chapter 1

Principles of Pest Principles of Pest ManagementManagement

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Right of Way AreasRight of Way Areas

HighwaysHighways Utility areasUtility areas Pumping stationsPumping stations Drainage waysDrainage ways Railroads, airportsRailroads, airports Paths and trailsPaths and trails

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Integrated Pest Management (IPM) uses all available tactics and strategies to manage pests. Minimal impact to the environment.

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In right- of - way pest management, woody and herbaceous plant species are the major pests.

Not easy to define a crop-pest relationship.-

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The “crop” of right-of-ways is the services the right-of-way provides.

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Right of Way IPMRight of Way IPMComponentsComponents

Pest identificationPest identification MonitoringMonitoring Site specific requirementsSite specific requirements Development & implementation Development & implementation

of control strategiesof control strategies Evaluation of effectivenessEvaluation of effectiveness

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Record KeepingRecord Keeping

Control measures, datesControl measures, dates

Pesticides & related infoPesticides & related info

ID of crew & equipmentID of crew & equipment

Environmental conditionsEnvironmental conditions

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Pest Management Pest Management TechniquesTechniques

Biological controlBiological control

Cultural controlCultural control

Mechanical controlMechanical control

Chemical controlChemical control

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Biological controls focus on enhancing the effects of natural enemies.

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Production by plants of chemicals that inhibit the growth of nearby plants.

- black walnut

- quackgrass

- sunflower

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Cultural ControlsCultural Controls

Time of plantingTime of planting

Nurse cropsNurse crops

Controlled burningControlled burning

MulchingMulching

ShadingShading

SanitationSanitation

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Mechanical ControlMechanical Control

Mechanical / manualMechanical / manual

Mowing, trimming, cuttingMowing, trimming, cutting

– mowing height must control weed

plants and encourage desired

vegetation

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Chemical ControlChemical Control

FlexibilityFlexibility

““Brown out”Brown out”

Timing.. LimitedTiming.. Limited

Public PerceptionsPublic Perceptions

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Site Requirements & Pest Site Requirements & Pest SpeciesSpecies

Will help to determine…Will help to determine…

– pesticide to use

– application technique

– timing

– equipment selection

– mixing rate and additives

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Attitudes have changed.

Not all woody vegetation is considered undesirable.

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Environmental ConcernsEnvironmental Concerns

Wetlands are critical sensitive to Wetlands are critical sensitive to

chemicalschemicals

Use extreme care to avoid Use extreme care to avoid

exposing wetlands and surface exposing wetlands and surface

waters to pesticideswaters to pesticides

– use a anti-back flow device

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Chapter 2Chapter 2

Weed Plants and TreesWeed Plants and Trees

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Weed = any plant growing where it is not wanted.

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Developmental StagesDevelopmental Stages

SeedlingSeedling

VegetativeVegetative

Seed ProductionSeed Production

MaturityMaturity

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Plant TypesPlant Types

AnnualAnnual

– summer

– winter

BiennialBiennial

PerennialPerennial

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Plant ClassificationPlant Classification

GrassesGrasses– monocots, fibrous root system,

growth point at soil surface, annual or perennial

SedgesSedges– similar to grasses, triangular

stems, perennial

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Plant ClassificationPlant Classification

Herbaceous broadleavesHerbaceous broadleaves

– annual, biennial, perennial

– net like venation

– dicots

– diverse growth points

– underground reproductive systems

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Plant ClassificationPlant Classification

VinesVines

Brush & treesBrush & trees

FernsFerns

– spore reproduction, rhizomes

Parasitic seed plantsParasitic seed plants

– dodder

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Aquatic PlantAquatic PlantClassificationClassification

EmergentEmergent

FloatingFloating

SubmergentSubmergent

AlgaeAlgae

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Submergent plants have a thin outer layer on their leaves and are very susceptible to herbicide injury.

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You must obtain a permit from DEQ (DNR) to control aquatic plants.

Excluding: < 2 acres, no outlet, not RUP

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Ash: black, white, green

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Black locust

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Boxelder: ash- leaf maple

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Red maple (soft maple)

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Sassafras

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Black willow

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Black cherry

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American elm

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Trembling aspen, poplar

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Chicory

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Cattail

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Goldenrod

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Wild carrot (Queen Anne’s lace)

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Poison ivy

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Canada thistle

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Musk Thistle

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Purple loosestrife

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Phragmites

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Chapter 3Chapter 3

Herbicides & WeedsHerbicides & Weeds

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Herbicides are pesticides that control weeds.

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Factors Affecting Herbicidal Factors Affecting Herbicidal ActionAction

Herbicidal action characteristicsHerbicidal action characteristics

Plant characteristicsPlant characteristics

Climatic factorsClimatic factors

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Herbicidal ActionHerbicidal ActionCharacteristicsCharacteristics

Foliage or root absorbedFoliage or root absorbed

Contact or translocatedContact or translocated

Persistent or non- persistentPersistent or non- persistent

Selective or Non- selectiveSelective or Non- selective

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Plant CharacteristicsPlant Characteristics

Growing pointsGrowing points

Leaf shapeLeaf shape

Wax & cuticleWax & cuticle

Leaf hairsLeaf hairs

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Plant CharacteristicsPlant Characteristics

DeactivationDeactivation

Stage in life cycleStage in life cycle

Timing of stages in life cycleTiming of stages in life cycle

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Climatic FactorsClimatic Factors

Relative humidityRelative humidity

LightLight

PrecipitationPrecipitation

WindWind

TemperaturesTemperatures

Length of growing seasonLength of growing season

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Temperature InversionsTemperature Inversions

Ground air cooler than air aboveGround air cooler than air above

Can suspend pesticide particlesCan suspend pesticide particles

Particles can move to non- Particles can move to non-

target areastarget areas

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Selective HerbicidesSelective Herbicides

Foliage sprayingFoliage spraying

Basal sprayingBasal spraying

Granular or pelletGranular or pellet

SpotgunSpotgun

Cut surfaceCut surface

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Foliage treatments can be done from full leaf to early fall color.

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Low Volume Ground Low Volume Ground Foliage TreatmentFoliage Treatment

10 to 100 gal per acre10 to 100 gal per acre

Not treated to point of runoffNot treated to point of runoff

Higher concentration of active Higher concentration of active

ingredientingredient

Faster coverageFaster coverage

Drift can be major concernDrift can be major concern

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High Volume Ground High Volume Ground Foliage TreatmentsFoliage Treatments

Herbicide concentration rather Herbicide concentration rather

than rate per acrethan rate per acre

Spray to “drip”Spray to “drip”

Larger volumes of mixLarger volumes of mix

Herbicide amount will vary Herbicide amount will vary

considerablyconsiderably

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Aerial ApplicationAerial Application

Helicopters used most oftenHelicopters used most often

Pilot must be certified in…Pilot must be certified in…

– right-of-way

– aerial application

Commonly used in rough terrainCommonly used in rough terrain

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Basal treatment can be applied any time of year, except with snow or ice.

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Basal Spray MethodsBasal Spray Methods

Conventional basal sprayingConventional basal spraying– spray to wet or run down– fuel oil carrier– lower concentrations– losing popularity

cost odor

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Basal Spray MethodsBasal Spray Methods

Low Volume Basal SprayingLow Volume Basal Spraying

– more concentrated

– not sprayed to wet

– light & compact equipment

– more like spray painting

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Granular ApplicationGranular Application

BroadcastBroadcast

DirectedDirected

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SpotgunSpotgun

Liquid herbicide applied to a Liquid herbicide applied to a “spot” in the root zone area. “spot” in the root zone area.

Similar to a granular stem Similar to a granular stem treatmenttreatment

More effective in sparse More effective in sparse vegetationvegetation– fewer risks to non- target plants

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Cut Surface TreatmentsCut Surface Treatments

Cut stump, frilling, hack & Cut stump, frilling, hack & squirt, girdlingsquirt, girdling

ErrorsErrors– too much chemical– improper girdling or frilling– applying too close to desirable

vegetation

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Non-selective herbicides control most plant species. Many last 1+ years. Easily damage non- target plants.

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Factors Affecting Factors Affecting Non- Selective HerbicidesNon- Selective Herbicides

SoilsSoils

MoistureMoisture

Vegetation typesVegetation types

Soil microorganismsSoil microorganisms

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Non- Selective HerbicidesNon- Selective Herbicides

Keep away from root zones of Keep away from root zones of desirable plantsdesirable plants

Do not apply to frozen groundDo not apply to frozen ground Be careful of residual herbicides Be careful of residual herbicides

on slopeson slopes Use low pressure Use low pressure Choose non- corrosive materialsChoose non- corrosive materials

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Other ChemicalsOther Chemicals

DefoliantDefoliant– removes foliage

DessicantDessicant– dries foliage

Plant growth regulatorPlant growth regulator– affects some aspect of plant

development-