Assessment of Trench Inserts as Barriers to Root Transmission for Control of Oak Wilt in Texas Live Oaks
Abstract
Four trench insert materials, including water-permeable Typar® polyethylene spunbonded fabric, Biobarrier® or Typar® with trifluralin-impregnated nodules, and water-impermeable polyethylene Geomembrane liners of two thicknesses (20 and 30 mil) were tested for effectiveness in improving trenches as physical barriers to root transmission for control of oak wilt. Research plots were selected in a mature natural stand of live oaks growing within a residential development site on a predominantly rocky, sandy clay-loam soil type near Austin, Texas.