Herbicide site preparation and release options for eucalyptus plantation establishment in the western gulf
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Cold-tolerant species of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.) are increasingly grown in the Western Gulf region as short-rotation pulpwood feedstock. Operational chemical suppression of competing vegetation has been relatively costly and inefficient because it requires frequent applications of glyphosate applied via backpack sprayers. A series of studies were conducted in eucalyptus plantations in southwest Louisiana to identify herbicides that can be broadcast-applied by aircraft or ground equipment, providing effective competition suppression without damaging eucalyptus. A trial of 12 herbicide treatments indicated that oxyflurofen and sulfometuron methyl were viable alternatives to directed glyphosate for release treatments of first-year Eucalyptus macarthurii seedlings because both herbicides reduced competing vegetation and promoted E. macarthurii height growth better than directed glyphosate. Further testing of sulfometuron methyl as a release herbicide for first- and second-year E. macarthurii plantations revealed that rates in excess of 1.13 oz ai/acre damaged E. macarthurii seedlings. A trial of four pre-plant site preparation herbicide treatments revealed that first-year E. macarthurii seedlings planted in bedded and non-bedded plots were not significantly damaged by triclopyr, imazapyr, and hexazinone applied two months pre-planting.