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Vegetation control options for improving afforestation of a retired sod farm in central Arkansas

Informally Refereed

Abstract

To improve watershed quality, there was interest in converting a retired zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) sod farm in central Arkansas into hardwood forest. Six vegetation control options for glyphosate and sulfometuron methyl were tested for pre-planting vegetation control to foster water oak (Quercus nigra L.) and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall) establishment while protecting water quality at the site. Including sulfometuron with glyphosate in a fall pre-planting application was the most effective for providing vegetation control through the first growing season after planting. A ryegrass (Lolium spp.) cover crop suppressed grass and broadleaf competing vegetation in the first growing season after planting, although not to the magnitude and duration as sulfometuron. Horseweed (Erigeron canadensis L.) was observed in plots receiving sulfometuron, which prompted an additional trial at this site on herbicides for horseweed control. Cloypyralid was most effective among herbicides tested for horseweed control without damaging the water oak and cherrybark oak (Q. pagoda Raf.) to which it was applied.

Parent Publication

Citation

Blazier, Michael A.; Liechty, Hal O.; Moore, Michelle. 2018. Vegetation control options for improving afforestation of a retired sod farm in central Arkansas. In Kirschman, Julia E., comp 2018.Proceedings of the 19th biennial southern silvicultural research conference.e-General Technical  Report SRS- 234.Asheville, NC: U.S.Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station.444 p.pages 119-126
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/57304