Suggested Guide for Weed Control 1969
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SUGGESTED GUIDE FOR WEED CONTROL 1969 Ü.S.CE?T. Of AGRICULTURE NATIONIUGWCUITURAL lllRARy MAY 12 196y CURRENT SERIAL RECORDS Agriculture Handbook No. 332 Agricultural Research Service UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE USDA POLICY ON PESTICIDES One of the most important responsibilities of control which provide the least potential hazard the Department of Agriculture is to develop and to man and animals. When residual pesticides facilitate the use of methods and materials for the must be used to control or eliminate pests, they control of pests. The Department's research, shall be used in minimal effective amounts, applied education, and regulatory programs are expected precisely to the infested area and at minimal to make continuing progress in the never-ending effective frequency. Biological, ecological, or cul- struggle to protect man, his food and fiber sup- plies, and his forests from the ravages of pests. tural methods or nonpersistent and low-toxicity Such protection is essential if the American people pesticides will be used whenever such means are are to continue to enjoy their present high standard feasible and will safely and effectively control or of living, and if this abundance of quality food and eliminate target pests. relative freedom from the hazards of pests are to be In carrying out these objectives, the Department enjoyed by all mankind. will cooperate in the fullest with the other agencies In protecting man, animals, plants, farm and and departments of government, and will seek to forest products, communities, and households develop broad areas of collaboration in establishing against depredation of pests, the Department has the criteria to guide the use and development of vital concern for (1) the health and well-being of pest-control materials. people who use pesticides and those who use Further, the USDA will urge that all users of products protected by their use; and (2) for the pesticides exercise constant vigilance to assure the protection of fish, wildlife, soil, air, and water protection of human health by avoiding unneces- from pesticide pollution. sary exposure of crops, livestock, fish, and wildlife. In keeping with this concern, it is the policy of The Department commends this policy to the Department of Agriculture to practice and to States and local authorities as a guide in their encourage the use of those means of effective pest respective jurisdictions. ^ SUGGESTED GUIDE FOR WEED CONTROL 1969 Prepared by Crops Research Division Agriculture Handbook No. 332 Washington, D.C. ^P^^^^ ^^^^ For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 70 cents PREFACE Research in weed control is conducted by the U.S. Department of Agri- culture and certain other Federal agencies, State agricultural experiment stations, and industrial organizations. Many of the most effective weed-control practices resulting from this research are summarized in this handbook as a guide for farm advisory personnel in the various States. Correct identification of a weed species is helpful in selecting and using weed-control suggestions. Providing information on weed identification is outside the scope of this handbook. Descriptive and illustrative guides to the identification of weeds have been published and are available from the State agricultural experiment stations in nearly all States. The successful and safe use of weed-control methods depends on strict adherence to the appropriate treatment procedures. These details may vary between localities because of differences in soil, climate, crop varieties, cultural methods, and weed species. The weed-control methods described here may be considered as a general guide. Specific information may be obtained from State agricultural experiment station and extension service personnel and other local agricultural authorities. All suggested uses of herbicides were registered prior to July 15, 1968, under the provisions of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. The registration of herbicides changes frequently as new information on uses and residues becomes available. New uses are frequently added to labels and old uses are sometimes cancelled. In order to use herbicides effectively and safely, up-to-date labels and instructions must be followed. Because new herbicides and new uses for older ones are being developed constantly, it is important to obtain the latest information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, State agricultural experiment stations and extension services, and manufacturers of specific products. FOLLOW THB LABEL U.S. »ErAHTMENT OF AGmCULTUKE If herbicides are handled or applied improperly, or if unused por- tions are not disposed of safely, they may be injurious to humans, domestic animals, desirable plants, and fish or other wildlife, and may contaminate water supplies. Use herbicides only when needed and handle them with care. Follow the directions and heed all precautions on the container label. A CONTENTS Page Basic principles and methods of weed control 1 Growth cycles and propagation of weeds 1 Plant competition 1 Hand and mechanical methods 2 Flame 2 Herbicides 2 Biological agents 2 Impact of weed control on crop production 2 Precautions for safe use of herbicides 3 Properties of herbicides ^-- 4 General considerations in use of herbicides 4 Purchasing herbicides _-__ 4 Calculations for herbicide applications 13 Mixing spray materials 14 Application equipment _ 14 Calibration of application equipment 15 How to determine per-acre output of sprayers 15 How to determine output of spreaders ^— 17 Effect of weather conditions on herbicide applications 17 Weed control in field crops 1^ Weed control in horticultural crops 36 Vegetables ^7 Deciduous tree fruits and nuts 40 Citrus and subtropical fruits and nuts 42 Small fruits 43 Ornamental plants 45 Weed control in horticultural plant beds and nurseries 4b Weed control in greenhouses 47 Weed control in forage crops, pastures, and rangelands_ _ _ 47 Weed control in lawns and other turf areas___ 52 Weed control in noncropland 54 Construction aids 54 Cultural, biological, and mechanical control 54 Control with herbicides 55 Control of aquatic weeds ^ Construction aids ^J: Management practices ^ Hand and mechanical control ^ Biological control ^1 Chemical control ^1 Appendix—Herbicide tolerances for crops ^5 Crop index ^* Weed index ^^ LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Chemical, physical, and biological properties of herbicides 5 2 Weed control in field row crops 1§ 3 Weed control in close-drilled field crops 27 4 Control of perennial weeds in cropland in fallow periods or by spot treatment 3^ 5 Weed control in vegetables 37 6 Weed control in deciduous tree fruits and nuts llllllllll I 40 7 Weed control in citrus and subtropical fruits and nuts ' 42 8 Weed control in small fruits 44 9 Weed control in ornamental plants 45 10 Weed control with soil fumigant herbicides in horticultural' plant beds and nurseries 4*7 11 Weed control in forage crops, pastures, and rangelands ~_ ~ ' " 48 12 Weed control in lawns and other turf areas 53 13 Weed control in noncropland (ditchbanks, fence rows, "floodways^ mdustrial sites, and railroad, highway, and utihty fine rights-of- way) rß 14 Control of aquatic weeds (irrigation canals, drainage ditches, streams, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, marshes) .' 62 SUGGESTED GUIDE FOR WEED CONTROL 1969 Prepared by CROPS RESEARCH DIVISION, Agricultural Research Service ^ BASIC PRINCIPLES AND METHODS OF WEED CONTROL Weed control is an integral part of the overall burdock, wild carrot, and mullein. They often management program for crop production, grazing can be controlled by cultivation or timely mowing. land, lawns, gardens, irrigation and drainage Perennials Uve more than 2 years. Many have systems, and other crop and noncrop areas. For several methods of reproduction in addition to greatest effectiveness and economy, weed-control seeds. These include bulbs, tubers, corms, lateral methods must be based on the basic principles of roots, rhizomes, and stolons. Most of these plant ecology and physiology, soil fertihty, soil- organs have buds and store food for overwintering water relations, and plant growth. Effective and reproduction. Several provide means of weed-control methods and materials include crop vegetative spread. Many perennial weeds are rotation, grazing, cultivation, mowing, flame, and difficult to control and require intensive and the use of herbicides, surfactants, and biological persistent effort. Common examples are Canada agents. The effects of chemicals and biological thistle, cattail, field bindweed, johnsongrass, and agents on human beings, livestock, fish, and wild- nutsedge. Unlike most annual plants, killing the life must be considered. All these principles and top growth of a perennial once does not usually phases of vegetation control are considered in the prevent it from surviving and producing a new preparation of this handbook. top growth from food in the storage or reproduc- tive organs. To prevent this vegetative reproduc- tion, the supply of stored food must be greatly GROWTH CYCLES AND PROPAGATION OF depleted by repeatedly destroying the top growth, WEEDS roots, and reproductive organs or greatly altering the physiological processes with herbicides. A weed is any plant that grows where it is not desired. Weeds, like other plants, are classified PLANT COMPETITION by growth cycle as annuals, biennials,, and perennials. Algae and some other aquatic plants Competition of desirable crops or plants