Clemson University TigerPrints All Theses Theses 8-2007 Controlling Kudzu (Pueraria montana) in Riparian Zones and High Risk Areas Casey Newton Clemson University,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses Part of the Agriculture Commons Recommended Citation Newton, Casey, "Controlling Kudzu (Pueraria montana) in Riparian Zones and High Risk Areas" (2007). All Theses. 200. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses/200 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Theses by an authorized administrator of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. CONTROLLING KUDZU (PUERARIA MONTANA) IN RIPARIAN ZONES AND HIGH RISK AREAS A Thesis Presented to the Graduate School of Clemson University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science Forest Resources by Casey Harve Newton August 2007 Accepted by: Dr. Elena A. Mikhailova, Committee Chair Dr. Saara J. DeWalt Dr. Christopher J. Post ABSTRACT The effects of polyethylene sheeting as a thermal covering to eradicate kudzu were investigated on an area within the Clemson University Experimental Forest in Clemson, South Carolina on a Cecil clay loam. In 2005, the highest reduction of live root crowns was observed in the complete season treatment (covered for the entire growing season) with a reduction of 42% of live root crowns compared to control (no covering) plots. The next most effective was the one-week treatment (covered for one week, uncovered for one week, then repeated throughout the growing season) that reduced root crowns by 35%.