ABSTRACT
Summary Applying herbicides with a rope-wick applicator is a new technique that permits treatment of tall weeds without treatment of low-growing forage species. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of several herbicides and to evaluate their safety to forage species. The effectiveness of 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid], dicamba (3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid), picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid), and glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine] in water-herbicide concentrations of 2:1, 4:1, and 8:1 were evaluated on gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis Ait) when applied with a rope-wick applicator in one and two directions on 15 June and 17 July 1979. The goldenrod was growing in a pasture containing primarily Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) was sown into the stand the winter after treatment to detect any residues of herbicides that might be present. Some injury to red clover occurred with picloram. Picloram, applied in two directions, killed more than 80% of the goldenrod, while the other herbicides killed 60% to 65%. Early treatments and treatment in two directions were most effective. Forage grasses were unaffected by the herbicides. This method of application effectively controlled goldenrod with smaller amounts of herbicides than with conventional broadcast applications.
