WISCONSIN PESTICIDE APPLICATOR TEST (RIGHT OF WAY AND NATURAL
AREAS 6.0) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST|WELL STRUCTURED|
Chapter 1: About Weeds
An area of land used or adjacent to areas of access, transporta-
tion, or power.
Right-of-way
E.g. land for electric power lines, pipelines, railways, public roads
Land being preserved or restored and managed for its natural or
native features.
Natural area
E.g. prairies
A weed is any unwanted plant.
What determines whether a given plant is a weed?
It interferes with what someone wants to do with the land the weed
is growing on.
1. Minimize weed competition
What are the two main goals of weed management?
2. Limit the weed's reproduction in order to manage the weed
population in years to come.
Grasses are considered monocots, meaning they have a single
seed leaf, they also have narrow leaves with parallel veins and a
fibrous root system.
Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and herbaceous from Broadleaf plants have two seed leaves and are therefore called
woody plants dicots, they have broad leaves with veins that form net patterns.
Broadleaf plants can be further classified into herbaceous and
woody, where the woody plants have a thick layer of dense tissue
called bark, which herbaceous plants lack.
Annual plants live for less than a year, they produce many seeds
in one growing season, and then die.
Summer annuals winter as seeds, and winter annuals winter as a
low-growing plant, both summer and winter annuals are easiest to
control when they are small.
Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and
Biennial plants live for two growing seasons, they germinate from
perennial plants
seed in the spring or summer and winter as a rosette of leaves.
They flower in their second year, produce seeds and then die. Both
annuals and biennials reproduce only by seed.
Perennial plants live for at least 2 years and sometimes longer,
they may reproduce by seed or vegetatively through several dif-
ferent mechanisms.
To kill annuals or biennials, you must kill the whole shoot. Control-
ling these weeds with tillage or herbicides will kill them plus stop
seed production, which will reduce future weed problems.
What is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial weeds and
when is it easiest to do so? The most effective way to kill perennials is to destroy the under-
ground vegetative structures by either repeatedly tilling the soil or
by using a herbicide that translocates to destroy all of the plant
parts.
Do state and local laws require landowners to control certain
Yes!
weeds to prevent their spread?
All weeds may start as seedlings and it is most effective to treat
the plants at this stage because less energy is required to kill the
plants at this stage than at any other.
How should you time herbicide application with respect to a plant's
life cycle and which timing is most effective?
Biennials and annuals are controlled by a fall or early spring
treatment, and perennials are controlled best with a fall treatment
as well.
, WISCONSIN PESTICIDE APPLICATOR TEST (RIGHT OF WAY AND NATURAL
AREAS 6.0) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST|WELL STRUCTURED|
Chapter 2: Pesticides
Any substance used to directly control (inhibit, repel, reduce, kill)
Define the word pesticide and explain how the word differs from pest populations or to prevent or reduce pest damage.
specific types of pesticides.
Encompasses insecticides, etc.
Organic: carbon-containing compounds, mostly synthetic, power-
ful.
Explain the difference between organic and inorganic pesticides.
Inorganic: derived from minerals in nature, generally toxic (vs.
targeted), less effective.
How a pesticide works to kill or harm a pest.
Explain the term "mode of action" and how it relates to pesticide
resistance. Certain pests develop resistance to certain modes of action
(countered through rotating modes).
Selective: only harm certain plants, if applied correctly at the right
time.
Compare selective and nonselective herbicides
Nonselective: will injure most or all plants.
How long a pesticide remains active to control pests (residual
activity).
Explain the term "persistence," and how it relates to a pesticide's
performance and potential to cause environmental harm. Highly persistent pesticides control pests for a longer period of
time, but have more potential to contaminate the environment and
nontarget organisms.
Trade name: one or more specific names for a specific commercial
formulation of a particular active ingredient
Explain the difference between the different types of pesticide
Chemical name: complies with accepted guidelines established by
names
chemists, frequently long.
Common name: simplified chemical name.
1. Absorbed into plant through leaves, stems, or roots.
Outline what an herbicide needs to do to kill weeds. 2. Translocated to sensitive part of plant (if necessary).
3. Block important process in plant (e.g. photosynthesis).
Contact herbicides do not move within the plant, they are sprayed
on and only kill the parts of the plant they actually touch.
What are the uses and characteristics of contact and systemic
herbicides?
Systemic herbicides are absorbed through leaves or roots and
then move or translocate within the treated plant.
Soil organic matter and clay particles can adsorb soil-applied
What are the effects of soil texture and organic matter content on herbicides, meaning more herbicide will be required in these types
application of soil herbicides? of soils because the herbicide will be bound to the soil particles
and will not be available to be absorbed by the weeds.
Do not apply herbicides to areas where they may leach into
groundwater, or run off into water sources or cropping areas.
How do you keep soil herbicides from moving off target?
Also avoid applying herbicides to areas where desired tree and
shrub roots may extend and DO NOT apply herbicides to frozen
soils.
Plant growth regulators do not kill plants, but are used to increase,
decrease, or change in some fashion the normal growth and or
reproduction of the plant.
What are the effects and uses of plant growth regulators?
They may be used to delay plant growth and reduce the need for
other chemical or mechanical management measures.
, WISCONSIN PESTICIDE APPLICATOR TEST (RIGHT OF WAY AND NATURAL
AREAS 6.0) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST|WELL STRUCTURED|
Chapter 3: Pesticide Formulations
They do not possess pesticidal activity but are added to improve
application effectiveness, safety, handling, storage or other char-
Describe the function of inert ingredients acteristics of the final product.
They serve as diluents or carriers.
A combination of active and inert ingredients that forms an
Formulation
end-use product.
The chemistry of the active ingredients dictate which formulations
are possible, so when selecting a formulation the following should
be considered:
1. Effectiveness of the active ingredient
Why are there different kinds of formulations and what needs to 2. Registered use of the active ingredient
be considered when selecting one? 3. Risks to the user
4. Treated site and environment
5. Measurability of the formulation
6. Characteristics of the formulation and how they will effect equip-
ment
7. Temperature at which the formulation needs to be stored
1. Emulsifiable Concentrates
2. Wettable Powders
Formulation types
3. Flowables
4. Granules
Insoluble in water, dissolved in petroleum, giving a strong odor.
Emulsifiers allow mixing with water, forming milky suspensions.
Advantages:
-relatively easy to use
-little agitation required
-non-abrasive (no plugging)
-little residue
Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC)
Disadvantages:
-high conc easy to misdose
-may damage surfaces
-easily absorbed through skin
-difficult to clean
-strong odor
-may be corrosive
-may cause discoloration
-flammable
Dry, finely ground solids insoluble in water (suspend then settle
out).
Advantages:
-easy to use
-less likely to harm treated plants, animals, and surfaces
-less risk of skin and eye absorption
Wettable Powders (WP)
Disadvantages:
-not easy to measure or mix
-inhalation hazard
-agitation needed for suspension
-abrasive to pumps and nozzles
-difficult to mix in hard and alkaline water
AREAS 6.0) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST|WELL STRUCTURED|
Chapter 1: About Weeds
An area of land used or adjacent to areas of access, transporta-
tion, or power.
Right-of-way
E.g. land for electric power lines, pipelines, railways, public roads
Land being preserved or restored and managed for its natural or
native features.
Natural area
E.g. prairies
A weed is any unwanted plant.
What determines whether a given plant is a weed?
It interferes with what someone wants to do with the land the weed
is growing on.
1. Minimize weed competition
What are the two main goals of weed management?
2. Limit the weed's reproduction in order to manage the weed
population in years to come.
Grasses are considered monocots, meaning they have a single
seed leaf, they also have narrow leaves with parallel veins and a
fibrous root system.
Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and herbaceous from Broadleaf plants have two seed leaves and are therefore called
woody plants dicots, they have broad leaves with veins that form net patterns.
Broadleaf plants can be further classified into herbaceous and
woody, where the woody plants have a thick layer of dense tissue
called bark, which herbaceous plants lack.
Annual plants live for less than a year, they produce many seeds
in one growing season, and then die.
Summer annuals winter as seeds, and winter annuals winter as a
low-growing plant, both summer and winter annuals are easiest to
control when they are small.
Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and
Biennial plants live for two growing seasons, they germinate from
perennial plants
seed in the spring or summer and winter as a rosette of leaves.
They flower in their second year, produce seeds and then die. Both
annuals and biennials reproduce only by seed.
Perennial plants live for at least 2 years and sometimes longer,
they may reproduce by seed or vegetatively through several dif-
ferent mechanisms.
To kill annuals or biennials, you must kill the whole shoot. Control-
ling these weeds with tillage or herbicides will kill them plus stop
seed production, which will reduce future weed problems.
What is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial weeds and
when is it easiest to do so? The most effective way to kill perennials is to destroy the under-
ground vegetative structures by either repeatedly tilling the soil or
by using a herbicide that translocates to destroy all of the plant
parts.
Do state and local laws require landowners to control certain
Yes!
weeds to prevent their spread?
All weeds may start as seedlings and it is most effective to treat
the plants at this stage because less energy is required to kill the
plants at this stage than at any other.
How should you time herbicide application with respect to a plant's
life cycle and which timing is most effective?
Biennials and annuals are controlled by a fall or early spring
treatment, and perennials are controlled best with a fall treatment
as well.
, WISCONSIN PESTICIDE APPLICATOR TEST (RIGHT OF WAY AND NATURAL
AREAS 6.0) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST|WELL STRUCTURED|
Chapter 2: Pesticides
Any substance used to directly control (inhibit, repel, reduce, kill)
Define the word pesticide and explain how the word differs from pest populations or to prevent or reduce pest damage.
specific types of pesticides.
Encompasses insecticides, etc.
Organic: carbon-containing compounds, mostly synthetic, power-
ful.
Explain the difference between organic and inorganic pesticides.
Inorganic: derived from minerals in nature, generally toxic (vs.
targeted), less effective.
How a pesticide works to kill or harm a pest.
Explain the term "mode of action" and how it relates to pesticide
resistance. Certain pests develop resistance to certain modes of action
(countered through rotating modes).
Selective: only harm certain plants, if applied correctly at the right
time.
Compare selective and nonselective herbicides
Nonselective: will injure most or all plants.
How long a pesticide remains active to control pests (residual
activity).
Explain the term "persistence," and how it relates to a pesticide's
performance and potential to cause environmental harm. Highly persistent pesticides control pests for a longer period of
time, but have more potential to contaminate the environment and
nontarget organisms.
Trade name: one or more specific names for a specific commercial
formulation of a particular active ingredient
Explain the difference between the different types of pesticide
Chemical name: complies with accepted guidelines established by
names
chemists, frequently long.
Common name: simplified chemical name.
1. Absorbed into plant through leaves, stems, or roots.
Outline what an herbicide needs to do to kill weeds. 2. Translocated to sensitive part of plant (if necessary).
3. Block important process in plant (e.g. photosynthesis).
Contact herbicides do not move within the plant, they are sprayed
on and only kill the parts of the plant they actually touch.
What are the uses and characteristics of contact and systemic
herbicides?
Systemic herbicides are absorbed through leaves or roots and
then move or translocate within the treated plant.
Soil organic matter and clay particles can adsorb soil-applied
What are the effects of soil texture and organic matter content on herbicides, meaning more herbicide will be required in these types
application of soil herbicides? of soils because the herbicide will be bound to the soil particles
and will not be available to be absorbed by the weeds.
Do not apply herbicides to areas where they may leach into
groundwater, or run off into water sources or cropping areas.
How do you keep soil herbicides from moving off target?
Also avoid applying herbicides to areas where desired tree and
shrub roots may extend and DO NOT apply herbicides to frozen
soils.
Plant growth regulators do not kill plants, but are used to increase,
decrease, or change in some fashion the normal growth and or
reproduction of the plant.
What are the effects and uses of plant growth regulators?
They may be used to delay plant growth and reduce the need for
other chemical or mechanical management measures.
, WISCONSIN PESTICIDE APPLICATOR TEST (RIGHT OF WAY AND NATURAL
AREAS 6.0) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST|WELL STRUCTURED|
Chapter 3: Pesticide Formulations
They do not possess pesticidal activity but are added to improve
application effectiveness, safety, handling, storage or other char-
Describe the function of inert ingredients acteristics of the final product.
They serve as diluents or carriers.
A combination of active and inert ingredients that forms an
Formulation
end-use product.
The chemistry of the active ingredients dictate which formulations
are possible, so when selecting a formulation the following should
be considered:
1. Effectiveness of the active ingredient
Why are there different kinds of formulations and what needs to 2. Registered use of the active ingredient
be considered when selecting one? 3. Risks to the user
4. Treated site and environment
5. Measurability of the formulation
6. Characteristics of the formulation and how they will effect equip-
ment
7. Temperature at which the formulation needs to be stored
1. Emulsifiable Concentrates
2. Wettable Powders
Formulation types
3. Flowables
4. Granules
Insoluble in water, dissolved in petroleum, giving a strong odor.
Emulsifiers allow mixing with water, forming milky suspensions.
Advantages:
-relatively easy to use
-little agitation required
-non-abrasive (no plugging)
-little residue
Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC)
Disadvantages:
-high conc easy to misdose
-may damage surfaces
-easily absorbed through skin
-difficult to clean
-strong odor
-may be corrosive
-may cause discoloration
-flammable
Dry, finely ground solids insoluble in water (suspend then settle
out).
Advantages:
-easy to use
-less likely to harm treated plants, animals, and surfaces
-less risk of skin and eye absorption
Wettable Powders (WP)
Disadvantages:
-not easy to measure or mix
-inhalation hazard
-agitation needed for suspension
-abrasive to pumps and nozzles
-difficult to mix in hard and alkaline water
