Ornamental/Turf pesticide applicator's licence exam study guide Exam Questions And Answers

What are some of the basic principles of Integrated pest management? - ANS 1.) PREVENTION: Produce healthy plants that resist plants: (Selecting healthy plants, using certified seed, providing good growing conditions, and making a good match between the plant and the site) 2.) MONITOR AND IDENTIFY THE PEST: Identify the problem: (Finding out whether the damage to a particular plant is caused by a pest or by an environmental condition such as freezing or drought and always determine the exact pest that you are dealing with) 3.) SET ACTION THRESHOLDS: Expect some pests and tolerate some damage: (Deciding how many pests and how much damage to tolerate) 4.) CONTROL: Use pesticides as a last choice-Not a first choice What are 4 tools or techniques that you could use to study a plant problem as you look for pests? - ANS 1.) Keep records 2.) Use a hand lens 3.) Learn about symptoms 4.) Carry an index card What are 2 kinds of drift? - ANS 1.) Particle drift: (The movement of fine particles (droplets or dust) through the air while the pesticide is being applied) 2.) Vapor drift: (The movement of the pesticide in the form of a gas or vapor during or after application) What is a Buffer? - ANS This is the non treated zone between the area to be treated and sensitive areas such as ponds, streams, wells, and drains What is a Re-entry period? - ANS The length of time that must pass before anyone can enter a treated area Resistance to pesticides come from... - ANS Using the same pesticides over and over again What will happen to Pesticides in the soil over time? - ANS They are eventually broken down by bacteria and fungi When should you apply a pesticide? - ANS When pests are abundant enough cause unacceptable damage What hand lens magnification is recommended for insect identification? - ANS 5 power to 10 power What should you do in an IPM program? - ANS Produce healthy plants that can resist pests Why should pesticide application be the last choice in pest management? - ANS Because they are labeled for use only on specific pests and types of plants and because it is safer to use other controls What is Integrated pest management (IPM) ? - ANS It is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment What is Phytotoxicity? - ANS A toxic effect by a compound on plant growth What is Pesticide breakdown? - ANS The breakdown of pesticides into non-toxic substances from bacteria and fungi in the soil What is a Threshold? - ANS A point at which pest populations or environmental conditions indicate that pest control action must be taken What are the strategies that delay the development of pesticide resistance? - ANS Using a pesticide only when needed and choosing alternative pesticides from different chemical classes What is an Indicator plant? - ANS Plants that can indicate the onset of a pest infestation What does proper mowing mean? - ANS Using sharp mower blades to make a clean cut What do you need to do to promote healthy turf and reduce disease? - ANS Water thoroughly when you first see wilting What should you do when fertilizing? - ANS Determine fertilizer need through results of a soil test Cool-season cultivars... - ANS Can be mixed to minimize disease What does good soil drainage do? - ANS Promotes healthy turfgrass What are the 3 major geographical regions in the southeastern U.S.? - ANS 1.) Mountains: (Cool-season grasses) 2.) Piedmont: (The transitional zone where both warm and cool-season grasses are used) *Cool-season gasses do better in the upper-piedmont region *Warm-season grasses do better in the lower-piedmont region 3.) Coastal plain: (Warm-season grasses) What are 4 mistakes in turf plant management that could contribute to poor turf stands and pest problems? - ANS 1.) Not enough water 2.) Not aerating 3.) A lot of thatch 4.) No regular mowing What are 3 site problems that could contribute to poor turf stands and pest problems? - ANS 1.) Poor drainage 2.) Shade 3.) Humidity What are Cultivars? - ANS The different plant groups within a species What is Compaction? - ANS This is when the ground gets hard from foot traffic, machine traffic, etc.. What are 4 of the major cool-season grasses? - ANS 1.) Creeping bentgrass 2.) Tall fescue 3.) Kentucky bluegrass 4.) Perennial ryegrass What are 4 of the major warm-season grasses? - ANS 1.) Bermudagrass 2.) Centipede grass 3.) Bahia grass 4.) Zoysia grass What is Certified seed? - ANS The appropriate turf grass seed that meets the standards for that specific condition that you are using it for What does it mean when a grass goes dormant? - ANS The grass has died off (turned brown) because of too cold or too hot of conditions and will green up when when the conditions are right again What is Thatch? - ANS A layer of living and dead plant stems, leaves, and roots that develop between the soil surface and green vegetation What is Dethatching? - ANS The process of reducing or removing thatch What is Aeration? - ANS Practice that removes plugs from the soil and lets in air flow and nutrients Which method will NOT help monitor cutworms? - ANS Pitfall traps What is Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) ? - ANS A common bacterium that kills many types of caterpillars