Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Test
Commercial Category 6.0 Questions
With Correct Answers!!
What determines whether a given plant is a weed? - Answer A weed is any
unwanted plant
What are the two main goals of weed management? - Answer The primary goal is to
minimize weed competition and the other main goal is to limit the weed's
reproduction in order to manage the weed population in years to come.
Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and herbaceous from woody plants -
Answer Grasses are considered monocots, meaning they have a single seed leaf,
they also have narrow leaves with parallel veins and a fibrous root system. Broadleaf
plants have two seed leaves and are therefore called dicots, they have broad leaves
with veins that form a 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.
Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and perennial plants -
Answer 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. Biennial plants live for two growing seasons, they germinate
from 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 different
mechanisms.
What is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial weeds and when is it easiest to
do so? - Answer To kill annuals or biennials, you must kill the whole shoot.
Controlling these weeds with tillage or herbicides will kill them plus stop seed
production, which will reduce future weed problems. The most effective way to kill
perennials is to destroy the underground vegetative structures by either repeatedly
tilling the soil or by using a herbicide that translocates to destroy all of the plant
parts.
How should you time herbicide application with respect to a plant's life cycle and
which timing is most effective? - Answer 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. Biennials and Annuals are controlled by a
fall or early spring treatment, and perennials are controlled best with a fall treatment
as well.
What are the effects of soil texture and organic matter content on application of soil
herbicides? - Answer Soil organic matter and clay particles can adsorb soil-applied
herbicides, meaning more herbicide will be required in these types of soils because
the herbicide will be bound to the soil particles and will not be available to be
absorbed by the weeds.
,Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Test
Commercial Category 6.0 Questions
With Correct Answers!!
How do you keep soil herbicides from moving off target? - Answer Do not apply
herbicides to areas where they may leach into groundwater, or run off into water
sources or cropping areas. Also avoid applying herbicides to areas where desired
tree and shrub roots may extend and DO NOT apply herbicides to frozen soils.
How and when should you apply soil herbicides? - Answer Soil treatments are
commonly used when a site requires residual non-selective control, such as electric
transformer stations, rail ballasts and signpost bases. They can be applied any time
that the soil is not frozen, and some soil applied herbicides need to be transported by
rain to be absorbed by the plant.
When are foliar sprays appropriate and not appropriate? - Answer Foliar sprays are
not recommended for large brush because of the potential for drift. Foliar sprays
should be operated from the ground close to the plant and can either be applied
through broadcast or spot application.
What are the factors in timing a foliar spray? - Answer Foliar treatments can be
made from the time the leaves are fully expanded until they begin to turn color in the
fall, but are most effective when applied to fully developed foliage of an actively
growing plant. They should be applied at a temperature between 60 and 80 degrees
F, and should have adequate time to soak into to plant, thus applying right before it
rains is ineffective.
How are adjuvants used most effectively? - Answer Adjuvants may be necessary to
use for better absorption by foliage that is extremely waxy or hairy.
What are the similarities and differences between foliar, cut-surface, and basal bark
applications? - Answer Foliar applications are put directly onto the foliage of a
growing plant. Basal bark applications are used to control shrubs, canes and thickets
or trees up to 5 inches in diameter and are applied to the lower 18 inches of the
stems. Cut-surface treatments are used to control plants with thick bark or when they
have trunks larger than 5 inches in diameter at the base.
Define and explain "pesticide". - Answer A pesticide is any substance used to
directly control pest populations or to prevent or reduce pest damage. Pesticides can
range from anything such as an insecticide to a herbicide to a fungicide.
What is the difference between organic and inorganic? - Answer Organic means the
compound contains the element carbon, it does not mean it is natural. Inorganic
means that the it is derived from minerals that occur in nature.
What is the difference between the different types of pesticide names? - Answer
Chemical name: complies with accepted guidelines established by chemists.
Common name: normally appear on the label before or above the chemical name
and refers to an active ingredient.
, Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Test
Commercial Category 6.0 Questions
With Correct Answers!!
Trade name: the name given by the manufacturer, appears in large letters at the top
of the label
Compare selective and non-selective herbicides: - Answer Selective herbicides only
harm certain plants and leave others unharmed. Non-selective herbicides are toxic to
most or all plants.
What are the uses and characteristics of contact and systemic herbicides? - Answer
Contact herbicides do not move within the plant, they are sprayed on and only kill the
parts of the plant they actually touch. Systemic herbicides are absorbed through
leaves or roots and then mover or translocate within the treated plant.
What are the effects and uses of plant growth regulators? - Answer 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. They may be used to
retard plant growth and reduce the need for other chemical or mechanical
management measures.
Describe the function of inert ingredients: - Answer They do not possess pesticidial
activity but are added to improve application effectiveness, safety, handling, storage
or other characteristics of the final product.
Why are there different kinds of formulations and what needs to be considered when
selecting one? - Answer The chemistry of the active ingredients dictate which
formulations are possible, so when selecting a formulation the following should be
considered: effectiveness of the active ingredient, registered use of the active
ingredient, risks to the user, treated site and environment, measurability of the
formulation, characteristics of the formulation and how they will effect equipment,
temperature at which the formulation needs to be stored ect.
Which formulations applied as liquids do the following: form suspensions or solutions
when diluted, require agitation in the spray tank after mixing, tend to clog nozzles,
are abrasive or may cause sprayer parts to deteriorate, and are likely to cause
phytotoxicity. - Answer Emulsifiable concentrates form milky suspensions and
require minimal agitation to keep the suspension uniformly mixed. Water-soluble
concentrates and soluble powders are both true solutions in water and are non
abrasive. Dry Flowables form a suspension in water and require some agitation in
the spray tank, they are abrasive to sprayer components. Flowables or suspension
concentrates are not soluble in water and they form suspensions that require
moderate agitation, but they seldom clog spray nozzles. Granules are usually
applied as a solid and are nearly always used to treat soil and release the active
ingredient slowly.
What are the health concerns associated with different formulations? - Answer
Emulsifiers are easily absorbed through the skin and contain a very high
concentration of active ingredients. Soluble powders pose the greatest risk when
Commercial Category 6.0 Questions
With Correct Answers!!
What determines whether a given plant is a weed? - Answer A weed is any
unwanted plant
What are the two main goals of weed management? - Answer The primary goal is to
minimize weed competition and the other main goal is to limit the weed's
reproduction in order to manage the weed population in years to come.
Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and herbaceous from woody plants -
Answer Grasses are considered monocots, meaning they have a single seed leaf,
they also have narrow leaves with parallel veins and a fibrous root system. Broadleaf
plants have two seed leaves and are therefore called dicots, they have broad leaves
with veins that form a 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.
Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and perennial plants -
Answer 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. Biennial plants live for two growing seasons, they germinate
from 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 different
mechanisms.
What is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial weeds and when is it easiest to
do so? - Answer To kill annuals or biennials, you must kill the whole shoot.
Controlling these weeds with tillage or herbicides will kill them plus stop seed
production, which will reduce future weed problems. The most effective way to kill
perennials is to destroy the underground vegetative structures by either repeatedly
tilling the soil or by using a herbicide that translocates to destroy all of the plant
parts.
How should you time herbicide application with respect to a plant's life cycle and
which timing is most effective? - Answer 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. Biennials and Annuals are controlled by a
fall or early spring treatment, and perennials are controlled best with a fall treatment
as well.
What are the effects of soil texture and organic matter content on application of soil
herbicides? - Answer Soil organic matter and clay particles can adsorb soil-applied
herbicides, meaning more herbicide will be required in these types of soils because
the herbicide will be bound to the soil particles and will not be available to be
absorbed by the weeds.
,Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Test
Commercial Category 6.0 Questions
With Correct Answers!!
How do you keep soil herbicides from moving off target? - Answer Do not apply
herbicides to areas where they may leach into groundwater, or run off into water
sources or cropping areas. Also avoid applying herbicides to areas where desired
tree and shrub roots may extend and DO NOT apply herbicides to frozen soils.
How and when should you apply soil herbicides? - Answer Soil treatments are
commonly used when a site requires residual non-selective control, such as electric
transformer stations, rail ballasts and signpost bases. They can be applied any time
that the soil is not frozen, and some soil applied herbicides need to be transported by
rain to be absorbed by the plant.
When are foliar sprays appropriate and not appropriate? - Answer Foliar sprays are
not recommended for large brush because of the potential for drift. Foliar sprays
should be operated from the ground close to the plant and can either be applied
through broadcast or spot application.
What are the factors in timing a foliar spray? - Answer Foliar treatments can be
made from the time the leaves are fully expanded until they begin to turn color in the
fall, but are most effective when applied to fully developed foliage of an actively
growing plant. They should be applied at a temperature between 60 and 80 degrees
F, and should have adequate time to soak into to plant, thus applying right before it
rains is ineffective.
How are adjuvants used most effectively? - Answer Adjuvants may be necessary to
use for better absorption by foliage that is extremely waxy or hairy.
What are the similarities and differences between foliar, cut-surface, and basal bark
applications? - Answer Foliar applications are put directly onto the foliage of a
growing plant. Basal bark applications are used to control shrubs, canes and thickets
or trees up to 5 inches in diameter and are applied to the lower 18 inches of the
stems. Cut-surface treatments are used to control plants with thick bark or when they
have trunks larger than 5 inches in diameter at the base.
Define and explain "pesticide". - Answer A pesticide is any substance used to
directly control pest populations or to prevent or reduce pest damage. Pesticides can
range from anything such as an insecticide to a herbicide to a fungicide.
What is the difference between organic and inorganic? - Answer Organic means the
compound contains the element carbon, it does not mean it is natural. Inorganic
means that the it is derived from minerals that occur in nature.
What is the difference between the different types of pesticide names? - Answer
Chemical name: complies with accepted guidelines established by chemists.
Common name: normally appear on the label before or above the chemical name
and refers to an active ingredient.
, Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Test
Commercial Category 6.0 Questions
With Correct Answers!!
Trade name: the name given by the manufacturer, appears in large letters at the top
of the label
Compare selective and non-selective herbicides: - Answer Selective herbicides only
harm certain plants and leave others unharmed. Non-selective herbicides are toxic to
most or all plants.
What are the uses and characteristics of contact and systemic herbicides? - Answer
Contact herbicides do not move within the plant, they are sprayed on and only kill the
parts of the plant they actually touch. Systemic herbicides are absorbed through
leaves or roots and then mover or translocate within the treated plant.
What are the effects and uses of plant growth regulators? - Answer 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. They may be used to
retard plant growth and reduce the need for other chemical or mechanical
management measures.
Describe the function of inert ingredients: - Answer They do not possess pesticidial
activity but are added to improve application effectiveness, safety, handling, storage
or other characteristics of the final product.
Why are there different kinds of formulations and what needs to be considered when
selecting one? - Answer The chemistry of the active ingredients dictate which
formulations are possible, so when selecting a formulation the following should be
considered: effectiveness of the active ingredient, registered use of the active
ingredient, risks to the user, treated site and environment, measurability of the
formulation, characteristics of the formulation and how they will effect equipment,
temperature at which the formulation needs to be stored ect.
Which formulations applied as liquids do the following: form suspensions or solutions
when diluted, require agitation in the spray tank after mixing, tend to clog nozzles,
are abrasive or may cause sprayer parts to deteriorate, and are likely to cause
phytotoxicity. - Answer Emulsifiable concentrates form milky suspensions and
require minimal agitation to keep the suspension uniformly mixed. Water-soluble
concentrates and soluble powders are both true solutions in water and are non
abrasive. Dry Flowables form a suspension in water and require some agitation in
the spray tank, they are abrasive to sprayer components. Flowables or suspension
concentrates are not soluble in water and they form suspensions that require
moderate agitation, but they seldom clog spray nozzles. Granules are usually
applied as a solid and are nearly always used to treat soil and release the active
ingredient slowly.
What are the health concerns associated with different formulations? - Answer
Emulsifiers are easily absorbed through the skin and contain a very high
concentration of active ingredients. Soluble powders pose the greatest risk when
