WISCONSIN PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
TEST COMMERCIAL CATEGORY 6.0
What44determines44whether44a44given44plant44is44a44weed?44-44answer--
A44weed44is44any44unwanted44plant
What44are44the44two44main44goals44of44weed44management?44-44answer--
The44primary44goal44is44to44minimize44weed44competition44and44the44other44main44goal44
is44to44limit44the44weed's44reproduction44in44order44to44manage44the44weed44population44
in44years44to44come.
Distinguish44grasses44from44broadleaf44plants44and44herbaceous44from44woody44plants4
4-44answer--
Grasses44are44considered44monocots,44meaning44they44have44a44single44seed44leaf,44th
ey44also44have44narrow44leaves44with44parallel44veins44and44a44fibrous44root44system.44
Broadleaf44plants44have44two44seed44leaves44and44are44therefore44called44dicots,44they4
4have44broad44leaves44with44veins44that44form44a44net44patterns.44Broadleaf44plants44ca
n44be44further44classified44into44herbaceous44and44woody,44where44the44woody44plants44
have44a44thick44layer44of44dense44tissue44called44bark,44which44herbaceous44plants44lac
k.
Describe44the44life44cycles44and44propagation44of44annual,44biennial,44and44perennial44pl
ants44-44answer--
Annual44plants44live44for44less44than44a44year,44they44produce44many44seeds44in44one44g
rowing44season,44and44then44die.44Summer44annuals44winter44as44seeds,44and44winter44
annuals44winter44as44a44low-
growing44plant,44both44summer44and44winter44annuals44are44easiest44to44control44when4
4they44are44small.44Biennial44plants44live44for44two44growing44seasons,44they44germinate
44from44seed44in44the44spring44or44summer44and44winter44as44a44rosette44of44leaves.44Th
ey44flower44in44their44second44year,44produce44seeds44and44then44die.44Both44annuals44
and44biennials44reproduce44only44by44seed.44Perennial44plants44live44for44at44least44244y
ears44and44sometimes44longer,44they44may44reproduce44by44seed44or44vegetatively44thr
ough44several44different44mechanisms.
What44is44needed44to44kill44annual,44biennial,44and44perennial44weeds44and44when44is44i
t44easiest44to44do44so?44-44answer--
To44kill44annuals44or44biennials,44you44must44kill44the44whole44shoot.44Controlling44these
,44weeds44with44tillage44or44herbicides44will44kill44them44plus44stop44seed44production,44w
hich44will44reduce44future44weed44problems.44The44most44effective44way44to44kill44peren
nials44is44to44destroy44the44underground44vegetative44structures44by44either44repeatedly4
4tilling44the44soil44or44by44using44a44herbicide44that44translocates44to44destroy44all44of44th
e44plant44parts.
How44should44you44time44herbicide44application44with44respect44to44a44plant's44life44cycl
e44and44which44timing44is44most44effective?44-44answer--
All44weeds44may44start44as44seedlings44and44it44is44most44effective44to44treat44the44plant
s44at44this44stage44because44less44energy44is44required44to44kill44the44plants44at44this44st
age44than44at44any44other.44Biennials44and44Annuals44are44controlled44by44a44fall44or44e
arly44spring44treatment,44and44perennials44are44controlled44best44with44a44fall44treatment
44as44well.
What44are44the44effects44of44soil44texture44and44organic44matter44content44on44applicatio
n44of44soil44herbicides?44-44answer--
Soil44organic44matter44and44clay44particles44can44adsorb44soil-
applied44herbicides,44meaning44more44herbicide44will44be44required44in44these44types44o
f44soils44because44the44herbicide44will44be44bound44to44the44soil44particles44and44will44no
t44be44available44to44be44absorbed44by44the44weeds.
How44do44you44keep44soil44herbicides44from44moving44off44target?44-44answer--
Do44not44apply44herbicides44to44areas44where44they44may44leach44into44groundwater,44o
r44run44off44into44water44sources44or44cropping44areas.44Also44avoid44applying44herbicide
s44to44areas44where44desired44tree44and44shrub44roots44may44extend44and44DO44NOT44
apply44herbicides44to44frozen44soils.
How44and44when44should44you44apply44soil44herbicides?44-44answer--
Soil44treatments44are44commonly44used44when44a44site44requires44residual44non-
selective44control,44such44as44electric44transformer44stations,44rail44ballasts44and44signp
ost44bases.44They44can44be44applied44any44time44that44the44soil44is44not44frozen,44and44s
ome44soil44applied44herbicides44need44to44be44transported44by44rain44to44be44absorbed44
by44the44plant.
When44are44foliar44sprays44appropriate44and44not44appropriate?44-44answer--
Foliar44sprays44are44not44recommended44for44large44brush44because44of44the44potential4
4for44drift.44Foliar44sprays44should44be44operated44from44the44ground44close44to44the44pla
nt44and44can44either44be44applied44through44broadcast44or44spot44application.
What44are44the44factors44in44timing44a44foliar44spray?44-44answer--
Foliar44treatments44can44be44made44from44the44time44the44leaves44are44fully44expanded4
4until44they44begin44to44turn44color44in44the44fall,44but44are44most44effective44when44appli
ed44to44fully44developed44foliage44of44an44actively44growing44plant.44They44should44be44a
pplied44at44a44temperature44between446044and448044degrees44F,44and44should44have44a
dequate44time44to44soak44into44to44plant,44thus44applying44right44before44it44rains44is44ine
ffective.
, How44are44adjuvants44used44most44effectively?44-44answer--
Adjuvants44may44be44necessary44to44use44for44better44absorption44by44foliage44that44is44
extremely44waxy44or44hairy.
What44are44the44similarities44and44differences44between44foliar,44cut-
surface,44and44basal44bark44applications?44-44answer--
Foliar44applications44are44put44directly44onto44the44foliage44of44a44growing44plant.44Basal
44bark44applications44are44used44to44control44shrubs,44canes44and44thickets44or44trees44
up44to44544inches44in44diameter44and44are44applied44to44the44lower441844inches44of44the4
4stems.44Cut-
surface44treatments44are44used44to44control44plants44with44thick44bark44or44when44they44
have44trunks44larger44than44544inches44in44diameter44at44the44base.
Define44and44explain44"pesticide".44-44answer--
A44pesticide44is44any44substance44used44to44directly44control44pest44populations44or44to4
4prevent44or44reduce44pest44damage.44Pesticides44can44range44from44anything44such44a
s44an44insecticide44to44a44herbicide44to44a44fungicide.
What44is44the44difference44between44organic44and44inorganic?44-44answer--
Organic44means44the44compound44contains44the44element44carbon,44it44does44not44mea
n44it44is44natural.44Inorganic44means44that44the44it44is44derived44from44minerals44that44oc
cur44in44nature.
What44is44the44difference44between44the44different44types44of44pesticide44names?44-
44answer--
Chemical44name:44complies44with44accepted44guidelines44established44by44chemists.44
Common44name:44normally44appear44on44the44label44before44or44above44the44chemical4
4name44and44refers44to44an44active44ingredient.
Trade44name:44the44name44given44by44the44manufacturer,44appears44in44large44letters44
at44the44top44of44the44label
Compare44selective44and44non-selective44herbicides:44-44answer--
Selective44herbicides44only44harm44certain44plants44and44leave44others44unharmed.44No
n-selective44herbicides44are44toxic44to44most44or44all44plants.
What44are44the44uses44and44characteristics44of44contact44and44systemic44herbicides?44-
44answer--
Contact44herbicides44do44not44move44within44the44plant,44they44are44sprayed44on44and44
only44kill44the44parts44of44the44plant44they44actually44touch.44Systemic44herbicides44are44
absorbed44through44leaves44or44roots44and44then44mover44or44translocate44within44the44t
reated44plant.
What44are44the44effects44and44uses44of44plant44growth44regulators?44-44answer--
Plant44growth44regulators44do44not44kill44plants,44but44are44used44to44increase,44decreas
e,44or44change44in44some44fashion44the44normal44growth44and44or44reproduction44of44the
TEST COMMERCIAL CATEGORY 6.0
What44determines44whether44a44given44plant44is44a44weed?44-44answer--
A44weed44is44any44unwanted44plant
What44are44the44two44main44goals44of44weed44management?44-44answer--
The44primary44goal44is44to44minimize44weed44competition44and44the44other44main44goal44
is44to44limit44the44weed's44reproduction44in44order44to44manage44the44weed44population44
in44years44to44come.
Distinguish44grasses44from44broadleaf44plants44and44herbaceous44from44woody44plants4
4-44answer--
Grasses44are44considered44monocots,44meaning44they44have44a44single44seed44leaf,44th
ey44also44have44narrow44leaves44with44parallel44veins44and44a44fibrous44root44system.44
Broadleaf44plants44have44two44seed44leaves44and44are44therefore44called44dicots,44they4
4have44broad44leaves44with44veins44that44form44a44net44patterns.44Broadleaf44plants44ca
n44be44further44classified44into44herbaceous44and44woody,44where44the44woody44plants44
have44a44thick44layer44of44dense44tissue44called44bark,44which44herbaceous44plants44lac
k.
Describe44the44life44cycles44and44propagation44of44annual,44biennial,44and44perennial44pl
ants44-44answer--
Annual44plants44live44for44less44than44a44year,44they44produce44many44seeds44in44one44g
rowing44season,44and44then44die.44Summer44annuals44winter44as44seeds,44and44winter44
annuals44winter44as44a44low-
growing44plant,44both44summer44and44winter44annuals44are44easiest44to44control44when4
4they44are44small.44Biennial44plants44live44for44two44growing44seasons,44they44germinate
44from44seed44in44the44spring44or44summer44and44winter44as44a44rosette44of44leaves.44Th
ey44flower44in44their44second44year,44produce44seeds44and44then44die.44Both44annuals44
and44biennials44reproduce44only44by44seed.44Perennial44plants44live44for44at44least44244y
ears44and44sometimes44longer,44they44may44reproduce44by44seed44or44vegetatively44thr
ough44several44different44mechanisms.
What44is44needed44to44kill44annual,44biennial,44and44perennial44weeds44and44when44is44i
t44easiest44to44do44so?44-44answer--
To44kill44annuals44or44biennials,44you44must44kill44the44whole44shoot.44Controlling44these
,44weeds44with44tillage44or44herbicides44will44kill44them44plus44stop44seed44production,44w
hich44will44reduce44future44weed44problems.44The44most44effective44way44to44kill44peren
nials44is44to44destroy44the44underground44vegetative44structures44by44either44repeatedly4
4tilling44the44soil44or44by44using44a44herbicide44that44translocates44to44destroy44all44of44th
e44plant44parts.
How44should44you44time44herbicide44application44with44respect44to44a44plant's44life44cycl
e44and44which44timing44is44most44effective?44-44answer--
All44weeds44may44start44as44seedlings44and44it44is44most44effective44to44treat44the44plant
s44at44this44stage44because44less44energy44is44required44to44kill44the44plants44at44this44st
age44than44at44any44other.44Biennials44and44Annuals44are44controlled44by44a44fall44or44e
arly44spring44treatment,44and44perennials44are44controlled44best44with44a44fall44treatment
44as44well.
What44are44the44effects44of44soil44texture44and44organic44matter44content44on44applicatio
n44of44soil44herbicides?44-44answer--
Soil44organic44matter44and44clay44particles44can44adsorb44soil-
applied44herbicides,44meaning44more44herbicide44will44be44required44in44these44types44o
f44soils44because44the44herbicide44will44be44bound44to44the44soil44particles44and44will44no
t44be44available44to44be44absorbed44by44the44weeds.
How44do44you44keep44soil44herbicides44from44moving44off44target?44-44answer--
Do44not44apply44herbicides44to44areas44where44they44may44leach44into44groundwater,44o
r44run44off44into44water44sources44or44cropping44areas.44Also44avoid44applying44herbicide
s44to44areas44where44desired44tree44and44shrub44roots44may44extend44and44DO44NOT44
apply44herbicides44to44frozen44soils.
How44and44when44should44you44apply44soil44herbicides?44-44answer--
Soil44treatments44are44commonly44used44when44a44site44requires44residual44non-
selective44control,44such44as44electric44transformer44stations,44rail44ballasts44and44signp
ost44bases.44They44can44be44applied44any44time44that44the44soil44is44not44frozen,44and44s
ome44soil44applied44herbicides44need44to44be44transported44by44rain44to44be44absorbed44
by44the44plant.
When44are44foliar44sprays44appropriate44and44not44appropriate?44-44answer--
Foliar44sprays44are44not44recommended44for44large44brush44because44of44the44potential4
4for44drift.44Foliar44sprays44should44be44operated44from44the44ground44close44to44the44pla
nt44and44can44either44be44applied44through44broadcast44or44spot44application.
What44are44the44factors44in44timing44a44foliar44spray?44-44answer--
Foliar44treatments44can44be44made44from44the44time44the44leaves44are44fully44expanded4
4until44they44begin44to44turn44color44in44the44fall,44but44are44most44effective44when44appli
ed44to44fully44developed44foliage44of44an44actively44growing44plant.44They44should44be44a
pplied44at44a44temperature44between446044and448044degrees44F,44and44should44have44a
dequate44time44to44soak44into44to44plant,44thus44applying44right44before44it44rains44is44ine
ffective.
, How44are44adjuvants44used44most44effectively?44-44answer--
Adjuvants44may44be44necessary44to44use44for44better44absorption44by44foliage44that44is44
extremely44waxy44or44hairy.
What44are44the44similarities44and44differences44between44foliar,44cut-
surface,44and44basal44bark44applications?44-44answer--
Foliar44applications44are44put44directly44onto44the44foliage44of44a44growing44plant.44Basal
44bark44applications44are44used44to44control44shrubs,44canes44and44thickets44or44trees44
up44to44544inches44in44diameter44and44are44applied44to44the44lower441844inches44of44the4
4stems.44Cut-
surface44treatments44are44used44to44control44plants44with44thick44bark44or44when44they44
have44trunks44larger44than44544inches44in44diameter44at44the44base.
Define44and44explain44"pesticide".44-44answer--
A44pesticide44is44any44substance44used44to44directly44control44pest44populations44or44to4
4prevent44or44reduce44pest44damage.44Pesticides44can44range44from44anything44such44a
s44an44insecticide44to44a44herbicide44to44a44fungicide.
What44is44the44difference44between44organic44and44inorganic?44-44answer--
Organic44means44the44compound44contains44the44element44carbon,44it44does44not44mea
n44it44is44natural.44Inorganic44means44that44the44it44is44derived44from44minerals44that44oc
cur44in44nature.
What44is44the44difference44between44the44different44types44of44pesticide44names?44-
44answer--
Chemical44name:44complies44with44accepted44guidelines44established44by44chemists.44
Common44name:44normally44appear44on44the44label44before44or44above44the44chemical4
4name44and44refers44to44an44active44ingredient.
Trade44name:44the44name44given44by44the44manufacturer,44appears44in44large44letters44
at44the44top44of44the44label
Compare44selective44and44non-selective44herbicides:44-44answer--
Selective44herbicides44only44harm44certain44plants44and44leave44others44unharmed.44No
n-selective44herbicides44are44toxic44to44most44or44all44plants.
What44are44the44uses44and44characteristics44of44contact44and44systemic44herbicides?44-
44answer--
Contact44herbicides44do44not44move44within44the44plant,44they44are44sprayed44on44and44
only44kill44the44parts44of44the44plant44they44actually44touch.44Systemic44herbicides44are44
absorbed44through44leaves44or44roots44and44then44mover44or44translocate44within44the44t
reated44plant.
What44are44the44effects44and44uses44of44plant44growth44regulators?44-44answer--
Plant44growth44regulators44do44not44kill44plants,44but44are44used44to44increase,44decreas
e,44or44change44in44some44fashion44the44normal44growth44and44or44reproduction44of44the
