6.0 Right of Way & Natural Areas Exam with complete solutions

Define the terms "right-of-way" and "natural area". - Answer- -*right-of-way*: an area of land used (or adjacent to) areas of access, transportation or power. Could include land used for electric power lines, pipelines, rialways, public roads, etc. -*natural areas*: land being preserved or restored and managed for its natural or native features Explain what determines whether a given plant is a weed. - Answer- -considered a weed when it interferes with what someone wants to do with the land it's growing on -weeds = unwanted List the 2 main goals of weed management - Answer- -minimize weed competition -limit weed's reproduction so that you can still manage weed population in future years Explain the terms "monocotyledon" and "dicotyledon." - Answer- -*monocotyledon*: one seed leaf (cotyledon); grasses and grass-like plants; fibrous root systems -*dicotyledon*: two seed leaves (cotyledon); broadleaf plants; taproots Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and herbaceous from woody plants. - Answer- -*grasses*: 1 cotyledon (not visible); narrow leaves w/ parallel veins; fibrous root system; reproduce by seed, stolons, or rhizomes; growing point is at or below soil surface -*broadleaf*: 2 cotyledons; true leaves broad with net-like veins; tap root; growing point visible at tip of shoot; most reproduce by seed, but some have vegetative buds in crown or on taproot or use spreading roots; can be herbaceous or woody -*herbaceous*: lack bark and usually aren't as large -*woody*: vines, shrubs, trees; thickened layer of dense tissue (bark) on stem allows them to grow tall Describe the life cycles of annual, biennial, and perennial plants and how they reproduce. - Answer- -*annual*: produce lots of seeds in single growing season; most troublesome in cultivated or disturbed areas; costly to control; seeds can remain dormant for years; summer annuals germinate in spring, flower/produce seed in summer, and die in late summer/fall + seeds overwinter; winter annuals germinate in fall, overwinter as low-growing plants, flower/produce seed in spring, and die -*biennial*: live for 2 growing seasons; reproduce by seed; have rosette stage (1st year, cluster of leaves in crowded circles/spirals on soil surface) and in 2nd year they produce upright stems, flower, produce seed, and die -*perennial*: live at least 2 years; reproduce by seed alone or also spread vegetatively (stolons, rhizomes, spreading roots, tubers, bulbs); if they germinate from seed usually don't flower 1st year; top-growth freezes back in winter; survival depends on underground vegetative structures; flower and seed following first year Outline what is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial weeds and when it is easiest to do so. - Answer- -*annual*: must kill whole shoot; easiest to control when small; tillage or herbicide will kill and stop seed production; mowing not as effective because growing points may still be present but can at least prevent seed set -*biennial*: must kill whole shoot (tillage or herbicide); best controlled w/ herbicides during rosette stage; mowing not as effective because may not remove all of the growing points; hand pulling or mowing reduce seed dispersal -*perennial*: must destroy new growth repeatedly until it exhausts its underground food reserves; most effective way is to destroy underground structures through repeated tilling or a systemic herbicide Know the Law: T/F. State and local laws require landowners to control certain weeds to prevent their spread. - Answer- True Define the word pesticide and explain how the word difers from specific types of pesticides. - Answer- -*Pesticide*: any substance used to directly control pest populations or to prevent or reduce pest damage -'pesticide' is broad and refers to the killing of any pests. insecticide, fungicide, and herbicide are specific. Contrast the difference between organic and inorganic pesticides - Answer- -*organic*: most pesticides are this; most are synthetic; extremely effective; specific; principal focus of health/envtl concerns; commonly associated with problems of pesticide use/misuse -*inorganic*: derived from minerals; silica aerogel, boric acid, borates, diatomaceous earth, copper, sulfur; some have been banned for health/envtl concerns; used mainly for plant diseases and algicides; non-specific and less effective than organics Explain the term "mode of action" and how it relates to pesticide resistance - Answer- -*mode of action*: how the pesticide works to kill, or in some way harm the pest (example: photosynthesis inhibitor) -*relation to pesticide resistance*: using pesticides with the same mode of action over and over again selects for pesticide resistance. Compare selective and nonselective herbicides - Answer- -*selective*: only harm certain plants (but can harm nontarget plants under stressful weather conditions or if misapplied -*nonselective*: toxic to most/all plants Explain the term "persistence," and how it relates to a pesticide's performance and potential to cause environmental harm - Answer- -*persistence*: how long they remain active to control pests; i.e. residual activity -highly persistent - control pests for longer, but higher risk of contamination -low persistence - doesn't affect plant for as long but lower risk of contamination Explain the difference between the different types of pesticide names. - Answer- -*Active Ingredient*: the part of product that has pesticide activity -*Trade Names*: name given to commercial formulation of active ingredient; "brand"; sometimes same as common -*Common Names*: active ingredients also have common name; appear on label on same line with or just before chemical name -*Chemical Names*: active ingredient given chemical name; long, hard to pronounce -common and chemical name always refer to specific active ingredient and don't change with brands. Outline what an herbicide needs to do to kill weeds. - Answer- -must be absorbed into plant, either through leaves, stems, or roots -if needed, must be translocated to sensitive part of plant AND -must block an important process in plant (i.e. PSN) Describe how both contact and systemic herbicides work and how they differ. - Answer- -*Contact*: don't move within plant, only kill parts they touch -*Systemic*: absorbed thru leaves/roots and translocated; flow to growing points of stems/roots, killing perennial weeds; need correct application rate (high enough to translocate but not so high as to kill on contact) Discuss how herbicides get into weeds and how timing of herbicide applications in relation to the weed's life cycle is important. - Answer- -*how*: herbicides get into weeds by absorbing through foliage (must stay on long enough to do so; surfactants can help herbicide to absorb on tough, hairy, or waxy surfaces) -*timing*: easiest to kill herbaceous weeds when seedlings; treatment not effective once they're flowering; biennial plants controlled by fall/spring treatments w/ broadleaf herbicide; perennials are easiest treated in true seedling stage, but if rhizomes exist, treatment most successful in the bud and early flower stage as it provides most drain on rhizome food reserves; can also treat perennials by mowing in summer and treating regrowth in fall especially because this increases their stress (lack of food for spring growth, survive winter, mowing, herbicide); woody species best controlled in late spring/early summer when foliage is full but isn't waxy from late-summer water stress Explain the effects of soil texture and organic matter content on applications of soil herbicides. - Answer- -some prohibit use with light textured soils, low OM, or high pH because of excessive plant damage and persistence -some can't be used if OM is too high because the herbicide will bind to OM instead of being taken up by plant roots -coarse textured soil leaches more - this reduces duration of weed control & if water table is shallow could lead to GW contamination Explain how to keep soil herbicides from moving off target. - Answer- -some herbicides lost by volatility or broken down by sunlight - incorporate into soil to prevent this -use the correct pesticide for the soil type to prevent leaching Define the term "formulation" and describe the function of inert ingredients. - Answer- -formulation is a combo of active and inert ingredients that forms an end-use product -inert ingredients are those added to formulations that have no pesticidal activity -*inert ingredient functions (can be any one of these)*: to dilute; act as a carrier (such as an organic solvent or mineral clay); help it be more effective (stickers and spreaders); or to stabilize, dye, or improve/enhance pesticidal activity; increase storage stability or others. Explain why pesticides are formulated for end use. - Answer- -to make them safer and easier to use -pesticides alone are often too toxic, they don't mix well with water, some are unstable, and some are unsafe or difficult to transport Summarize the advantages and disadvantages of the types of formulation discussed. - Answer- -*Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC)*: Advs: easy to handle, transport, store, pour, and measure; little agitation needed; not abrasive and won't plug screens or nozzles; leaves little visible residue on treated surfaces ... Disadvs: high concentration of active ingredients makes it easy to over/underdose; can damage treated surfaces; easily absorbed by skin; spills hard to clean up; strong odor; corrosive to application equipment; cause pitting/discoloration of painted finishes or treated surfaces; flammable -*Wettable Powders (WP)*: Advs: easy to store, transport, and handle; less likely than EC/petroleum-based formulations to harm treated plants, animals, and surfaces; not phytotoxic; less risk of skin/eye absorption ... Disadvs: must be weighed; hard to mix; inhalation risk; good and constant agitation required in spray tank to maintain suspension; abrasive to pumps/nozzles; difficult to mix in very hard or alkaline water; can clog nozzles/screens; residues visible on treated surfaces -*Flowables (F or AF)*: Advs: easy to handle/apply; low exposure risk; usually not phytotoxic; seldom clog nozzles; splashes less likely than other liquids ... Disadvs: need to shake before measuring and mixing; containers difficult to rinse; moderate agitation required; may be abrasive to application equipment; may leave visible residue on treated surfaces -*Granules (G)*: Advs: used to treat soil; less risk of drift; less likely to leach or rapidly degrade because it releases active ingredient slower... Disadvs: not listed ID the health concerns associated with different formulations. - Answer- -*Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC)*: easily absorbed by skin -*Wettable Powders (WP)*: inhalation risk when measuring -*Flowables (F or AF)*: low exposure risk during application -*Granules (G)*: not listed Describe the function of the adjuvants. - Answer- -*Wetting agents and spreader-stickers*: surfactants (surface active agents) added to reduce the surface tension of water and allow pesticides to spread evenly over surfaces like leaves -*Stickers*: increase chemical sticks to leaves, increasing its persistence particularly under wet conditions *Penetrants*: aid in absorption of pesticide by plant -*Thickening / Drift Reduction Agents*: reduce drift -*Compatibility Agents*: allow effective mixing of 2 or more pesticides List precautions and concerns regarding the selection and use of adjuvants. - Answer- -which adjuvant to use depends on pesticide, desirable plants, pest, and environmental conditions -be careful with their use bc overapplication can lead to harming nontarget plants, compatibility problems, or reduced pest control ID the most prominent federal pesticide law and which agency oversees it. - Answer- Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) - the US EPA oversees it -it regulates the production, transportation, sale, use, and disposal of pesticides Describe what is involved in the registration of pesticides. - Answer- 1) the manufacturer has to send their data and proposed uses for a specific product to the US EPA for inspection 2) EPA looks to see if the uses pose unreasonable risks (i.e. risks that outweigh the benefit) 3) if risks aren't unreasonable, then EPA registers the product and the specified use(s) of the product 4) manufacturers submit label with specific info; EPA tells them if they need more info based on their data, such a toxicity tests Explain why some products are classified restricted-use and who may use such products. - Answer- -products listed as restricted use products (RUP) when the benefit of the pesticide's use outweighs the risk ONLY when trained persons use the pesticide - a trained person would be anyone completing the pesticide applicator test to become a certified applicator -only these people can purchase, mix, load, apply, or direct the use of RUPs Explain the significance when state and federal laws differ and ID which law takes precedence. - Answer- state laws can be more strict than federal laws but not more lenient Describe and contrast the difference between a private applicator, a commercial applicator for-hire, and a commercial applicator not-for-hire. - Answer- -*Private*: use or direct use of pesticides to produce agricultural commodity AND applications occur on land owned or rented by that person or their employer or on someone else's land if for exchange of goods or services between ag producers (e.g. farms) -*Commercial applicator for-hire*: use or direct use of pesticides on a contract basis - getting paid by 3rd party to make pesticide applications on someone else's property (e.g. applications to a transmission company's powerline right-of-way) -*Commercial applicator not-for-hire*: use or direct use only to sites that you or your employer controls and don't contract out pesticide services (e.g. county employee who only applies pesticides on county land) List the certification and licensing requirements for commercial applicators - Answer- -must be @ least 18 years old -must pass exam -must get certification and license to apply Explain who must keep records of pesticide applications and for how long records must be kept. - Answer- -any commercial applicator for-hire, or anyone using a RUP must keep a record of their pesticide applications -records to be kept for 2 years after date of application List the info that must be part of a pesticide application record - Answer- -name of each person who applied pesticide -name/address of customer -specific site treated -specific description of location of pesticide application site (detailed) -full date and approx. starting/ending time of application -product name AND EPA registration number of pesticide(s) used -quantity of pesticide used (either the concentration and total quantity of each pesticide applied OR the amt of each pest applied per unit area and total area treated) -each location where pesticide(s) were mix