APPLICATOR EXAM STUDY GUIDE
Rights of Way - APPLICATOR EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
The following questions and corresponding answers are examples. The questions and corresponding
answers may or may not appear on the exam you will be given. The actual test is only 50 questions.
Review these questions in addition to the General Standards Exam study guide.
1. Why are plant growth regulators used in right of ways?
To maintain desired height of turf around guardrails.
2. What type of herbicide is used for total vegetation control (TVC) used around guardrails?
Residual, nonselective herbicides.
3. What is girdling? P 15
Cutting a grove or notch into the trunk of a tree to interrupt the flow of sap between roots
and crown. Can be done by cutting a ring around a woody plant through the bark and
sapwood (cambium).
4. What is grubbing? P 15
Uprooting plants by pulling or digging.
5. Why are growth regulators used instead of herbicide in some areas? P 15
They are used to slow vegetation growth in areas where brownouts from herbicides are
unacceptable. Such as along steep slopes and cemeteries.
6. What growth regulators are used typically and why? P 15
Maleic hyrazide, mefluidide, and flurprimidal. These compounds are used in areas where
brownout from herbicides are unacceptable.
7. How do photosynthetic inhibitor herbicides work? P 17
They translocate in the xylem from the roots to the older leaves.
8. What are meristematic tissues? P 19
The growing points of plants.
9. Why are ACCase inhibitors ( lipid biosynthesis inhibitors used)? P 19
They selectively control grass but broadleaf plants are unaffected by them.
10. How are dinitroanilines used to control annual grasses and small-seeded broadleaf plants? P 19
They are soil applied
11. How do herbicide-resistant weeds develop? P 20
Herbicide controls the majority of plants and only those that possess a resistant trait can
survive and produce seed for future generations (natural selection).
12. What are the two mechanisms that allow plants to become herbicide resistant? P 20
The target site is somewhat altered and the herbicide molecule cannot exert toxin.
The weed is able to metabolize the herbicide or make it inactive.
13. What is frilling? P 24
, Series of downward angled cuts make completely around the tree, leaving partially
severed bark and wood attached at the bottom. It is typically performed with a hatchet or
axe.
14. What steps can be taken to minimize herbicide resistant weeds? P 21
a. Scout regularly to identify resistant weeds
b. Rotate herbicides with different sites of action
c. Apply herbicides with multiple sites of action
d. Combine mechanical and non-chemical control practices
e. Clean equipment before moving from infested areas with resistant weeds to non
infested areas.
f. All of the above
15. What is herbicidal activity? P 23
When a particular herbicide binds to a target site within the plant and exerts a lethal
effect.
16. What are the different ways that herbicides can be applied to plants? P 23
Onto leaves (foliar treatment) or onto stem or trunk (frill, girdle, basal-bark or cut-
surface treatment.
17. What are the methods of killing standing trees without herbicide? P 24
Frilling and girdling.
18. How is basal bark treatments performed? P 25
Herbicide is sprayed on small trees and shrubs on the lower 12-18 inches of bark.
It is most effective on trees smaller than 4-6 inches in diameter.
19. How are soil treatments (basal soil) herbicides used? P 27
They are applied within the dripline of target species so that herbicide can move by
rainfall into the root zone.
20. Why are soil treatment herbicides not used in many areas? P 27
They are quite persistent and mobile in water, so can they run off and leech into surface
or underground water sources.
21. When is the greatest potential for spray drift? P 28
When wind velocity is greater than 10 miles an hour or when the wind is blowing toward
sensitive plants or critical areas.
22. When should you not apply low volume sprays (those having smaller droplet size)? P 28
During periods of high temperature or low humidity. (since droplets evaporate easier)
23. When are cut stump applications of herbicide used?
They are used to control trees with thick barks or trunks greater than 5 inches in
diameter.
24. How do you avoid the pressure decreasing as the liquid is sprayed from a compressed air
sprayer? P 29
Fill the tank only 2/3 full with spray material and repressurize the tank frequently.
Rights of Way - APPLICATOR EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
The following questions and corresponding answers are examples. The questions and corresponding
answers may or may not appear on the exam you will be given. The actual test is only 50 questions.
Review these questions in addition to the General Standards Exam study guide.
1. Why are plant growth regulators used in right of ways?
To maintain desired height of turf around guardrails.
2. What type of herbicide is used for total vegetation control (TVC) used around guardrails?
Residual, nonselective herbicides.
3. What is girdling? P 15
Cutting a grove or notch into the trunk of a tree to interrupt the flow of sap between roots
and crown. Can be done by cutting a ring around a woody plant through the bark and
sapwood (cambium).
4. What is grubbing? P 15
Uprooting plants by pulling or digging.
5. Why are growth regulators used instead of herbicide in some areas? P 15
They are used to slow vegetation growth in areas where brownouts from herbicides are
unacceptable. Such as along steep slopes and cemeteries.
6. What growth regulators are used typically and why? P 15
Maleic hyrazide, mefluidide, and flurprimidal. These compounds are used in areas where
brownout from herbicides are unacceptable.
7. How do photosynthetic inhibitor herbicides work? P 17
They translocate in the xylem from the roots to the older leaves.
8. What are meristematic tissues? P 19
The growing points of plants.
9. Why are ACCase inhibitors ( lipid biosynthesis inhibitors used)? P 19
They selectively control grass but broadleaf plants are unaffected by them.
10. How are dinitroanilines used to control annual grasses and small-seeded broadleaf plants? P 19
They are soil applied
11. How do herbicide-resistant weeds develop? P 20
Herbicide controls the majority of plants and only those that possess a resistant trait can
survive and produce seed for future generations (natural selection).
12. What are the two mechanisms that allow plants to become herbicide resistant? P 20
The target site is somewhat altered and the herbicide molecule cannot exert toxin.
The weed is able to metabolize the herbicide or make it inactive.
13. What is frilling? P 24
, Series of downward angled cuts make completely around the tree, leaving partially
severed bark and wood attached at the bottom. It is typically performed with a hatchet or
axe.
14. What steps can be taken to minimize herbicide resistant weeds? P 21
a. Scout regularly to identify resistant weeds
b. Rotate herbicides with different sites of action
c. Apply herbicides with multiple sites of action
d. Combine mechanical and non-chemical control practices
e. Clean equipment before moving from infested areas with resistant weeds to non
infested areas.
f. All of the above
15. What is herbicidal activity? P 23
When a particular herbicide binds to a target site within the plant and exerts a lethal
effect.
16. What are the different ways that herbicides can be applied to plants? P 23
Onto leaves (foliar treatment) or onto stem or trunk (frill, girdle, basal-bark or cut-
surface treatment.
17. What are the methods of killing standing trees without herbicide? P 24
Frilling and girdling.
18. How is basal bark treatments performed? P 25
Herbicide is sprayed on small trees and shrubs on the lower 12-18 inches of bark.
It is most effective on trees smaller than 4-6 inches in diameter.
19. How are soil treatments (basal soil) herbicides used? P 27
They are applied within the dripline of target species so that herbicide can move by
rainfall into the root zone.
20. Why are soil treatment herbicides not used in many areas? P 27
They are quite persistent and mobile in water, so can they run off and leech into surface
or underground water sources.
21. When is the greatest potential for spray drift? P 28
When wind velocity is greater than 10 miles an hour or when the wind is blowing toward
sensitive plants or critical areas.
22. When should you not apply low volume sprays (those having smaller droplet size)? P 28
During periods of high temperature or low humidity. (since droplets evaporate easier)
23. When are cut stump applications of herbicide used?
They are used to control trees with thick barks or trunks greater than 5 inches in
diameter.
24. How do you avoid the pressure decreasing as the liquid is sprayed from a compressed air
sprayer? P 29
Fill the tank only 2/3 full with spray material and repressurize the tank frequently.
