Fomesafen: A Herbicide for Pine Seedbeds

Abstract

Abstract Tolerance of southern pines to preemergence applications of fomesafen was examined at eight nursery experiments in 1984. When sown on coarse textured soils, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var elliottii), longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.), and shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) were tolerant to 0.5 kg ai/ha applied after sowing. However, a reduction in loblolly pine seedling production was observed with one test on a silt loam soil in Louisiana. The risk of injury from a preemergence application may be related to soil texture. Pine tolerance to a single postemergence treatment was tested at seven nurseries in 1985. No significant injury was observed when 0.5 kg ai/ha was applied 3 to 8 weeks after sowing loblolly pine or shortleaf pine, and no injury was observed on fall-sown eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.). When applied 1 or 2 months after sowing, loblolly pine appears tolerant to fomesafen even on silt loam soils. Injury has been observed from postemergence applications when a surfactant was used in combination with fomesafen. Preemergence applications of fomesafen are now an operational practice at several southern pine nurseries. South. J. Appl. For. 21(3):143-145.