Simazine Weed Control

Reducing weed control costs is a challenge for tree nurserymen. Even today a certain amount of hand weeding is still required. However, hand labor must be kept at a minimum if seedling production costs are to remain the same or be reduced. The solution to the problem seems to be the successful use of chemicals for weed control. The success of chemical weed control depends on finding the correct chemical, the correct rate and method of application, and the correct time of treatment. We considered the use of Simazine because of its success elsewhere. The use of Simazine in transplant beds has proved successful at the Idaho State Tree Nursery, University of Idaho, where the nursery soil is silt loam. The Idaho Nursery is receiving 90-percent weed control with Simazine 80 W at the rate of 2 to 3 pounds per acre without damage to the seedlings. We established six experimental areas in northern Utah in 1962, 1963, and 1964 to determine the rates of Simazine 80 W required to achieve satisfactory weed control. The soil in the experimental areas was loam to clay loam. A spray solution of 4 to 6 gallons of water per thousand square feet was applied with a small hand sprayer.

Download this file:

Download this file

Details

Author(s): William G. Poulsen

Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Issue 73 (1965)