Enhancing Extension Education and Recommendations on Vegetation Management for the Georgia DOT

015942552015Final ReportPDFResearch PaperGDOT Research Project No. RP 12-09MowingAerial applicationMobile applicationsVegetation controlWeedsHerbicidesEducationRoadside flora and faunaRoadside floraPesticidesEducation and TrainingHighwaysMaintenance and PreservationGrassesUnited StatesGeorgiaGeorgia. Dept. of TransportationMcCullough, PatrickShilling, DonnUniversity of GeorgiaGeorgia. Dept. of Transportation. Office of Materials & ResearchUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionThe influence of mowing and herbicide application timing appears to affect bermudagrass release and grassy weed control, but the effects on broadleaf weeds was inconsistent. Timing applications of Milestone, Plateau, Perspective, and Pastora in spring or fall enhanced bermudagrass cover more consistently than summer applications. Spring and fall applications also provided more consistent control of buckhorn plantain than summer applications. MSMA was the most effective herbicide for broomsedge control compared to Pastora, Outrider, and Plateau. Broomsedge cover was reduced the most when MSMA was applied in conjunction with spring or fall mowing. Summer applications of MSMA followed by mowing in fall may be the best control program for broomsedge if treatments cannot be applied in fall or spring. Johnsongrass was effectively controlled with Outrider, Pastora, and Plateau, but these treatments caused substantial injury to tall fescue. MSMA was less effective for Johnsongrass control than the DOT standard, Outrider, but was the least injurious to tall fescue. Our findings also suggest that new herbicide combinations should be considered by the Georgia DOT, such as Milestone + Esplanade. This combination consistently provided greater bermudagrass release than the DOT standard, Milestone alone, and had superior control of broadleaf weeds. Esplanade did not cause significant injury to tall fescue in limited testing, and the herbicide may be applicable in areas of mixed stands when tall fescue is a desirable species. Esplanade has postemergence activity on buckhorn plantain but is not a standalone herbicide. The mixture with Milestone enhances the speed of plantain control in fall and effectively controlled Italian ryegrass by the following spring. Tank-mixtures with other herbicides, such as 2,4-D and dicamba, also had better control of buckhorn plantain than these herbicides applied without Esplanade. The mobile application, \u201cGeorgia Roadside Management\u201d, was released in October 2014. The application contains pictures and information of important weeds and grasses in vegetation management with recommendations for control. The program contains a pesticide database listed by common and trade names of all products used in the DOT spray programs. The application is routinely updated so agronomists can have access to real-time extension recommendations from the University of Georgia. This technology provides quick access to information for DOT75