Herbicide treatments

Research Issue

Forestry herbicides are a versatile, cost-effective tool that can be used in a variety of ways to help manage forest vegetation.  In mature forests, herbicide treatments can be used to control interfering plants that prevent new seedlings from developing on the forest floor.  In young forests, they can be used to reduce competition around selected trees, thus enhancing growth and survival of individual trees that provide wildlife food, wood products, and seed sources for future forests. 

Our Research

Field trials identified the effectiveness of various herbicides when applied to target trees using four manual application methods: 1) stem injection, 2) basal spray, 3) cut-stump, and 4) foliar spray.  Research results provide guidelines for prescribing the proper herbicide , application method, chemical concentration, and treatment timing for various target species.

Expected Outcomes 

Manual herbicide application methods are especially suited for the small forest ownerships in the rugged Appalachians, where the use of mechanized methods is often limited by steep terrain.  These methods enable forest landowners to control interfering plants and enhance desirable vegetation using safe herbicides with minimal training and inexpensive equipment.

Research Results

Kochenderfer, J.D.; Kochenderfer, J.N.; Miller, G.W. 2013. Extending the time interval for applying herbicide in cut-stump treatments on American beech. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry 30(3): 118-124.

Kochenderfer, J.D.; Miller, G.W.; Kochenderfer, J.N. 2012. A comparison of two stem injection treatments applied to American beech in central West Virginia. Res. Pap. NRS-21. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 10 p.

Kochenderfer, Jeffrey D.; Kochenderfer, James N.; Miller, Gary W. 2012. Manual herbicide application methods for managing vegetation in Appalachian hardwood forests. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-96. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 59 p.

Miller, Gary W.; Stringer, Jeffrey W.; Mercker, David C. 2007. Technical guide to crop tree release in hardwood forests. Southern Regional Extension Forestry publication SREF-FM-011:24 p.

Kochenderfer, Jeffrey D.; Kochenderfer, James N.; Miller, Gary W. 2006. Controlling beech root and stump sprouts using the cut-stump treatment. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry 23(3): 155-165. 

Kochenderfer, Jeffrey D.; Kochenderfer, James N.; Warner, David A.; Miller, Gary W. 2004. Preharvest manual herbicide treatments for controlling American beech in central West Virginia.  Northern Journal of Applied Forestry 21(1): 40-49. 

Miller, Gary W.; Kochenderfer, James N.; Gottschalk, Kurt W. 2004. Effect of pre-harvest shade control and fencing on northern red oak seedling development in the central Appalachians.  In: Spetich, Martin A., ed.; Upland Oak Ecology Symposium: History, Current Conditions, and Sustainability. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-73; Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: 311 p.; 182-189.

Kochenderfer, Jeffrey D.; Zedaker, Shepard M.; Johnson, James E.; Smith, David W.; Miller, Gary W. 2001. Herbicide hardwood crop tree release in central West Virginia. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry 18(2): 46-54.

Research Participants

Principal Investigator

• Gary W. Miller, US Forest Service-NRS Research Forester

Research Partners

• Jeffrey D. Kochenderfer, US Forest Service- Monongahela National Forest Silviculturist
• James N. Kochenderfer, US Forest Service- NRS Research Forester (retired)

For further details log on website :
http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/sustaining_forests/conserve_enhance/timber/thinning_treatments/