Late Summer Prescribed Fire and Fall Herbicide Application Show Strong Suppressive Effects on Sericea Lespedeza Frequency and Vigor

Authors

G. A. Gatson, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
W. H. Fick, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
W. W. Hsu, Kansas State UniversityFollow
K C. Olson, Kansas State UniversityFollow

Keywords

herbicide, prescribed burning, sericea lespedeza

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a one-time application of late summer prescribed fire followed by fall herbicide application for substantially reducing sericea lespedeza frequency and vigor.

Study Description: A single 80-acre native tallgrass pasture was divided into 16 units. Each of these units was either burned in early September (burn only), sprayed with Escort XP (DuPont, Wilmington, DE) in late September (spray only), burned in early September and subsequently sprayed in late September (burn + spray), or neither burned nor sprayed (control). Sericea lespedeza frequency and vigor was measured shortly before treatment application and again 1 year following treatment application.

The Bottom Line: Applying late summer prescribed fire alone is an effective and low-cost means of sericea lespedeza control in areas of light infestation, while burning plus spraying holds promise as a useful strategy to achieve more rapid control of heavy infestations.

Recommended Citation

Gatson, G. A.; Fick, W. H.; Hsu, W. W.; and Olson, K C. (2018) "Late Summer Prescribed Fire and Fall Herbicide Application Show Strong Suppressive Effects on Sericea Lespedeza Frequency and Vigor," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 4: Iss. 1. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7530