Vegetation Changes on an Old Rice Field Following Herbicide Treatment

• Published in: The Southwestern naturalist Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 379 - 389
• Main Authors: Cwik, M. J., Dodd, J. D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Southwestern Association of Naturalists 10-10-1975
• Subjects: Agrology; Density; Forbs; Grasses; Herbicides; Prairies; Rice; Seasons; Seedlings; Vegetation
• ISSN: 0038-4909; 1943-6262
• DOI: 10.2307/3670042

In late spring 1971, 1 lb/acre (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid (2,4-D) and 1 lb/acre 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid (dicamba), salt forms, were applied to separate plots of vegetation in an old rice field in the Coastal Prairie Association of Texas. Forb densities decreased and species composition changed during summer and fall on untreated plots. Treated plots had significantly lower forb densities during summer and fall. No significant difference in forb densities occurred between the two herbicide treatments. Grass seedling densities were over 200% higher on treated plots during summer than on untreated plots. Total herbage yield, at the end of the growing season, was similar on all plots, but grass herbage yields were over 23% greater on the herbicide treated plots than on untreated plots.