Author Description

Herbaceous weeds are a serious problem in forest nurseries, affecting the growth and survival of seedlings by reducing the efficiency of fertilizers and irrigation, and harbouring tree-damaging insects and pathogens. A promising herbicide which has been registered for use in U.S. forest nurseries since 1979 is oxyfluorfen (Goal). On the basis of its potential and extensive use in nurseries in the U.S., oxyfluorfen was chosen by the Canadian Forest Nursery Weed Management Assoc. as a candidate for registration. A standardized oxyfluorfen trial was designed by the Association to facilitate and coordinate weed control and crop tolerance data from different regions of Canada. The trials were conducted across the country, and provided information on the tolerance of 1 plus 0 and 2 plus 0 bareroot Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine to oxyfluorfen, and the degree of herbicide efficacy in controlling weeds commonly found in B.C. forest nurseries.