Powerlink IVM trials
Experiments were undertaken in collaboration with Powerlink to determine the potential benefits of the implementation of an Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) program into Powerlink operations.
Following on from the IVMP project, where certain plant growth regulators were found to effectively suppress Bahia grass seed-heads for 11 weeks, a commercial demonstration was conducted within the boundaries of the Mudgeeraba Substation during autumn 2010. In this demonstration, one of the treatments provided a 70% reduction in grass seed-head production during the entire observation period (i.e. 15 weeks). The period of suppression was probably extended by the cooler weather towards the end of the trial and an associated slowing of grass growth and seed-head production at this time.
This demonstration confirmed the results of the IVMP project and showed that some benefit can also be gained during autumn, though the benefit is not as great as during the height of summer. It showed that an IVM program has the potential to reduce the cost of managing grassed areas in Powerlink facilities by reducing the mowing frequency. More importantly, an IVM program has the potential to reduce the number of interventions required in the management of the vegetation at Powerlink sites.
Other areas within Powerlink facilities are required to be kept maintained without any vegetation whatsoever. These "no vegetation zones" surround vital equipment and are usually covered with concrete or coarse gravel. They are currently sprayed with Glyphosate to control weed species in an effort to maintain them free from vegetation.
This practice provides excellent control of the weeds present, but does not provide substantial long-term control. For safety reasons, such facilities have to be shut down every time that these vegetation management activities are undertaken, thereby interfering with their normal function.
Hence, an experiment was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of two pre-emergent herbicides for the longer-term control of weeds growing within areas of Powerlink infrastructure where no vegetation growth is an essential requirement. These herbicides were compared to the current standard practice of spraying with Glyphosate.
This experiment demonstrated quite clearly that the addition of pre-emergent herbicides to a regular Glyphosate application can provide much longer-term control. Seedlings were already quite abundant in the Glyphosate treated areas at 6 weeks after application. However, in the areas treated with Glyphosate and a pre-emergent herbicide, seedling growth was greatly inhibited (i.e. significant numbers of seedlings were not present until 15-25 weeks).
The results indicate that the use of pre-emergent herbicides in combination with Glyphosate will greatly increase the time period between interventions in "no vegetation zones". This may be of great benefit to Powerlink operations, as it will require facilities to be shut down less often for vegetation management activities to be undertaken.
Following on from the IVMP project, where certain plant growth regulators were found to effectively suppress Bahia grass seed-heads for 11 weeks, a commercial demonstration was conducted within the boundaries of the Mudgeeraba Substation during autumn 2010. In this demonstration, one of the treatments provided a 70% reduction in grass seed-head production during the entire observation period (i.e. 15 weeks). The period of suppression was probably extended by the cooler weather towards the end of the trial and an associated slowing of grass growth and seed-head production at this time.
This demonstration confirmed the results of the IVMP project and showed that some benefit can also be gained during autumn, though the benefit is not as great as during the height of summer. It showed that an IVM program has the potential to reduce the cost of managing grassed areas in Powerlink facilities by reducing the mowing frequency. More importantly, an IVM program has the potential to reduce the number of interventions required in the management of the vegetation at Powerlink sites.
Other areas within Powerlink facilities are required to be kept maintained without any vegetation whatsoever. These "no vegetation zones" surround vital equipment and are usually covered with concrete or coarse gravel. They are currently sprayed with Glyphosate to control weed species in an effort to maintain them free from vegetation.
This practice provides excellent control of the weeds present, but does not provide substantial long-term control. For safety reasons, such facilities have to be shut down every time that these vegetation management activities are undertaken, thereby interfering with their normal function.
Hence, an experiment was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of two pre-emergent herbicides for the longer-term control of weeds growing within areas of Powerlink infrastructure where no vegetation growth is an essential requirement. These herbicides were compared to the current standard practice of spraying with Glyphosate.
This experiment demonstrated quite clearly that the addition of pre-emergent herbicides to a regular Glyphosate application can provide much longer-term control. Seedlings were already quite abundant in the Glyphosate treated areas at 6 weeks after application. However, in the areas treated with Glyphosate and a pre-emergent herbicide, seedling growth was greatly inhibited (i.e. significant numbers of seedlings were not present until 15-25 weeks).
The results indicate that the use of pre-emergent herbicides in combination with Glyphosate will greatly increase the time period between interventions in "no vegetation zones". This may be of great benefit to Powerlink operations, as it will require facilities to be shut down less often for vegetation management activities to be undertaken.
posted by Steve Hampton at
9:44 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home