Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) and pasture forage responses to wiping with various herbicides

Weed-wipers may provide effective weed control while minimizing the application of herbicide to nontarget species in rangeland and pasture. To date, few herbicides are recommended for use in weed wiping systems. We assessed Canada thistle and non-Canada thistle herbage responses in two experiments in pastures, the first examining wiped glyphosate, the second comparing glyphosate with three broadleaf herbicides at cost-equivalent concentrations [on a volume to volume (v/v) dilution basis]. In both studies, wiping with a glyphosate solution (33% v/v, equivalent to a one to two dilution ratio of herbicide to water) resulted in lower Canada thistle density and biomass than check plots, with control lasting up to 2 yr. However, significant reductions in grass biomass also occurred and were associated with an increase in the abundance of weedy annual forbs. In contrast, wiping with a concentrated solution of clopyralid (2% v/v), picloram plus 2,4-D (20% v/ v), or 2,4-D plus mecoprop plus dicamba (24% v/v), resulted in similar levels of Canada thistle control but no reduction in grass biomass. Despite direct application of herbicides to tall weeds, clover species in mixed stands were injured. In grass-dominated pastures, wiping with broadleaf herbicides was superior to nonselective glyphosate because the former more effectively balanced Canada thistle control with the retention of grass production.