A comparison of two stem injection treatments applied to American beech in central West Virginia

Abstract Chemical crop tree release treatments were applied to young hardwood stands at three sites in central West Virginia to evaluate the effectiveness of glyphosate as Accord (41.5% SL), imazapyr as Arsenal AC (53.1% SL) and Chopper (27.6% EC), and triclopyr as Garlon 3A (44.4% triethylamine salt SL), and Garlon 4 (61.6% butoxyethyl ester EC) using hack-and-squirt injection and low volume stem bark band application methods. American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) was a major competitor to black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) crop trees at each site. The treatments were applied in June and evaluated 12 months after treatment. A numerical rating system ranging from 1 to 7 (0–100% crown affected), which utilized visual symptoms, was used to evaluate the efficacy of each treatment. Trees receiving a rating of 5 (75% crown control) or greater were considered controlled.After 12 months, almost complete control (99+%) was achieved with the Accord, Garlon 3A, and Arsenal AC injection treatments across all study sites. The low volume stem bark band treatments used in this study were not effective. The imazapyr treatments adversely affected several crop trees and are not recommended for hardwood crop tree release. Some crop tree damage was inflicted by the Accord treatments, but when suggested guidelines are followed, Accord is recommended for crop tree release treatments. No crop tree damage was observed in the Garlon 3A treatments. The costs of the injection treatments expressed in dollars/ft2 of basal area controlled were as follows: Accord ($0.91), Garlon 3A ($1.04), and Arsenal AC ($0.84). The Northeast Decision Model Stand Inventory Processor using the NE-TWIGS growth simulator was used to predict the future composition and value of projected stands. The stem injection treatments more than doubled projected growth of black cherry basal area. Real rates of return for investment in weed tree control averaged 8.77% for stem injection treatments. This study indicates that chemical crop tree release treatments using stem injection with label recommended solutions of Accord or Garlon 3A are an effective way to increase the future value of Appalachian hardwood stands. North. J. Appl. For. 18(2):46–54.

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Preharvest Manual Herbicide Treatments for Controlling American Beech in Central West Virginia

Northern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/njaf/21.1.40 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 40-49 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Jeffrey D. Kochenderfer ◽

James N. Kochenderfer ◽

David A. Warner ◽

Gary W. Miller

Keyword(s):

West Virginia ◽

Basal Area ◽

Fagus Grandifolia ◽

Black Cherry ◽

American Beech ◽

Complete Control ◽

Area Reduction ◽

Herbicide Treatments ◽

Application Methods ◽

Four Levels

Abstract Application costs and efficacy were determined for manual preharvest herbicide treatments applied to control American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) that was interfering with the establishment and development of black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) in central West Virginia. The treatments consisted of four levels of basal area reduction using combinations of two application methods: hack-and-squirt injection with Accord (41.5%) and basal spraying with Garlon 4 (61.6% butoxyethyl ester). The treatments were applied in late Aug. 2000 and evaluated 12 months after treatment. A numerical rating system ranging from 1 to 7 (0–100% crown affected), based on a visual estimation of top kill, was used to evaluate the efficacy of each treatment. Trees receiving a rating of 5 (75% crown control) or greater were considered controlled. After 12 months, almost complete control (99%) was achieved with both application methods. Injection of ≥6.0-in. dbh beech stems also controlled 52% and 21.6% of small untreated beech understory stems in the 2-ft tall to 0.9-in. dbh and 1.0- to 5.9-in. dbh classes, respectively. Average application costs (chemical and labor) ranged from $39.28/ac for injection of 159 stems/ac ≥6 in. dbh to $80.32/ac for basal spraying 396 stems/ac in the 1.0- to 5.9-in. dbh class and $230.09/ac for basal spraying 3,743 stems/ac in the 2-ft tall to 0.9-in. dbh class. Basal spraying the numerous small 2-ft tall to 0.9-in. dbh stems dramatically increased treatment costs. Black cherry occupied 30% of total stand basal area and accounted for 91% of total stand value ($6,288.10/ac). Application costs expressed as a percentage of total stand value ranged from <1% for the injection-only treatment up to 6.5% for combination basal spray and injection treatments. The individual stem herbicide application methods described here are applicable to the steep topography and small nonindustrial ownerships found in Appalachia.

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Tree Cavity Resources for Dependent Cavity-Using Wildlife in West Virginia Forests

Northern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/njaf/23.2.114 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 114-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Harry A. Kahler ◽

James T. Anderson

Keyword(s):

West Virginia ◽

Sugar Maple ◽

Forest Cover ◽

Fagus Grandifolia ◽

Subalpine Forest ◽

American Beech ◽

Northern Hardwood ◽

Tree Cavity ◽

Cavity Tree ◽

Forest Cover Types

Abstract We assessed and compared tree cavity resources for dependent wildlife among various forest cover types of West Virginia. The study was conducted in the Greenbrier and Potomac Ranger Districts of the Monongahela National Forest (MNF). From the fall of 1999 through the spring of 2001, 25 50-m radius study plots were established in each of a Society of American Foresters (SAF) central hardwood, northern hardwood, and subalpine forest cover type. Cavity tree abundance significantly differed among the three forest cover types (P < 0.0001), with the highest cavity tree abundance in the central hardwood type (x¯ = 16.4; SE = 5.3), followed by the northern hardwood type (x¯ = 12.7; SE = 6.8), and lastly the subalpine type (x¯ = 7.2; SE = 3.6). Relative cavity likelihood was highest for black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), followed by American beech (Fagus grandifolia), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), and chestnut oak (Quercus prinus). American beech cavity numbers currently may be influenced by increased mortality from recent outbreaks of beech bark disease, initiated by the beech scale insect (Cryptococcus fagisuga). Management of red spruce (Picea rubens) forests should consider numbers of nearby large hardwoods to provide cavity resources for dependent wildlife.

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Efficacy of Stem Injection Treatments on Striped Maple in Central West Virginia

Northern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/njaf/25.2.106 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 106-108

Author(s):

Jeffrey D. Kochenderfer ◽

James N. Kochenderfer

Keyword(s):

West Virginia ◽

Control Individual ◽

Complete Control ◽

Stem Injection ◽

Application Methods

Abstract Hack-and-squirt injection treatments were applied to individual striped maple (Acer pennsylvanicum L.) stems and to the largest stem in sprout clumps in a 25-year-old clearcut in central West Virginia to evaluate seasonal efficacy of imazapyr as Arsenal (28.7%) and glyphosate as Glypro Plus (41.0%) in water carriers. Complete control of injected stems was achieved with all treatments. However, the Arsenal treatments resulted in greater control of basal sprouting, untreated striped maple stems, and sprout clumps. Treatment efficacies were higher in Septemberthan in June. Land managers can use the application methods described here and a 6% solution of Arsenal to effectively control individual striped maple stems and sprout clumps.

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The First Report of Beech Bark Disease in Ohio Comes Nineteen Years After the First Report of the Initiating Scale

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pd-89-0203a ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 89 (2) ◽

pp. 203-203 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

M. MacKenzie ◽

A. J. Iskra

Keyword(s):

North Carolina ◽

North America ◽

West Virginia ◽

Scale Insect ◽

Fagus Grandifolia ◽

Beech Bark Disease ◽

American Beech ◽

First Report ◽

Disease Complex ◽

Western Pennsylvania

Beech bark disease (BBD) is a two-part disease complex. It first requires the feeding of an initiating insect scale and is only fully developed when scale-altered bark becomes infected by one of two Neonectria species. In Ohio, there was a 19-year lag between discovery of the initiating scale insect and the development of BBD. In September 1984, the BBD-initiating scale (Cryptococcus fagisuga Lind) was discovered in the Holden Arboretum, Geauga County, OH (2). Nineteen years later (December 2003), A. Iskra discovered the exotic BBD-causing fungus, Neonectria coccinea (Pers.:Fr.) Rossman & Samuels var faginata Lohman, Watson & Ayers, on American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) in the Holden Arboretum. In 1934, Erlich (1) reported that there was normally a delay of at least 1 year between the appearance of the scale and the first appearance of the Neonectria spp. fungus. In the years immediately after the first report of the scale in Ohio (2), pathologists and arboretum staff made frequent visits to the site in an attempt to find Neonectria spp. fruiting. After a decade of searching, these visits became more infrequent. However, it was on one of these visits that A. Iskra found the fungus. He found it on only four trees, none of which had the extensive bark cankering common in chronic Neonectria spp. infections. In North America, the two species of Neonectria that have been involved in BBD mortality are the native N. galligena (Bres.) Rossman & Samuels, or the exotic N. coccinea var faginata. In the absence of beech scale infestations, reports of the native N. galligena infecting American beech are few. Yet, in West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, Michigan, and possibly North Carolina, the fungus first associated with the killing front has been the native N. galligena and not the exotic variety, N. coccinea var faginata. To our knowledge, this is the first report of BBD in Ohio and it is unique because the associated fungus is the exotic variety. References: (1) J. Erlich. Can. J. Res. 10:593, 1934. (2) M. E. Mielke et al. Plant Dis. 69:905, 1985.

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