Evaluation of herbicide use and effectiveness for site preparation in the Western Gulf Coastal Plai

The extent and effectiveness of recent site preparation herbicide use by forest landowners in the Western Gulf Coastal Plain was assessed using a questionnaire and personal interview.;Government land managers relied mostly on mechanical site preparation or on conservative chemical methods such as injection, hand-held sprayers or spotguns.;Consulting foresters generally preferred post-plant release over conventional site preparation operations. Individual stem injection using a HYPO-HATCHET or a hatchet and a squirt bottle was the primary chemical application method. Springtime applications proved most effective.;Only half of the corporate timberland owners reported extensive chemical usage. Aerial application using helicopters was the dominant method on large tracts. This resulted in higher production rates and lower application costs. Smaller tracts, sensitive areas or sites with sensitive soils were better treated by tree injection or ground applications using the broadcast, spotgun or backpack sprayer methods.