Restricted Use Pesticide
Applicator Certification Training
Aquatics
Jeff Hutchinson and Ken Langeland
UF/IFAS, Agronomy Department
Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
Core Training
DVD
Aquatic Pest Control Certification
Additional Study Material
---included in short course booklet--• Galleon Herbicide Label
• Aquatic Weed Control Math Prep
Test Make-up (50 questions)
Laws
3
Herbicide characteristics
14
(selectivity, MOA, toxicity)
Label interpretation
13
Calibration / math
11
Water chemistry/ecology
6
Environmental (DO)
3
Need to answer 35 / 50 questions correctly to pass aquatics exam
Waterhyacinth Introduced in 1884
St. Johns River Palatka, FL 1909
1948: 63,000 acres of waterhyacinth
in Florida
1944 – 1947: 2,4-D discovered
Hydrilla – first detected in Florida in 1959
• Integrated Pest Management – strategy
that uses various combinations of pest
control methods in a compatible manner to
achieve satisfactory control and ensure
favorable economic and environmental
consequences
• Maintenance Control – control of aquatic
plants in a coordinated manner on a
continuous basis to maintain the plant
population at the lowest feasible level
Non-Herbicide Methods for Control of
Aquatic Plants
• Physical / mechanical removal
• Water level manipulation
• Reducing light levels
- Dyes – block light that plants need for photosynthesis
- Fertilization – stimulates phytoplankton growth
• Biological control
- Insects and herbaceous fish
• Nutrient limitations
Regulation of Herbicides
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- regulates the registration, manufacture, use
transportation and all marketing of pesticides in the
United States
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services (FDACS)
- regulate pesticide use in Florida under the “Florida
Pesticide Law” for pesticides that are registered by the
EPA
Laws Pertaining to Pesticides
• Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, And Rodenticide Act
(FIFRA)
– Requires all pesticides to be applied in accordance with product
labeling and proper disposal of herbicide containers
• Florida Pesticide Law (Chapter 487 FS)
– Pesticides are registered and label laws enforced by Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
– Disposal of hazardous waste
– 2,4-D and endothall not field applied are considered toxic waste
Regulation of Aquatic Plants
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection
(prior to 2008)
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (2008 to present)
- Aquatic plant control permits
- Funding for aquatic plant control and research
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services
- Authority to regulate plants (FL Noxious Weed List)
- Aquatic Plant importation, transportation,
transportation, and cultivation
Aquatic Plant Control Permit Exemptions
1. Waters wholly owned by one person other than the
state, provided there is no connection to Waters of
State Concern
2. Artificially created waters used exclusively for
agricultural purposes, provided there is no
connection to Waters of State Concern
3. Electrical power plant cooling ponds
4. Waters of 10 surface acres or less, provided there
is no connection to Waters of State Concern
5. When aquatic plants are removed as part of a
permitted dredge and fill activity
Definitions
Herbicide absorption: Movement of a herbicide
into a plant.
Herbicide adsorption: Association of a herbicide
onto a surface.
Herbicide translocation: Movement of a herbicide
within a plant.
Herbicide mode of action: How a herbicide kills
plants
More definitions
Contact herbicide
- Kills only those plant parts that it contacts
-- does not move throughout plant
- Plant response is quick
- Not effective on perennial plants
- Usually non selective
Systemic herbicide
- Taken up and translocated within plants
- Plant response is slow
- More effective on perennial plants
- May be selective
Even more definitions
Selective herbicide:
A chemical that is more toxic to some plant
species than others
Selective application:
Applying a herbicide in such a way as to
control only target species
Broad spectrum herbicide:
A chemical that is toxic to a large number
of plant species
Aquatic Herbicides - Active Ingredient
Copper
Diquat
Endothall
2,4-D
Fluridone
Glyphosate
Imazamox
Imazapyr
Penoxsulam
Triclopyr
Contact
Inhibits photosynthesis
Inhibits photosynthesis
Inhibits respiration
Systemic
Disrupts tissue development
(organo auxin-like compound)
Inhibits photosynthesis
Inhibits enzyme activity
Inhibits enzyme activity
Inhibits enzyme activity
Inhibits enzyme activity
Growth regulator (organo auxin)
Broad spectrum
Broad spectrum
Broad spectrum
Selective
Some Selective
Broad spectrum
Broad spectrum
Broad spectrum
Broad spectrum
Selective
Mode of Action – how herbicides kill plants
• Synthetic auxins (organo-auxins) – mimic plant
hormone auxin, result in abnormal tissue
development
Ex. - 2,4-D and triclopyr
• Photosynthesis inhibitors – stop photosynthesis
and result in slow death of plant
Ex. - Diquat and copper
• Enzyme inhibitors (ALS and EPSP) – inhibit action
of specific enzymes in plant that stop production of
amino acids
Ex. - Imazamox, imazapyr, penoxsulam and
glyphosate
• Cell membrane disruptors – cause cell membranes
to leak and cells cannot function properly
Ex. - Endothall
How herbicides breakdown
1) Photolysis – light energy (sun) breaks apart
herbicide molecule
2) Hydrolysis – breakdown of herbicide when it
combines chemically with water
3) Microbial – microbes break down herbicides
to use as food source
 most common way
Fate of Herbicides in the Environment
Breakdown
½-life in water (days)
Copper
Chemically bound
Hardness dependent
Diquat
Adsorption, Photolysis
1-7
2,4-D
Microbial, Photolysis
7-48
Endothall
Microbial
4-7
Fluridone
Photolysis, microbial
20+
Glyphosate
Adsorption, microbial
14
Imazamox
Photolysis, microbial
7-14
Imazapyr
Hydrolysis
2-3
Triclopyr
Photolysis
6-8
Penoxsulam
Photolysis, microbial
25
Note
Water use restrictions are based on
herbicide residues that are 100 to 1000
times higher / lower than the herbicide
concentration tolerated by test animals?
Aquatic Herbicide Toxicity
Application Rate
(ppm)
Bluegill 96-hr LC-50
(ppm)
Copper
0.5-3.0
Soft water: 0.88
Hard water: 7.3
245
Diquat
0.12-1.50
2,4-D
Endothall
0.5-3.0
1.0-3.0
263
Dipotassium salt: 342
Alkylamine salt: 0.96
Fluridone
0.01-0.09
14.3
Glyphosate
Imazamox
Penoxsulam
NA
0.05-0.50
0.01-0.15
120
122
103
Copper
• Is inactivated more quickly in hard water
 So, copper is more toxic to fish in soft
water
Why?
 There are more compounds (such as
carbonates) in the hard water that copper
can combine with
Environmental Concerns
• Lowered dissolved oxygen
– Fish mortality may result
• Nutrients released
– Increased turbidity (green water)
• Crop / landscape damage
– Choice of herbicide
– Posting
DON’T WANT THIS!
•Fish kills occur naturally
•Herbicide-induced fish kills result from applicator error!
Effects of dissolved
oxygen (DO) on
warm-water fish
1-5 ppm
5-12 ppm
Dissolved Oxygen concentration of < 1
ppm is lethal to most fish after prolong
exposure
1) Treat sections over time
2) Treat in the spring when it is cooler
Warm water temperatures + cloudy days =
low dissolved oxygen (why?)
 Lower photosynthesis from plants
Pesticide applicator error is the
most likely cause of fish kills
Read
Pages
53-54
Remember
You will be working in:
1) Environmentally sensitive areas
2) Areas with high use by the public
What are the two nutrients
limiting plant growth in lakes?
• Nitrogen
• Phosphorous
Aquatic Plant ID
 based on drawing and
descriptions for test
(no color pictures)
Phytoplankton
• Single cells or small
colonies
• Suspended in water
• “Green water”
Why would a phytoplankton bloom
occur following a herbicide application?
 The aquatic vegetation dies and nutrients
are released as the vegetation decays
Filamentous Algae
•
•
•
•
Non-branching
Rootless
Multi-cellular
Long threads that form
mats
Hydrilla
•
•
•
•
•
•
Whorled leaves
Strap-shaped leaves
Coarse-toothed leaf margins
Midvein red
Spines on midvein
One of principle weeds
targeted by Florida’s publiclyfunded aquatic plant
programs
Southern Naiad
• Leaves opposite or
crowded, appearing
whorled
• Sheathing leaf bases
• Marginal teeth
Waterhyacinth
•
•
•
•
•
Showy purple or blue flowers
Upper-most petal with yellow marking
Dark-colored roots
Growth results in large mats of daughter plants
One of principle weeds targeted by Florida’s
publicly-funded aquatic plant programs
American Frogbit
• Silvery-white flowers
• Silvery roots
• Branched leaf veins
Southern Bulrush
• Emersed, leafless, spongy, 3-angled stems, 310 ft tall from thick runners
What are the two most
targeted plants for control
on public waters in
Florida with state
funding?
Label Interpretation
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Selective/non-selective; contact/systemic
Formulation / active ingredient
Personnel protective equipment
How and when to apply
How much to apply
Susceptible species
Adjuvants
- For in water application,
would you use a
surfactant?
- For floating/emergent
plants?
(see pg 4 – mixing instructions)
- What is the maximum
application or sum of all
applications that can be
applied per annual
growth cycle?
- What is the suggested
range application rate
for foliar treatments?
(see pg 5 – application methods)
GALLEON LABEL (possible questions):
1) Know properties of herbicide (pg 1 and 6):
- Selective or Non-selective
- Contact or Systemic
- ALS-enzyme or Photosynthesis inhibitor
2) To avoid issues with herbicide resistance, what should be
done (pg 6)?
- Continue to use / tank mix with other herbicides / Call Gary
3) What is penoxsulam (pg 1)?
- Inert or Active ingredient in the product
4) How many lbs per gallon represent the weight of the active
ingredient in the product (pg 1)?
- 1 lb / 2 lbs / 5 lbs
5) What is an ELISA Test (pg 2)?
- Indicates how much active ingredient (ai) is present in
the water over time
6) If asked what plants are susceptible to Galleon (pg 4):
- Ex. - Arrowhead (partial control) / frog’s bit (controlled)
Math / Calibration
KNOW:
• One mile = 5,280 ft
• One acre = 43,560 ft2
• One gallon = 4 quarts, 8
pints, 128 oz
• Acre-feet = Average
Depth x Surface Acres
Key: sketch out diagram of treatment area (width, length, depth)
In many instances, the
water body may not be
completely square,
rectangular or circular
So, you may have to
improvise and use a
combination of formulas
to obtain the correct
surface area and amount
of herbicide to apply
½BxH
3.14 x r2
(r = d / 2)
LxW
Area: Surface enclosed by connected lines
Height
Diameter
Width
Length
Base
Area=length x width
Area=3.14 x (radius)2
(radius=diameter/2)
Area=1/2base x height
Units: square feet (in2, ft2, acres)
One acre = 43,560 ft2
Calculating Area (ft2 or acres)
Area=Length x Width
Area=900 ft x 600 ft
Area=540,000 ft2
600ft
Example: Determine the area in acres of a
rectangular pond that measures 900 ft by
600 ft.
900ft
Convert answer to acres
Acres=540,000 ft2 43,560 ft2
Acres=12.4
Radius=diameter / 2
Radius=180ft / 2
Radius=90ft
Area=3.14 x radius2
Area=3.14 x 902
Area=25,434 ft2
Acres=ft2 / 43,560
Acres=0.58
180ft
Example: Determine the area in acres of a
round pond with a diameter of 180 feet.
Area= ½ base x height
Area=270ft / 2 x 1200ft
Area=162,000ft2
1200ft
Example: Determine the area in square feet
of a triangular-shaped cove that has an
opening (base) of 270 ft and the distance
from the opening to the shoreline (height) is
1200 ft.
270ft
Calculating Amount of Herbicide (lbs)
Example: How many pounds (lbs) of granular
herbicide are needed to treat a rectangular pond that
measures 120 ft by 40 ft if the herbicide label
recommends application of 120 pounds of product per
acre.
Area=120ft x 40ft
Area=4,800ft2
Acres=4,800ft2 ÷ 43,560ft2
Acres=0.11
Pounds of herbicide=0.11 x 120=13.2
40ft
Calculating Amount of Herbicide (gallons)
Example: How many gallons of herbicide are needed
to treat a circular pond that measures 800 ft across
(diameter) if the herbicide label recommends
application of 2 gallons of product per acre.
Acres=502,400ft2
Acres=11.5
Gallons=2 x 11.5
Gallons=23
800ft
Area=3.14 x radius2
Area=3.14 x 4002
Area= 502,400ft2
43,560ft2
Diameter
Radius = (1/2) (Diameter)
Example: Calculate the total gallons of spray mix
needed to treat 1 mile of canal bank when the treatment
swath is 20 ft and the application equipment has been
calibrated to apply 60 gallons of spray mix per treated
acre?
• 1 mile = 5280 ft
20 ft
1 mile = 5280 ft
• Area = length x width
• Area = (5280 x 20) = 105,600 ft2 per side
• Area in acreage = 105,600 ft2 / 43560 ft2 = 2.42 acres
• 60 gal / acre x 2.42 acres = 145 gallons
Calculating acre-feet (volume)
Volume: Capacity measured in three dimensions
Depth
Length
Volume = length x width x depth
Units: in3, ft3, acre-ft, pints, quarts,
gallons
Lakes with variable depths!
Use a grid system
to estimate avg depth
2ft
4ft
6ft
8ft
9ft
10 ft
9ft
12 acres
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Acre-ft=surface acres x average depth
Acre-ft=12 acres x (9ft+10ft+9ft+8ft+6ft+4ft+2ft)/7
Acre-ft=82.3
Determine how many acre-feet are in a
rectangular pond that has an average depth
of 6 ft, is 500 ft wide and 1500 ft long?
• Formula  Acre-ft = surface acres x average depth (ft)
Acres-ft
= length x width
= 500 ft x 1500 ft
= 750,000 ft2
= (6) (750,000) / 43560
= 103 acre-feet
Length x Width x Depth / 43580
1500
6
Surface acres
(1500)(500)(6) / 43560 = 103
Application Based on Herbicide Concentration
in Treated Water
• One acre-ft of water weighs 2,700,000 lbs or 2.7
million lbs
• Therefore, 2.7 lbs per acre-ft is 1ppm
• Lbs ai needed=recommended ppm x acre-ft x 2.7
• Lbs product=lbs ai ÷ % ai in product
• Gallons product needed=lbs ai ÷ lbs ai per gallon
Calculating gallons product from herbicide concentration
Example: Determine how much herbicide product,
which contains 2 lbs active ingredient (ai) per gallon, to
apply to a pond that is 1.6 acres in surface area and
has an average depth of 4 ft to result in a concentration
of 0.37 ppm of the ai.
Acre-ft = average depth x surface acreage
Acre-ft = 1.6 acres x 4 ft
Acre-ft = 6.4
Pounds a.i. needed = recommended x acre-ft x 2.7
Pounds a.i. needed = 0.37 x 6.4 x 2.7 = 6.39
Recall – 2.7 is a constant
Product needed = 6.39
2lb ai/gal = 3.2 gal
Calculating gallons product from herbicide concentration
Example: Determine the number of gallons of herbicide
containing 4 pounds of active ingredient per gallon to treat a 2
acre pond that has an average depth of 10 feet. The product
label specifies 0.5 ppm active ingredient treatment rate
• Determine acre-ft
- 2 acre x 10 feet = 20 acre-ft
• Plug in numbers
- PPM x acre-ft x 2.7 (constant)
- 0.5 x 20 x 2.7 = 27
• Cross multiply and solve for x
4 lbs
27 lbs
x = (1 gal)(27 lbs)
=
1 gal
x gal
(4 lbs)
x = 6.75 gal
Calculating ounces to include in final spray mix
Example: Four gallons of spray mix are to be
prepared for application in a backpack sprayer.
How many ounces of herbicide product should
be included in the final spray mix if the label
recommends using 2 gallons product in 75
gallons of spray mix?
Herbicide volume=(Given herbicide ÷ Given
spray volume ) x spray volume
Herbicide volume=(2 gal ÷ 75 gal) x 4 gal
Herbicide volume=0.1 gal
Ounces=0.1 gal x 128 oz/gal = 13.7
Calculating ounces in final spray mix by percent solution
Example: Four gallons of 1.5% spray mix are to
be prepared for application using a backpack
sprayer. How many ounces of herbicide product
should be included in the final spray mix?
Herbicide volume = Spray volume x (% recommended ÷ 100)
Herbicide volume = 4gal x (1.5% ÷ 100)
Herbicide volume = 0.06gal
Note: you can use 0.015
Herbicide volume = 0.06gal x 128 oz per gal
Herbicide volume = 7.68oz
Calculating spray volume rate based on speed
15 ft
Example: Determine the spray volume rate (in gallons per
acre) delivered by a pump that discharges 4.5 gallons of spray
per minute as it treats a swath 15 feet wide while being
operated off a truck traveling at a speed of 135 feet per minute
• Determine acres:
- 135 ft/min x 15 ft = 2025 ft2
- 2025 ft2 / 43560 ft2 = 0.047 acres
• Determine gallons per acre:
4.5 gal
x gal
=
0.047 acres 1 acre
x = 96.8 gallons
135 ft / min
Calculating herbicide amount to add to a tank mix
Example: How much herbicide should be
added to each full 100-gallon spray tank for
a system that delivers 5 GPM, covers a 16-ft
swath, and travels 218 ft per minute if the
recommended herbicide rate is 2 gallons
product per acre?
GPM given:
• Determine acres per minute
• Determine GPA
• Determine acres per tank
• Determine product per tank
Cont. How much herbicide should be added to each
full 100-gallon spray tank for a system that delivers 5
GPM, covers a 16-ft swath, and travels 218 ft per
minute if the recommended herbicide rate is 2 gallons
product per acre?
16 ft
1) Determine acres per minute:
Acres per minute=swath (ft) x speed (ft per min)/43,560
Acres per minute=16 ft x 218 ft per minute ÷ 43,560
Acres per minute=0.08
2) Determine GPA:
GPA=GPM ÷ Acres per minute
GPA=5GPM ÷ 0.08 Acres per minute
GPA=63
218 ft / min
Cont. How much herbicide should be added to each full
100-gallon spray tank for a system that delivers 5 GPM,
covers a 16-ft swath, and travels 218 ft per minute if the
recommended herbicide rate is 2 gallons product per
acre?
3) Determine acres per tank:
Acres per tank=Tank volume ÷ GPA
Acres per tank=100 gallons ÷ 63 GPA
Acres per tank=1.6
4) Determine product per tank:
Product per tank=Acres per tank x Product per acre
Product per tank=1.6 Acres per tank x 2 gal per acre
Product per tank=3.2 gallons
Calculating pounds of pellets
a spreader can broadcast per
minute
Example: How many pounds of herbicide pellets
should be delivered per minute from a spreader if
swath is 40 feet, acres per minute is determined to be
0.32 and the label recommends 40 pounds per acre?
1. Acres per minute is given
2. Determine pounds per minute required
Lbs per minute=lbs per acre recommended x acres per minute
Lbs per minute=40 pounds x 0.32 acres per minute
Lbs per minute=12.8
Example: A boat mounted centrifugal spreader
needs to apply a 15% pelletized herbicide at a rate of
100 pounds of pellets per acre. Testing the boat
treats 0.3 acres per minute. How many pounds of
pellets does the spreader broadcast per minute?
• 100 lbs / acre (x) 0.3 acres / min
= 100 lbs 0.3 acres
x
acre
min
= 30 pounds per minute
Determine how many gallons of surfactant
are needed for a spray mix
Example: How many gallons of surfactant are
needed in a 200 gallon spray mix in order to
have a 1.5% concentration of surfactant in a tank
full of spray mix?
Note: 1.5% is the same as 0.015 in decimal format when
making calculations (3.0% = 0.03, 5.0% = 0.05)
Solution:
200 x 0.015 = 3 gallons of surfactant
Determine the pump output rate
Example: What is the output rate (in gallons per
minute) of a pump that delivers exactly 20
gallons of spray during a 2 minute, 30 second
trial period?
Solution:
20 gallons
= 8 gallons / minute
2.5 minutes
Aquatic, Natural Areas, and Core Exams
Any Questions!
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