Sericea lespedeza control with postemergence and preemergence herbicide applications in fields managed for northern bobwhite

Abstract

Sericea lespedeza ( Lespedeza cuneata ) is an invasive nonnative legume that commonly occurs on sites managed for northern bobwhite ( Colinus virginianus ). Sericea reduces bobwhite habitat availability by outcompeting native plants that provide food and cover. Sericea can be controlled with postemergence herbicides such as glyphosate as well as a mixture of triclopyr with fluroxypyr, but these herbicides do not provide preemergence control. Imazapic has been effective at controlling a limited number of planted sericea seeds, but the efficacy of imazapic at various application rates to control sericea seedbank response following treatment with a postemergence herbicide has not been evaluated. We designed a field experiment to evaluate sericea control and changes in the plant community as related to bobwhite habitat with 2 postemergence herbicides followed by preemergence treatment of imazapic at 3 sites in Tennessee and Alabama, USA, 2018 – 2022. Specifically, we treated sericea with postemergence broadcast applications of glyphosate or triclopyr with fluroxypyr in 2018 and applied