Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) Control with Aminopyralid in Range, Pasture, and Noncrop Areas

Abstract

Canada thistle is a serious weed of many crop, rangeland, pasture, and natural areas throughout North America. Aminopyralid is a new pyridine carboxylic acid herbicide that has activity on Canada thistle at lower use rates than current standard treatments. The objectives of this study were to compare aminopyralid efficacy, rates, and application timing with several commercial standards for Canada thistle control. Studies were conducted across the Great Plains at ten locations, which encompassed a wide range of environments. Aminopyralid provided Canada thistle control comparable to picloram, picloram + 2,4-D amine, and clopyralid and better control than clopyralid + 2,4-D amine, dicamba, dicamba + 2,4-D amine and dicamba + diflufenzopyr. Canada thistle control was similar when aminopyralid was applied between 0.08 and 0.11 kg ai/ha and application timing (spring bolting vs. fall rosette/regrowth) did not strongly influence control 1 yr after treatment (YAT). Aminopyralid provided effective Canada thistle control at lower use rates than current commercial standards and might be useful in areas where herbicides such as picloram and clopyralid are not recommended for use.