Air Potato (Dioscorea bulbifera)
Herbicide Efficacy Research Trials
Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Pandion conducted Herbicide Efficacy Research Trials on Air Potato, an invasive exotic plant. The trials are in progress at Chinsegut WMA - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission lands in Brooksville, FL.

Backpack sprayers at low pressure were used to apply 5 different herbicides at two concentrations and included some herbicide combinations. Herbicides used were Roundup Pro Concentrate, Garlon 3A, Escort, Veteran 720, and Plateau. The treatment required 2 crew members.

Pandion staff conducted pre and post treatment assessments (percent cover and percent leaf damage) for each of the 24 plots (30 x 30 feet) and periodic photo monitoring during the one year project.

Site Selection
Although this site required greater travel time than other potential sites, this site was selected for a combination of positive attributes:

1) All of the plots could be done in a homogeneous single area, thus reducing variability between plots, which would be difficult to account for in the study results.

2) All plots had at least 40 percent of cover by D. bulbifera.

3) The area has virtually no groundcover and very little shrub layer besides air potato, thus non-target impact would be minimal – an important feature given the experimental nature of this project.

4) There were no open water bodies or sinkholes or excessively well-drained sandy soils in the area, thus minimizing the risk of ground water contamination.

5) The site was on public land and thus under a stable ownership, and also had very little public access – reducing the risk of accidental exposure immediately during or following the treatment as well as minimizing the likelihood of alterations to the research site due to unauthorized public use.

Key Personnel
Crissy Sutter, MS
Karen Hill

Period of Performance
November 2002 to November 2003

Location
Central Florida