Effects of different plant controlling herbicides on hay yield and botanical composition of maquis-brush vegetation in Cukurova

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of different herbicides on the control of shoot regrowth of shrubs cut at 510 cm above soil surface at the experimental area of Cukurova University in the years of 2001 and 2002. The Experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. In the experiment, three herbicides, such as 2,4D (2 l/ha), Glyphosate (10 l/ha) and Paraquat (10 l/ha) were evaluated for the control of shrubs in the range vegetation. The results of the study showed that herbicides applied effectively prevented shoot regrowth of the root crowns of Calicotome infesta , but they were not effective on control of shoot regrowth of Quercus coccifera . The hay yield and botanical composition of the vegetation were not significantly influenced by herbicide applications in the two years of the study. It was concluded that more research work needed in order to determine the long term effects of herbicides on a maqui-sbrush vegetation.