Initial deposits and persistence of forest herbicide residues in sugar maple (<i>Acer</i><i>saccharum</i>) foliage

Abstract

Initial deposition and subsequent fate of herbicide residues in sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.) foliage were quantified following applications of three different formulations of glyphosate (VISION®, TOUCHDOWN®, MON14420) and one formulation of triclopyr ester (RELEASE®) in a comparative field study. Maximum initial residues were 529, 773, 777, and 1630 mg of acid equivalent per kilogram dry mass, respectively. Initial foliar residues were dependent upon application rate (r 2 = 0.63 to 0.87) and increased by a similar factor (233 to 313 mg•kg −1 ) for each kilogram per hectare applied, irrespective of formulation type. Foliar residues dissipated following a negative exponential pattern with time, rates of which varied with initial concentration. Mean times to 50% dissipation were 2 days for all glyphosate formulations, 1.5 days for triclopyr ester, and 4 days for triclopyr acid. Mean times to 90% dissipation were &lt;16 days for glyphosate formulations, 9 days for triclopyr ester, and 33 days for triclopyr acid. Multivariate analyses of intercept and rate parameter estimates indicated significant (p = 0.02) differences in dissipation patterns among treatments. Orthogonal contrasts confirmed a priori hypotheses that glyphosate residue dissipation was independent of the salt formulation applied, and that triclopyr ester dissipated faster than either glyphosate (p = 0.004) or triclopyr acid residues (p = 0.07). Results are considered in terms of the exposure and resultant potential toxicity to forest songbirds inhabiting or foraging in treated hardwood canopies.