EFFECTS OF CONIFER RELEASE WITH VISION® (GLYPHOSATE) ON MOOSE FORAGE QUALITY

Abstract

During January and June, 1994, we collected twigs and leaves from 4 moose browse species growing in treated and control portions of 2 ongoing replicated block experiments in which Vision® had been applied aerially at 1.60 kg a.e./ha (4 years before our sampling), and 1.07 kg a.e./ha in 1986 (8 years before sampling). Altogether, 350 samples of forage were analyzed for crude protein and associated parameters, e.g. cutin and lignin, to calculate digestible protein and digestible dry matter. Means (and ranges) follow: crude protein - twigs 8% (7-9), leaves 15% (12-19); digestible protein - twigs 3% (2-4), leaves 8% (4-13); digestible dry matter - twigs 60% (57-63), leaves 65% (62-70). Forage quality varied significantly among blocks and species, digestible protein varied between study areas in summer, but no significant differences were detected between treated and control plots either 4 or 8 years after treatment. Consistently higher values for digestible protein in summer forage from treated portions of the 8-year-old study may indicate differences that would show significance with more samples. But apart from that, the study suggests that any long-term effects of conifer release with Vision® are more likely to be quantitative and qualitative.