The Effects of Herbicide on the Endangered Herb Baptisia Arachnifera and Preliminary Nutrient Survey of Leaf Tissue and Soil

<p><em>Baptisia arachnifera</em> (Hairy Rattleweed) is an endangered herbaceous legume that only occurs in Wayne and Brantley Counties of Georgia, United States. Many of the remaining populations exist in areas now managed for timber. This study investigated the effects of Imazapyr, an herbicide commonly used in timber management, on health and vitality of <em>B. arachnifera </em>under both field and greenhouse conditions. This study also analyzed leaf and soil samples from six populations of <em>B. arachnifera</em> to determine the nutrient content of the leaves. A recensus of a <em>B. arachnifera</em> population was also conducted in a site without commercial timber management. In the greenhouse, all <em>B. arachnifera</em> that were treated with herbicide died, regardless of herbicide application level. Control treatments did not die. Field results showed death of plants treated with low and high levels of herbicide dying before the control plants also died due to heat stress. The nutrients Al, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Na and Zn were found in varying concentrations in leaf tissue between <em>B. arachnifera</em> population sites. A significant difference was found in calcium concentration in the soil between sites where <em>B. arachnifera</em> are present and absent. A higher percentage of sub-adult <em>B. arachnifera </em>were found in the 2013 census than the 2010 census of the site without commercial timber management. However, a higher percentage of seedlings, juveniles and reproductive <em>B. arachnifera</em> were found in the 2010 census. The finding of this study do not support the use of herbicide Imazapyr on sites with <em>B. arachnifera</em>. Future directions for research should include a closer look at how other competition controls such as burning and thinning affect each life stage of <em>B. arachnifera</em>, as well as studies on the overall health of each individual population of this endangered species on both managed and unmanaged timber land.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Biology (M.S.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis (open access)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Biology

Year dc:date.available

2014

Author dc:creator

• Steinbrecher, Ruth Ann C

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lissa Leege
• Ray Chandler

• ETD
• Hairy rattleweed
• Imazapyr
• Greenhouse study
• Field study
• Micronutrients
• Georgia
• Endangered species
• Biology
• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Forest Sciences
• Plant Sciences

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/1202

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-2227