IMPROVED FORAGE PRODUCTION FOLLOWING WESTERN SNOWBERRY (SYMPHORICARPOS-OCCIDENTALIS HOOK) CONTROL WITH METSULFURON METHYL

Two 6-yr studies were conducted in southeastern Saskatchewan to evalua te 2,4-D, Metsulfuron methyl (Metsulfuron) and a mixture of 2,4-D + Me tsulfuron for the long-term control of western snowberry. Western snow berry is a small shrub that grows in dense stands in rangelands and pa stures and acts as a physical barrier to grazing. At the study site, t he shrub was growing with native grasses and forbs. Metsulfuron applie d at 15 g a.i. ha(-1) effectively controlled western snowberry for 6 y r. Control with Metsulfuron was better than with 2,4-D because Metsulf uron killed the crown of the shrub. Control was not improved when 2,4- D was added to Metsulfuron, and at low levels of Metsulfuron the prese nce of 2,4-D in the mixture rendered Metsulfuron less effective, resul ting in a higher canopy cover. Grass production averaged over years an d experiments was 788 kg ha(-1) for the check and increased to 1328 kg ha(-1) after Metsulfuron was applied at 15 g ha(-1). Forb production was not affected by the treatments.