WISCONSIN PESTICIDE APPLICATOR EXAM
COMPLETE ANSWERS PRACTICE TEST
BANK 2026 TESTED QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ What are the two main goals of weed management? Answer: The
primary goal is to minimize weed competition and the other main goal is
to limit the weed's reproduction in order to manage the weed population
in years to come.
⩥ Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and herbaceous from woody
plants Answer: Grasses are considered monocots, meaning they have a
single seed leaf, they also have narrow leaves with parallel veins and a
fibrous root system. Broadleaf plants have two seed leaves and are
therefore called dicots, they have broad leaves with veins that form a net
patterns. Broadleaf plants can be further classified into herbaceous and
woody, where the woody plants have a thick layer of dense tissue called
bark, which herbaceous plants lack.
⩥ Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and
perennial plants Answer: Annual plants live for less than a year, they
produce many seeds in one growing season, and then die. Summer
annuals winter as seeds, and winter annuals winter as a low-growing
plant, both summer and winter annuals are easiest to control when they
are small. Biennial plants live for two growing seasons, they germinate
from seed in the spring or summer and winter as a rosette of leaves.
,They flower in their second year, produce seeds and then die. Both
annuals and biennials reproduce only by seed. Perennial plants live for at
least 2 years and sometimes longer, they may reproduce by seed or
vegetatively through several different mechanisms.
⩥ What is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial weeds and when
is it easiest to do so? Answer: To kill annuals or biennials, you must kill
the whole shoot. Controlling these weeds with tillage or herbicides will
kill them plus stop seed production, which will reduce future weed
problems. The most effective way to kill perennials is to destroy the
underground vegetative structures by either repeatedly tilling the soil or
by using a herbicide that translocates to destroy all of the plant parts.
⩥ How should you time herbicide application with respect to a plant's
life cycle and which timing is most effective? Answer: All weeds may
start as seedlings and it is most effective to treat the plants at this stage
because less energy is required to kill the plants at this stage than at any
other. Biennials and Annuals are controlled by a fall or early spring
treatment, and perennials are controlled best with a fall treatment as
well.
⩥ What are the effects of soil texture and organic matter content on
application of soil herbicides? Answer: Soil organic matter and clay
particles can adsorb soil-applied herbicides, meaning more herbicide
will be required in these types of soils because the herbicide will be
bound to the soil particles and will not be available to be absorbed by the
weeds.
,⩥ How do you keep soil herbicides from moving off target? Answer: Do
not apply herbicides to areas where they may leach into groundwater, or
run off into water sources or cropping areas. Also avoid applying
herbicides to areas where desired tree and shrub roots may extend and
DO NOT apply herbicides to frozen soils.
⩥ How and when should you apply soil herbicides? Answer: Soil
treatments are commonly used when a site requires residual non-
selective control, such as electric transformer stations, rail ballasts and
signpost bases. They can be applied any time that the soil is not frozen,
and some soil applied herbicides need to be transported by rain to be
absorbed by the plant.
⩥ When are foliar sprays appropriate and not appropriate? Answer:
Foliar sprays are not recommended for large brush because of the
potential for drift. Foliar sprays should be operated from the ground
close to the plant and can either be applied through broadcast or spot
application.
⩥ What are the factors in timing a foliar spray? Answer: Foliar
treatments can be made from the time the leaves are fully expanded until
they begin to turn color in the fall, but are most effective when applied
to fully developed foliage of an actively growing plant. They should be
applied at a temperature between 60 and 80 degrees F, and should have
adequate time to soak into to plant, thus applying right before it rains is
ineffective.
, ⩥ How are adjuvants used most effectively? Answer: Adjuvants may be
necessary to use for better absorption by foliage that is extremely waxy
or hairy.
⩥ What are the similarities and differences between foliar, cut-surface,
and basal bark applications? Answer: Foliar applications are put directly
onto the foliage of a growing plant. Basal bark applications are used to
control shrubs, canes and thickets or trees up to 5 inches in diameter and
are applied to the lower 18 inches of the stems. Cut-surface treatments
are used to control plants with thick bark or when they have trunks
larger than 5 inches in diameter at the base.
⩥ Define and explain "pesticide". Answer: A pesticide is any substance
used to directly control pest populations or to prevent or reduce pest
damage. Pesticides can range from anything such as an insecticide to a
herbicide to a fungicide.
⩥ What is the difference between organic and inorganic? Answer:
Organic means the compound contains the element carbon, it does not
mean it is natural. Inorganic means that the it is derived from minerals
that occur in nature.
⩥ What is the difference between the different types of pesticide names?
Answer: Chemical name: complies with accepted guidelines established
by chemists.
COMPLETE ANSWERS PRACTICE TEST
BANK 2026 TESTED QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ What are the two main goals of weed management? Answer: The
primary goal is to minimize weed competition and the other main goal is
to limit the weed's reproduction in order to manage the weed population
in years to come.
⩥ Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and herbaceous from woody
plants Answer: Grasses are considered monocots, meaning they have a
single seed leaf, they also have narrow leaves with parallel veins and a
fibrous root system. Broadleaf plants have two seed leaves and are
therefore called dicots, they have broad leaves with veins that form a net
patterns. Broadleaf plants can be further classified into herbaceous and
woody, where the woody plants have a thick layer of dense tissue called
bark, which herbaceous plants lack.
⩥ Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and
perennial plants Answer: Annual plants live for less than a year, they
produce many seeds in one growing season, and then die. Summer
annuals winter as seeds, and winter annuals winter as a low-growing
plant, both summer and winter annuals are easiest to control when they
are small. Biennial plants live for two growing seasons, they germinate
from seed in the spring or summer and winter as a rosette of leaves.
,They flower in their second year, produce seeds and then die. Both
annuals and biennials reproduce only by seed. Perennial plants live for at
least 2 years and sometimes longer, they may reproduce by seed or
vegetatively through several different mechanisms.
⩥ What is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial weeds and when
is it easiest to do so? Answer: To kill annuals or biennials, you must kill
the whole shoot. Controlling these weeds with tillage or herbicides will
kill them plus stop seed production, which will reduce future weed
problems. The most effective way to kill perennials is to destroy the
underground vegetative structures by either repeatedly tilling the soil or
by using a herbicide that translocates to destroy all of the plant parts.
⩥ How should you time herbicide application with respect to a plant's
life cycle and which timing is most effective? Answer: All weeds may
start as seedlings and it is most effective to treat the plants at this stage
because less energy is required to kill the plants at this stage than at any
other. Biennials and Annuals are controlled by a fall or early spring
treatment, and perennials are controlled best with a fall treatment as
well.
⩥ What are the effects of soil texture and organic matter content on
application of soil herbicides? Answer: Soil organic matter and clay
particles can adsorb soil-applied herbicides, meaning more herbicide
will be required in these types of soils because the herbicide will be
bound to the soil particles and will not be available to be absorbed by the
weeds.
,⩥ How do you keep soil herbicides from moving off target? Answer: Do
not apply herbicides to areas where they may leach into groundwater, or
run off into water sources or cropping areas. Also avoid applying
herbicides to areas where desired tree and shrub roots may extend and
DO NOT apply herbicides to frozen soils.
⩥ How and when should you apply soil herbicides? Answer: Soil
treatments are commonly used when a site requires residual non-
selective control, such as electric transformer stations, rail ballasts and
signpost bases. They can be applied any time that the soil is not frozen,
and some soil applied herbicides need to be transported by rain to be
absorbed by the plant.
⩥ When are foliar sprays appropriate and not appropriate? Answer:
Foliar sprays are not recommended for large brush because of the
potential for drift. Foliar sprays should be operated from the ground
close to the plant and can either be applied through broadcast or spot
application.
⩥ What are the factors in timing a foliar spray? Answer: Foliar
treatments can be made from the time the leaves are fully expanded until
they begin to turn color in the fall, but are most effective when applied
to fully developed foliage of an actively growing plant. They should be
applied at a temperature between 60 and 80 degrees F, and should have
adequate time to soak into to plant, thus applying right before it rains is
ineffective.
, ⩥ How are adjuvants used most effectively? Answer: Adjuvants may be
necessary to use for better absorption by foliage that is extremely waxy
or hairy.
⩥ What are the similarities and differences between foliar, cut-surface,
and basal bark applications? Answer: Foliar applications are put directly
onto the foliage of a growing plant. Basal bark applications are used to
control shrubs, canes and thickets or trees up to 5 inches in diameter and
are applied to the lower 18 inches of the stems. Cut-surface treatments
are used to control plants with thick bark or when they have trunks
larger than 5 inches in diameter at the base.
⩥ Define and explain "pesticide". Answer: A pesticide is any substance
used to directly control pest populations or to prevent or reduce pest
damage. Pesticides can range from anything such as an insecticide to a
herbicide to a fungicide.
⩥ What is the difference between organic and inorganic? Answer:
Organic means the compound contains the element carbon, it does not
mean it is natural. Inorganic means that the it is derived from minerals
that occur in nature.
⩥ What is the difference between the different types of pesticide names?
Answer: Chemical name: complies with accepted guidelines established
by chemists.
