Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Test
Commercial Category 6.0 Exam With
Complete Updated Solution 2023-2024
What determines whether a given plant is a weed? - answerA weed is any unwanted plant
What are the two main goals of weed management? - answerThe 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 - answerGrasses 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 - answerAnnual
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? -
answerTo 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? - answerAll 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? -
answerSoil 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? - answerDo 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? - answerSoil 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? - answerFoliar 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? - answerFoliar 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? - answerAdjuvants 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? -
answerFoliar 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". - answerA 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? - answerOrganic 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? - answerChemical name:
complies with accepted guidelines established by chemists.
Common name: normally appear on the label before or above the chemical name and refers to an
active ingredient.
Trade name: the name given by the manufacturer, appears in large letters at the top of the label
Compare selective and non-selective herbicides: - answerSelective herbicides only harm certain
plants and leave others unharmed. Non-selective herbicides are toxic to most or all plants.
What are the uses and characteristics of contact and systemic herbicides? - answerContact
herbicides do not move within the plant, they are sprayed on and only kill the parts of the plant they
actually touch. Systemic herbicides are absorbed through leaves or roots and then mover or
translocate within the treated plant.
What are the effects and uses of plant growth regulators? - answerPlant growth regulators do not
kill plants, but are used to increase, decrease, or change in some fashion the normal growth and or
reproduction of the plant. They may be used to retard plant growth and reduce the need for other
chemical or mechanical management measures.
Describe the function of inert ingredients: - answerThey do not possess pesticidial activity but are
added to improve application effectiveness, safety, handling, storage or other characteristics of the
final product.
Commercial Category 6.0 Exam With
Complete Updated Solution 2023-2024
What determines whether a given plant is a weed? - answerA weed is any unwanted plant
What are the two main goals of weed management? - answerThe 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 - answerGrasses 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 - answerAnnual
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? -
answerTo 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? - answerAll 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? -
answerSoil 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? - answerDo 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? - answerSoil 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? - answerFoliar 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? - answerFoliar 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? - answerAdjuvants 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? -
answerFoliar 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". - answerA 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? - answerOrganic 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? - answerChemical name:
complies with accepted guidelines established by chemists.
Common name: normally appear on the label before or above the chemical name and refers to an
active ingredient.
Trade name: the name given by the manufacturer, appears in large letters at the top of the label
Compare selective and non-selective herbicides: - answerSelective herbicides only harm certain
plants and leave others unharmed. Non-selective herbicides are toxic to most or all plants.
What are the uses and characteristics of contact and systemic herbicides? - answerContact
herbicides do not move within the plant, they are sprayed on and only kill the parts of the plant they
actually touch. Systemic herbicides are absorbed through leaves or roots and then mover or
translocate within the treated plant.
What are the effects and uses of plant growth regulators? - answerPlant growth regulators do not
kill plants, but are used to increase, decrease, or change in some fashion the normal growth and or
reproduction of the plant. They may be used to retard plant growth and reduce the need for other
chemical or mechanical management measures.
Describe the function of inert ingredients: - answerThey do not possess pesticidial activity but are
added to improve application effectiveness, safety, handling, storage or other characteristics of the
final product.
