WISCONSIN PESTICIDE APPLICATOR TEST
COMMERCIAL CATEGORY 6.0 EXAM 140 QUESTIONS
& CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST 2025
What determines whether a given plant is a weed? - ANSWER-A weed is any
unwanted plant
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.
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: - ANSWER-Selective 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? -
ANSWER-Contact 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? - ANSWER-Plant 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
COMMERCIAL CATEGORY 6.0 EXAM 140 QUESTIONS
& CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST 2025
What determines whether a given plant is a weed? - ANSWER-A weed is any
unwanted plant
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.
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: - ANSWER-Selective 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? -
ANSWER-Contact 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? - ANSWER-Plant 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
