Initial deposits and persistence of forest herbicide residues in sugar maple (Acersaccharum) foliage
Initial deposition and subsequent fate of herbicide residues in sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.) foliage were quantified following applications of three different formulations of glyphosate (VISION®, TOUCHDOWN®, MON14420) and one formulation of triclopyr ester (RELEASE®) in a comparative field study. Maximum initial residues were 529, 773, 777, and 1630 mg of acid equivalent per kilogram dry mass, respectively. Initial foliar residues were dependent upon application rate (r2 = 0.63 to 0.87) and increased by a similar factor (233 to 313 mg•kg−1) for each kilogram per hectare applied, irrespective of formulation type. Foliar residues dissipated following a negative exponential pattern with time, rates of which varied with initial concentration. Mean times to 50% dissipation were 2 days for all glyphosate formulations, 1.5 days for triclopyr ester, and 4 days for triclopyr acid. Mean times to 90% dissipation were <16 days for glyphosate formulations, 9 days for triclopyr ester, and 33 days for triclopyr acid. Multivariate analyses of intercept and rate parameter estimates indicated significant (p = 0.02) differences in dissipation patterns among treatments. Orthogonal contrasts confirmed a priori hypotheses that glyphosate residue dissipation was independent of the salt formulation applied, and that triclopyr ester dissipated faster than either glyphosate (p = 0.004) or triclopyr acid residues (p = 0.07). Results are considered in terms of the exposure and resultant potential toxicity to forest songbirds inhabiting or foraging in treated hardwood canopies.