The use of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) in forestry in the South Island, New Zealand.

Authors: J. M. Balneaves
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 1981, Issue N.Z.J.For. 26(2) 1981, pp 232-244, Aug 1981
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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Abstract: The forest growing industry in the South Island used 21.9 tonnes and 28.4 tonnes of 2,4,5-T (active ingredient) during 1978-9 and 1979-80, respectively. This accounted for 12.2 and 14.3% of the total volume of 2,4,5-T sales within the South Island. Assuming 0.02 ppm TCDD contamination, only 0.44 g and 0.57 g was released into the environment through the application of 2,4,5-T in forestry operations.
2,4,5-T is an essential land management tool to aid exotic forest development on land areas occupied by unwanted vegetation such as gorse, broom, Himalaya honeysuckle, wattle species, blackberry, sweet brier, hawthorn and indigenous scrub. All of these weeds must be controlled to ensure the development of a radiata pine crop at minimum cost. The aggressive development of any of these weeds often precludes silvicultural operations except at very high cost and at the same time causes uneven stocking and reduced crop growth and log quality.
Alternatives to deal with these weeds exist to only a very limited degree. In most cases 2,4,5-T must be used on scrub weed sites to ensure a viable exotic forest industry.

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