CONTROL OF BERTAM (<em>EUGEISSONA</em> <em>TRISTIS</em>), A FOREST WEED, BY CHEMICAL MEANS

Abstract

A trial was carried out to test the efficacy of various chemicals in controlling the bertam palm (Eugeissona tristis), considered a weed in the hill forests of Peninsular Malaysia. Tordon 101, Dowpon MS, 2,4,5-T butyl ester, Velpar-L and sodium arsenite were applied to the growing points of bertam clumps cut to ground level. With the exception of sodium arsenite, they were also applied into the soil at the base of uncut clumps. At two years after treatment, Tordon 101, 2,4,5-T butyl ester and sodium arsenite showed satisfactory control of the cut clumps. However, this method of control is deemed impracticable on a large scale because of the high cost of labour. In the case of uncut clumps, only Velpar-L showed effective control and is considered promising for the control of bertam. However, an unfortunate side-effect of soil injection of Velpar-L was that trees in close proximity to the treated clumps either died or were almost killed. Further investigations are necessary to determine at lower dosages of the chemical to bring about satisfactory control without affecting neighbouring vegetation.