Rotowiper (herbicide) experience?

[ScottOkla]

Has anyone here had any experience with any type of rotowiper. This attachment is designed to wipe herbicide on unwanted plants with no damage to plants that are not as tall (keep clover but kill johnsongrass for example). There are units that will go on a 3ph and units that can be pulled behind any small vehicle. They have an enhanced "reverse-rolling" tube that is saturated with herbicide and pulled along at the desired height.

With the price of diesel and the expanding use of clovers as cover crops, I would think a few of you might have looked into these. I think this is in my future.

Scott

[MMagis]

Would buying a different herbicide be more economical? There are herbicides to control grasses in clover.

[ScottOkla]

I need to control a variety of grass and broadleaf plants in an orchard environment (80 acres) with the goal of less mowing and more clover (for nitrogen and beneficial insects).

[Foodplot]

I've used a homemade one (not mine, so no pix, sorry). Basically a 16' long, 4" diameter PVC pipe, capped on both ends. On the bottom, a series of holes are fitted with plastic screw fittings from which descend small loops of 5/8" nylon rope. A small air tank is fitted to the pipe via a hose to keep interior pressure a bit above ambient. Strapped to front loader, the rope loops wick herbicide onto the plants, and the front loader makes for easy adjustment, but a mess on the tractor wheels. I suppose you could adapt to a 3-pt. hitch as well. I used it to apply herbicide to thistle emerging in a new planting of native grasses. It was effective, but messy. You need to mix the herbicide at a higher concentration than for spraying. Hope this helps.

[john_bud]

Originally Posted by ScottOkla

I need to control a variety of grass and broadleaf plants in an orchard environment (80 acres) with the goal of less mowing and more clover (for nitrogen and beneficial insects).

In spring when the grass is at the 2-4" tall stage, spraying sethoxydim is effective at killing the grass, but not the clover. It will still kill taller grass, but with more effort. Time to kill is in the 10-14 day range.

Broadleaves respond to 2,4-DB. NOT the normal 2,4-D. That stuff will kill the clover too, but "DB" won't harm the clovers.


The applicator is generically a wick applicator. Very easy to make with PVC pipe. Apply wth the wick behind and go at it from both directions --- 30-90 minutes AFTER application so you don't get the tires coated and leave a trail of death. Often a kills all like Roundup is used as it only is coated on the tall plants.

jb

[ScottOkla]

This is almost entirely bottomland that I will do a few times per year to keep the white clover competitive with all of the other grasses and weeds that grow very quickly here. It would take almost a monthly mowing from May to Sept to mechanically keep the clover dominant. (I am able to do this now along certain areas.) Plus the entire 80 acres is covered with pecan trees of various sizes. Roundup is the product I would use. For the frequency of use I have in mind, I want something that will be easy to use, not wasteful, realiable, and effective.

I have seen a couple of studies where the Rotowiper was significantly superior to other types of wipers in terms of kill, but I know a homemade one would work too if I only use it on a limited basis. I am trying to get a feel for how effective and easy to use the Rotowiper would be, but I do not personally know anyone who has one.

Thanks for the replies so far. Every bit of info helps.

Scott