Wisconsin Turf & Landscape 3.0 Exam: Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering pesticide basics, turfgrass management, laws, calculations, equipment, IPM concepts, and safety practices for the Wisconsin Turf & Landscape 3.0 certification exam.

Caution (Signal Word)

Indicates a pesticide product is slightly toxic.

Warning (Signal Word)

Indicates a pesticide product is moderately toxic.

Danger (Signal Word)

Indicates a pesticide product is highly toxic or corrosive.

Adjuvant

An additive used to enhance the performance or handling of a pesticide.

Contact Pesticide

Kills pests on contact and is not absorbed into the organism.

Systemic Pesticide

Is absorbed and moves within the treated plant or pest.

Wettable Powder (WP)

A dry formulation that forms a suspension in water for spraying.

Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC)

Liquid formulation that forms an emulsion when mixed with water.

Surfactant

Adjuvant that improves pesticide spreading and sticking on surfaces.

Insect Growth Regulator (IGR)

Pesticide that disrupts immature insect development (larvae or nymphs).

Vector

An organism that transmits a disease-causing pathogen.

LD50

The dose of a substance lethal to 50 % of test animals; measures acute toxicity.

Phytotoxicity

Chemical injury or damage to plants.

Perennial Weed

Weed that lives for several years, reproducing by seed and vegetative structures such as rhizomes.

Plantain (Weed)

A broadleaf (dicot) weed commonly found in turf.

Complete Metamorphosis

Insect life cycle consisting of egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages.

Insect Body Parts

Head, thorax, and abdomen.

Pesticide Label

The most important legal document governing a pesticide’s use.

"The Label Is the Law"

Using a pesticide in any manner inconsistent with its label is illegal.

EPA Registration Number

Unique number identifying a pesticide product approved by the U.S. EPA.

Restricted Entry Interval (REI)

Minimum time that must pass before people can re-enter a treated area without PPE.

Directions for Use (Label Section)

Label section containing safety information and application instructions.

Leaching

Downward movement of pesticides through soil toward groundwater.

Volatilization

Evaporation of a pesticide into the atmosphere.

Runoff

Movement of pesticide across the soil surface to water bodies.

Drift

Off-target movement of pesticide droplets or vapors through air.

Calibration

Adjusting application equipment to deliver the correct product rate.

Output Rate

Amount of spray solution applied per unit area.

Catch Test

Method for measuring sprayer output during calibration.

Square Feet in an Acre

43,560 sq ft.

Boom Sprayer

Sprayer with multiple nozzles mounted on a horizontal bar for broadcast applications.

Backpack Sprayer

Portable sprayer carried on the operator’s back for spot treatments.

Flat-Fan Nozzle

Produces a uniform fan-shaped spray pattern for broadcast coverage.

Cone Nozzle

Produces a hollow or solid cone pattern, often for contact herbicides.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Clothing and gear worn to protect the applicator from pesticide exposure.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Strategy combining multiple tactics to keep pests below damaging levels while reducing pesticide use.

Cultural Control

IPM method that modifies growing conditions (e.g., proper mowing) to reduce pests.

Mechanical Control

Physical removal or exclusion of pests (e.g., hand-pulling weeds).

Biological Control

Use of natural enemies (predators, parasites, pathogens) to manage pests.

Chemical Control

Use of pesticides as part of an IPM program.

Threshold Level

Pest population level at which control action should be taken.

Monitoring

Regular inspection of turf to detect pests early.

Kentucky Bluegrass

Most common cool-season turfgrass in Wisconsin.

Perennial Ryegrass

Wear-resistant grass that spreads by tillers; poor shade tolerance.

Tall Fescue

Cool-season grass noted for excellent drought tolerance.

Fine Fescue

Grass species with good shade tolerance.

Endophyte

Fungus living within grass leaves that can confer insect resistance.

Thatch

Layer of undecomposed stems and roots that can block water and increase disease risk.

Necrotic Ring Spot

Turf disease causing arcs or rings of dead grass.

Biotic Stress

Plant stress caused by living factors such as insects or diseases.

Abiotic Stress

Plant stress caused by non-living factors like drought or compaction.

Soil Compaction

Compressed soil that restricts root growth and can lead to pest problems.

Phosphorus Fertilizer Ban (WI)

Use prohibited except for new turf establishment or documented deficiency.

Buffer Near Water (Fertilizer)

No fertilizer application within 20 ft of water (5 ft with deflector shield).

Fertilizer Posting Sign

Must display the “Keep Off the Grass” symbol and application time/date for at least 12 hours.

Three C’s of Spill Response

Control, Contain, Clean up.

WI DNR Spill Hotline

Agency to contact when reporting large pesticide or fertilizer spills.

Warm-Season Grasses

Turf species that thrive in hot weather and go dormant in cool temperatures.

Cool-Season Grasses

Turf species that grow best in spring and fall and may stress in heat.

Bermudagrass

Common warm-season sports-field grass in southern states.

Invasive Species

Non-native species that displace native plants and disrupt ecosystems.

Creeping Charlie (Ground Ivy)

Example of an invasive broadleaf weed in Wisconsin turf.

Wind Threshold for Spraying

Wind speeds above 10 mph significantly increase drift risk.

Selective Herbicide

Controls specific weeds without injuring the desired turfgrass.

Preemergent Crabgrass Timing (WI)

Applied in late April–early May, often when forsythia blooms.

Weed-and-Feed During Drought

Should be delayed to avoid turf injury.

Frost Seeding

Late-winter seeding method using freeze–thaw cycles to improve seed-soil contact.

Crabgrass

Common summer annual grassy weed.

Dethatching

Mechanical removal of excess thatch layer.

Moss in Lawn (Causes)

Often due to shade, soil compaction, or low pH.

Aeration

Creating holes in soil to relieve compaction and improve infiltration.

Ideal Soil pH for Turf

Approximately 6.0–7.0.

Soil Testing

Analysis performed before fertilizing to determine nutrient needs.

Catch Test Tool

Measuring cup or graduated cylinder used to collect nozzle output.

Overlap Swaths

Technique to avoid streaks when applying fertilizer or pesticide.

Verification of Calibration

Comparing actual output over a known area with the target rate.

Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)

Agency that enforces pesticide laws in Wisconsin.

Worker Protection Standard (WPS)

Federal regulation that protects agricultural workers from pesticide exposure.

Application Records

Documents that include date, time, location, product, rate, and applicator information.

Record Retention (WI)

Pesticide application records must be kept for at least 2 years.

Certified Applicator License

Required for anyone applying restricted-use pesticides or applying pesticides for hire.

Re-Certification Interval (WI)

Every 5 years or upon license expiration.

Restricted-Use Pesticide (RUP)

Product that can be sold or applied only by certified applicators due to higher risk.

Back-Siphoning

Reverse flow that can contaminate the water supply when filling sprayers.

Anti-Siphon Device

Equipment or practice (air gap) used to prevent back-siphoning.

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Document detailing hazards, handling, and emergency measures for a pesticide.

Service Container Label

Label on a secondary container that must list product name, active ingredient, and signal word.

Posting Requirement (Lawns)

Signs must be posted after pesticide or fertilizer applications to turf.

Water Well Setback

Avoid pesticide application within 8 ft of a well unless the label allows otherwise.

Pesticide Storage Requirements

Store in a locked, dry, ventilated, and clearly labeled area.

Dermal Exposure Route

Skin contact, the most common pesticide exposure pathway.

Pesticide Transport Rule

Products must be secured and accompanied by SDS during transport.

Minimum Age for Certified Applicator

16 years old (21 years if supervising non-certified applicators).