Control is defined as a dead plant with no signs of life. The control results observed in this study are consistent with previous mesquite control studies conducted in Ellis County. When reviewing some recent literature published by the Range and Pasture Press it appears that our controls are similar to those found in early Brush Buster demonstrations. The important thing to remember when comparing numbers is that we are unaware of the exact methods that were used in these trials. However, we feel confident that it validates the brush buster system and the work we have conducted in the county.
Labor is often the main determinate into how much a mesquite control project is going to cost.
When comparing the foliar treatment and the cut stump treatment that was evaluated in this study it is easy to say that the foliar method is less labor intensive. We feel that when spraying young mesquite regrowth there is no advantage economically by using the cut stump method when control results are similar to the ones observed in this trial. It is hard to estimate the economic effects of mesquite control. This will largely be determined by the density of mesquite, the producers production goals, and the producers production practices. However, no matter how large or small the operation, mesquite control is of value.