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Selective Herbicides Reduce Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) Biomass by Enhancing Competition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Shon Schooler ,
Tony Cook ,
Anne Bourne ,
Graham Prichard  and
Mic Julien
Shon Schooler*
Affiliation:
CSIRO Entomology, 120 Meiers Rd., Indooroopilly, Queensland, 4068, Australia
Tony Cook
Affiliation:
New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, 4 Marsden Park Rd, Calala, 2340, New South Wales, Australia
Anne Bourne
Affiliation:
CSIRO Entomology, 120 Meiers Rd., Indooroopilly, Queensland, 4068, Australia
Graham Prichard
Affiliation:
Port Stephens Council, P.O. Box 42 Raymond Terrace, 2324, New South Wales, Australia
Mic Julien
Affiliation:
CSIRO Entomology, 120 Meiers Rd., Indooroopilly, Queensland, 4068, Australia
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: shon.schooler@csiro.au
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Abstract

Physical and chemical methods of managing invasive plants (weeds) create disturbances that paradoxically often promote these species because weeds tend to have traits that confer competitive advantages over desired species in disturbed habitats. A more holistic and sustainable method of managing invasive plants is to design disturbance regimes to favor desired species over weeds. This study investigated how the biomass of a herbicide-tolerant plant, alligator weed, and its competitors respond to different chemical disturbances over a 2-yr period. We compared the response of alligator weed and its monocotyledon competitors to 16 different herbicide treatments in a blocked 4 by 2 by 2 factorial design. Treatments included broad spectrum (nonselective) and dicotyledon specific (selective) herbicides applied at two concentrations (variable depending on herbicide) and two frequency regimes (three or four applications). Belowground biomass of alligator weed in unmanipulated control plots was 10 times greater than aboveground biomass, highlighting the need to reduce belowground material if control is to be achieved. All herbicide treatments reduced belowground alligator weed biomass when compared with controls; however in the short term (8 d after the final treatment), even four applications at the highest listed concentration were not sufficient to eliminate alligator weed from study plots. Over the long term (15 mo after the final treatment), selective herbicide application resulted in a sustained reduction in alligator weed biomass and an increase in monocot biomass.

Keywords

Alligator weed, Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) GrisebHerbicide toleranceinvasive plantroot competitionglyphosatemetsulfurontriclopyradjuvant
Type
Weed Management
Information
Weed Science , Volume 56 , Issue 2 , April 2008 , pp. 259 - 264
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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