Basic research on the management of giant hogweed, knotgrass and narrow-leaved ragwort along the Bavarian road system
Abstract
Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonicum) and narrow-leaved ragwort (Senecio inaequidens) are nowadays three of the economically and ecologically most important invasive alien species in Middle Europe. Conventional methods to eradicate the plants like mowing, mechanical excavation or herbicide application have not proofed to be sufficient to effecitvely contain the further spread of these perennial plant species. Thus, during this three-years-project the effectiveness of two new physical methods of weed management should be tested on four sites in Bavaria (Ampfing, Munich, Gersthofen, Nuremberg). The first system works with hot foam, consisting of sugar tensides and fatty acids (no herbicides!) that forms an isolating layer over the plants, which should secure a longer heat-exposure. Due to this enhanced dwell time, aboveground parts of the plant, paricularly leaves should not only be devitalised but primary should transfer the heat also to belowground parts like rhizoms (japanese knotweed) or storage roots (giant hogweed and narrow-leaved ragwort), which should weeken the plants ability to resprout. In contrast to that, the second system called “rootwave” introduces an electric shock into the plant when touching it. This electric shock goes straight into the xylem of the plants and is therefore transported through the entire plant. Due to the heat, caused by the electric shock plant cells should burst open from leaves and stem down to the roots which should cause a complete mortification of the plant. The aim of the project is therefore to test the optimum application time of these means of weed management in these four different climatic regions in Bavaria. Additionally, it should be revealed how many numbers of annual applications are necessary to achieve not only a significant reduction in population size but also to prohibit the flowering and seed formation, particularly with giant hogweed and narrow-leaved ragwort. A continuous monitoring of the essential development and growth parameters of these plants should provide steady information on the management success.
keywords vegetation ecology invasive alien plant species dispersal dynamics of invasive plants seed biology physical management options
Publikationen
Project staff
Rea Hall
DDipl.Ing. Dr. Rea Hall
rea.hall@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-83135
Project Leader
30.06.2020 - 29.06.2023