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Agronomy
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Management and Control Methods for Invasive Plants in Agroecosystems
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Management and Control Methods for Invasive Plants in Agroecosystems

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Weed Science and Weed Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2019) | Viewed by 23850

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Jane Mangold

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, P.O. Box 173102, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
Interests: invasive plant management; restoration ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Invasive plants threaten the ecological and economical integrity of all agricultural lands, from cropped systems that provide food and fiber through to wildlands that provide key ecological services like clean water, healthy soils, and wildlife habitat. A variety of traits enable these plants to invade and persist across a range of different systems, including prolific seed production, short juvenile periods, high growth rates, and vegetative reproduction. The management and control of such plants, regardless of the system they are impacting, is challenging and often results in only partial and temporary control. Integrating multiple control methods and management practices over numerous years is recommended. In agronomic systems this can result in shorter-term economic gains, but in non-cropped systems such approaches must be applied across vast, heterogeneous landscapes that can increase the variability of response to management and the expense of management. Therefore, effective management must stress an invasive plant species across a range of life stages and biological features (e.g., growth rate, seed production, root system, etc.) and be implementable across time and space at a reasonable cost. This Special Issue brings together the latest research findings dealing with all aspects of invasive plant management and control.

Prof. Jane Mangold
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biological control
  • ecology
  • herbicide
  • integrated weed management
  • invasive plant
  • nonindigenous invasive species
  • noxious weed
  • prescribed fire
  • restoration
  • revegetation
  • seeding
  • targeted grazing
  • weedy plants

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 1262 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Tamarix (L.) Litter and Mycorrhizal Amendments on Baccharis salicifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. Competitiveness and Mycorrhizal Colonization
by Leeland Murray, Brian J. Schutte, Amy C. Ganguli and Erik A. Lehnhoff
Agronomy 2019, 9(8), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9080453 - 15 Aug 2019
Viewed by 4128
Abstract
Tamarix spp. are ecological threats in the Southwest U.S.A. because they displace native vegetation, increase soil salinity, and negatively affect soil microbial communities. After Tamarix L. removal, legacy effects often necessitate restoration to improve ecosystem services of Tamarix-impacted communities. Commercial mycorrhizae fungal [...] Read more.
Tamarix spp. are ecological threats in the Southwest U.S.A. because they displace native vegetation, increase soil salinity, and negatively affect soil microbial communities. After Tamarix L. removal, legacy effects often necessitate restoration to improve ecosystem services of Tamarix-impacted communities. Commercial mycorrhizae fungal inoculation has been recommended to improve restoration success, although inoculation treatments are rarely tested on lesser-known facultative riparian species. Our study asked two questions: (1) Can a commercial mycorrhizal fungal inoculant increase native Baccharis salicifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. (mule-fat) performance against Tamarix chinensis Lour. (i.e., tamarisk) and is this influenced by tamarisk leaf litter? (2) Is mycorrhizal colonization of mule-fat roots influenced by tamarisk stem density and leaf litter? A greenhouse experiment was performed with mule-fat cuttings in soil collected from a tamarisk monoculture. Treatments were factorial combinations of tamarisk stem densities (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 stems pot−1) with or without mycorrhizal inoculation and tamarisk litter. There were five replications and two greenhouse runs. The total biomass of both species was determined and mule-fat arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization rates were determined via the magnified intersection method. Increasing tamarisk biomass negatively affected mule-fat biomass, but there were interactions with tamarisk biomass, litter and mycorrhizal inoculation, with litter and inoculation increasing mule-fat growth at high tamarisk biomass. Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization was high in all treatments, yet at higher tamarisk stem densities, inoculation and litter improved colonization. Interestingly, litter did not negatively impact mule-fat as predicted. Moreover, litter and mycorrhizal inoculum interacted with tamarisk to improve mule-fat growth at higher tamarisk biomass, suggesting an opportunity to improve restoration success when in competition with tamarisk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management and Control Methods for Invasive Plants in Agroecosystems)
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16 pages, 2807 KiB  
Article
Distributions of Alien Invasive Weeds under Climate Change Scenarios in Mountainous Bhutan
by Ugyen Thiney, Poramate Banterng, Santimaitree Gonkhamdee and Roengsak Katawatin
Agronomy 2019, 9(8), 442; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9080442 - 10 Aug 2019
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6702
Abstract
Climate change is viewed as a cause in accelerating the rate of invasion by alien species in addition to the globalization of anthropogenic activities. Ecological niche modeling has become an instrument in predicting invasion from natural or invaded ranges to uninvaded ranges based [...] Read more.
Climate change is viewed as a cause in accelerating the rate of invasion by alien species in addition to the globalization of anthropogenic activities. Ecological niche modeling has become an instrument in predicting invasion from natural or invaded ranges to uninvaded ranges based on the presence records of organisms and environmental parameters. This study explored the changes in the distributions of globally noxious alien species (Aegratina adenophora, Ageratum conyzoides, Chromolaena odorata, Lantana camara, Mikania micrantha, and Parthenium hysterophorus) in Bhutan, to provide evidence that even a mountain environment is under the threat of invasion given the change in climatic conditions. With fairly high accuracy, the model results suggest that there will be a potential increase in the areas of invasion among most of the species, except Parthenium hysterophorus, which will experience a northerly shift and decline in distribution. The results also indicate changes in patterns of invasion, some becoming more concentrated toward a given direction, while others become more dispersed over time. This study provides a framework that can be used in the strategic control of the species, future detection surveys, and further research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management and Control Methods for Invasive Plants in Agroecosystems)
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13 pages, 1332 KiB  
Article
Potential Use of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) to Suppress Three Invasive Plant Species in Agroecosystems (Ageratum conyzoides L., Bidens pilosa L., and Galinsoga parviflora Cav.)
by Shicai Shen, Gaofeng Xu, Diyu Li, Guimei Jin, Shufang Liu, David Roy Clements, Yanxian Yang, Jia Rao, Aidong Chen, Fudou Zhang, Xiaocheng Zhu and Leslie A. Weston
Agronomy 2019, 9(6), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9060318 - 17 Jun 2019
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4577
Abstract
Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) is a logical candidate crop to suppress invasive plants, but additional information is needed to support its potential application as a suppressive ground cover. The current study utilized a de Wit replacement series incorporating five ratios [...] Read more.
Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) is a logical candidate crop to suppress invasive plants, but additional information is needed to support its potential application as a suppressive ground cover. The current study utilized a de Wit replacement series incorporating five ratios of sweet potato grown in the field in combination with one of three invasive plants (Ageratum conyzoides L., Bidens pilosa L., and Galinsoga parviflora Cav.) in replicated 9 m2 plots. Stem length, total biomass, and leaf area were higher for monoculture-grown sweet potato than these parameters for any of the invasive plants grown in monoculture. In mixed culture, the plant height, branch, leaf, inflorescence, seed, and biomass of all invasive plants were suppressed by sweet potato. The relative yield parameter indicated that intraspecific competition was greater than interspecific competition for sweet potato, while the reverse was true for invasive species. The net photosynthetic rate was higher for sweet potato than for B. pilosa and G. parviflora but not A. conyzoides. Superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities of each of the three invasive plants were reduced in mixture with sweet potato. Our results demonstrated that these three invasive plants were significantly suppressed by sweet potato competition due to the rapid growth and phenotypic plasticity of sweet potato. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management and Control Methods for Invasive Plants in Agroecosystems)
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21 pages, 1076 KiB  
Article
Integrated Management of Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) with Sheep Grazing and Herbicide
by Erik A. Lehnhoff, Lisa J. Rew, Jane M. Mangold, Tim Seipel and Devon Ragen
Agronomy 2019, 9(6), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9060315 - 14 Jun 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4179
Abstract
Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) is one of the most problematic weeds in western United States rangelands and sagebrush steppe. It responds positively to different forms of disturbance, and its management has proven difficult. Herbicide or targeted grazing alone often fail to provide [...] Read more.
Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) is one of the most problematic weeds in western United States rangelands and sagebrush steppe. It responds positively to different forms of disturbance, and its management has proven difficult. Herbicide or targeted grazing alone often fail to provide adequate long-term control. Integrating both may afford better control by providing multiple stressors to the weed. We assessed herbicide application, targeted sheep grazing and integrated herbicide and grazing on B. tectorum and the plant community in rangeland in southwestern Montana from 2015 until 2017. Herbicide treatments included spring-applied (May 2015 and 2016) glyphosate, fall-applied (October 2015) glyphosate, imazapic and rimsulfuron, and spring-applied glyphosate plus fall-applied imazapic. Targeted grazing, consisting of four sheep/0.01 ha for a day in 5 m × 20 m plots (all vegetation removed to the ground surface), occurred twice (May 2015 and 2016). While no treatments reduced B. tectorum biomass or seed production, grazing integrated with fall-applied imazapic or rimsulfuron reduced B. tectorum cover from approximately 26% to 14% in 2016 and from 33% to 16% in 2017, compared to ungrazed control plots, and by an even greater amount compared to these herbicides applied without grazing. By 2017, all treatments except spring-applied glyphosate increased total plant cover (excluding B. tectorum) by 8%–12% compared to the control plots, and forbs were generally responsible for this increase. Bromus tectorum management is difficult and our results point to a potential management paradox: Integrating grazing and fall-applied herbicide decreased B. tectorum cover but did not increase native grass cover, while some herbicides without grazing increased native grass cover, but failed to control B. tectorum. Additional research is necessary to determine grazing strategies that will complement herbicide control of B. tectorum while also stimulating native grass recovery, but this initial study demonstrates the potential of integrated management of B. tectorum compared to grazing or herbicide alone. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management and Control Methods for Invasive Plants in Agroecosystems)
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12 pages, 1189 KiB  
Article
Propane Flaming as a New Approach to Control Mediterranean Invasive Weeds
by Alon Horesh, Yaakov Goldwasser, Karam Igbariya, Zvi Peleg and Ran Nisim Lati
Agronomy 2019, 9(4), 187; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9040187 - 12 Apr 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3763
Abstract
In recent decades, anthropogenic activity and climate changes have reshaped global weed dispersal and establishment in new territories. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of propane flaming approach in the control of perennial invasive and native Mediterranean broadleaf and grass weeds. The [...] Read more.
In recent decades, anthropogenic activity and climate changes have reshaped global weed dispersal and establishment in new territories. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of propane flaming approach in the control of perennial invasive and native Mediterranean broadleaf and grass weeds. The invasive weeds, Cyperus rotundus, Sorghum halepense, and Ecballium elaterium, were treated multiple times with a single propane dose (2.5 kg propane km−1), using the broadcast technique. The local annual weeds, Sinapis arvensis, Lavatera trimestris, and Avena sativa, were treated once at five propane doses (0–2.5 kg propane km−1), using the cross-row technique. Dose-response analysis was performed. Three applications provided effective control (up to >90%) for all tested perennials, and affected seed and flower production in Sorghum halepense and Ecballium elaterium, respectively. However, the timing of the sequential application had a significant impact on the degree of control, in terms of dry weight reduction and seed production. Weed density had an impact on control efficacy but was only a significant determinant for Ecballium elaterium. Cross-row application was effective during early growth stages of broadleaf weeds (ED50 < 1.2 kg propane km−1), but was less effective during later growth stages (ED50 > 2.6 kg propane km−1). For grass weeds, both early and late application were ineffective (ED50 > 4.1 kg propane km−1). More research is needed to optimize this weed control tactic for various cropping systems and weed species. Implementation of this novel approach into integrated weed management programs will increase the control efficacy of invasive weed under the projected climate changes and reduce the evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management and Control Methods for Invasive Plants in Agroecosystems)
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