Invasive weeds in rangelands: species, impacts and management
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Authors: J. M. DiTomaso
Date: 2000
Journal: Weed Science
Volume: 48
Number: March-April
Pages: 255-265
Summary of Methods: This paper is a synthesis of 103 studies looking at the species and cost of rangeland weeds, and the management options available to rangeland managers.
Article Summary / Main Points:
• Grazing and human disturbances have lead to the invasion and expansion of annual grasses, and annual and perennial broadleaf weeds.
• Some weeds have been brought in from other continents, while populations of some undesirable native species have expanded due to poor management (including fire suppression and over grazing).
• Three hundred rangeland weeds (noxious and non-noxious) cost more than $2 billion in annual losses through decreased forage quality and quantity, disrupted grazing, animal losses, increased cost of production, decreased land values.
• Ecological costs include decreased quality of wildlife habitat, increased fire frequency, decreased water yield, loss of structural diversity, and impact to T&E species.
• Control options available to managers include mechanical control (hand pulling, hoeing, tilling, mowing, grubbing, chaining, bulldozing), cultural control (proper grazing, multi-species grazing, burning, or establishing a competitive plant community), biological control (insects, nematodes, pathogens, mites, vertebrates), and chemical control usually herbicides.
• Weed management strategies need to identify and understand the goal, accurately delineate the treatment area, completely understand the biology and ecology of weeds and the ecosystem of the site, and coordination of management efforts will all interested parties.
• Integration of management control options will provide the best means of long-term success with continued monitoring during and after implementation to evaluate effectiveness and to limit potential re-infestation.Vegetation Types: All Vegetation Types
MLRA Ecoregions: Not Applicable
Agrovoc Control Words: Weeds Integrated Pest Management Weed Control
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Scientific Synthesis
Keywords: grassland, ipm, noxious weed, prevention, brote, cendi, cenma, censo, ephes, targeted grazing
Annotation: This is a comprehensive synthesis of the current research and knowledge of rangeland weeds. The species discussed were noxious and non-noxious weeds showing regardless of the classification infestations have significant economic and ecological impacts. This summary also discusses the many different management options but emphasized the importance of an integrated approach and the need for continued monitoring even after management goals have been achieved.
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