We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Factors Influencing the Control of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Miller) Using Triclopyr on Santa Cruz Island, California, USA.
- Authors
Brenton, Robert K.; Klinger, Robert C.
- Abstract
We evaluated the effectiveness of Triclopyr (Garlon 3A and 4®) for reducing the cover of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Miller), an invasive perennial plant species from the Mediterranean region, in grasslands on Santa Cruz Island, California, USA. We used a split-plot design to test how herbicide efficacy varied among three factors: the combination of herbicide formulation (ester or amine) and its concentration (3.3, 4.5, and 6.0 lb 100 gal[sup -1] water), whether an area was cut or not cut prior to herbicide application, and the season of herbicide application (dry or wet season). Over three years, fennel cover was reduced between 50% to 90% in the treated subplots. The most important factor that reduced fennel cover was spraying during the wet season (late February-early March). Fennel cover was lower in plots where we applied the highest concentration of herbicide, although this effect varied among years. Subplots sprayed during the dry season with the amine formulation had significantly lower fennel cover than those sprayed with the ester formulation, but the difference was small and not meaningful for management purposes. Cutting prior to herbicide application did not lead to a greater reduction in fennel cover, which we attributed to cut stalks intercepting herbicide. If cutting is used for site preparation, spraying should be done when the new growth of fennel is taller than the downed cane. Cover and species richness of native grasses and forbs increased significantly in treatment plots over the three-year period, but alien grasses and forbs still comprised > 90% of the cover in these plots. Triclopyr was effective at reducing fennel, but other restoration techniques (prescribed burning, seeding, plantings) may be necessary to enhance the habitat for native plant species following fennel removal.
- Subjects
CALIFORNIA; UNITED States; FENNEL; GRASSLANDS; HERBICIDES
- Publication
Natural Areas Journal, 2002, Vol 22, Issue 2, p135
- ISSN
0885-8608
- Publication type
Article