scholarly journals An invasive shrub Lantana camara L. alters the flora and soils in tropical dry deciduous forests of Central India

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parvaiz Ahmad Lone ◽  
Javid Ahmad Dar ◽  
Subashree Kothandaraman ◽  
Mohammed Latif Khan
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Central India ◽  
Lantana Camara ◽  
Deciduous Forests ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Invasive Weed ◽  
Noxious Weed

Abstract Background and AimsLantana camara is a highly noxious invasive weed species of global concern. However, its impacts on floristic and soil properties in tropical dry deciduous forests are elusive and fragmented. We aimed to assess the changes in the flora and soil properties following the invasion by Lantana camara in Central Indian forest ecosystems.MethodsThree study sites were selected and each site was further divided into two subsites: Lantana-invaded (LI) and uninvaded (UI). In total, 60 plots of 0.25 ha each (10 plots in each subsite) were laid randomly. Within each plot floristic structure, composition, diversity and soil SOC, STN, M%, pH and bulk density were assessed.ResultsLantana-invaded sites showed a significant decrease in density (D), basal area (BA), species richness (SR) and evenness (E) of seedlings (< 3cm diameter at breast height (DBH)), juveniles (> 3-9.9cm DBH), and herbs. In LI sites, a reduction of 57 and 25% has been observed in lower DBH class of trees (< 3cm and > 3-9.9cm). In all LI sites, a significant increase of soil organic carbon (SOC), soil total nitrogen (STN) and soil moisture (M%) and a significant decrease of pH and bulk density (BD) were recorded.ConclusionsLantana may greatly impact the vegetation and soil properties and, successively, these strong changes increase its invasive potential and ability to replace native species by averting their natural regeneration potential. Therefore, a proper management strategy of this noxious weed is imperative to prevent its further expansion and future problems.

scholarly journals Tests of Hexazinone and Tebuthiuron for Control of Exotic Plants in Kauai, Hawaii

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 576
Author(s):  
Wang ◽  
Awaya ◽  
Zhu ◽  
Motooka ◽  
Nelson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Plants ◽  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Early Period ◽  
Metrosideros Polymorpha ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Invasive Weed ◽  
Native Plant Species

Non-native plant species have become serious pests in Hawaii’s delicate island ecosystems. It is necessary to control invasive plants. The herbicides hexazinone and tebuthiuron were evaluated for defoliation efficacy to control several major invasive plants and for non-target effects on native plants at Site I in a rainforest at 1200 m elevation and Site II in a mesic area at 640 m elevation on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. The invasive weed species in the sites included daisy fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus DC.), faya tree (Myrica faya Ait.), strawberry guava (Psidium cattleyanum Sabine), banana passion fruit (Passiflora mollissima Bailey), vaseygrass (Paspalum urvillei Steud.), and highbush blackberry (Rubus argutus Link. 1822). Native plants included ohia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha Gaudich.), naupaka (Scaevola cerasifolia Labill.), pilo (Hedyotis mannii), hona (Urera glabra (Hook. & Arn.)), aalii (Dodonaea viscosa Jacq.), and amau (Sadleria sp.). The results showed that broadcast applications of hexazinone granules and tebuthiuron pellets were effective on some of those invasive species. Herbicidal tolerance varied among the native species. For example, D. viscosa showed high tolerance to hexazinone. S. cerasifolia was susceptible to hexazinone, but not to tebuthiuron. The inconsistent defoliation of Sadleria sp. occurred among different applications rates of the two herbicides. M. polymorpha, particularly when it was small, could tolerate hexazinone and tebuthiuron. U. glabra was severely injured by the two herbicides. H. mannii was moderately tolerant to hexazinone, but fairly sensitive to tebuthiuron. The invasive loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) was highly tolerant to hexazinone, but was very sensitive to tebuthiuron. M. faya was very sensitive to hexazinone, but very tolerant to tebuthiuron. P. cattleyanum was sensitive to both herbicides. Six and nine months after hexazinone and tebuthiuron treatment, respectively, native plants were transplanted into the Sites to observe injury from residual herbicides. Approximately less than 10% mortality was observed for the out-planted native species three months after planting (MAP), indicating that the native species showed less injury in the early period of transplant. The mortality of the three endangered species Kauai hau kuahiwi (Hibiscadelphis distans), Kauai delissea (Delissea rhytidosperma H.Mann) and kawawaenohu (Alsinidendron lynchnoides), however, increased as the MAP increased. Overall, broadcast treatments of hexazinone and tebuthiuron at rates higher than 1 kg active ingredient per hectare would be problematic. The dissipation half-life values of hexazinone and tebuthiuron in the 1-15 cm layer of soils at the two sites were approximately 7 days and greater than 180 days, respectively.

scholarly journals Underneath it All: Soil Differences May Explain Contrasting Outcomes of Adjacent Prairie Restorations in Madison, Wisconsin

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Krista Marshall ◽  
Nick Balster ◽  
Alex Bajcz
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Spatial Heterogeneity ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Prairie Restoration ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Prairie Restorations

The evaluation of prairie restorations tends to focus on aboveground properties such as changes in plant diversity and the encroachment of non-native species. As a result, knowledge gaps persist concerning belowground controls of restoration success. To address these gaps at a 13-year-old prairie restoration site in Madison, Wisconsin, we spatially compared soil chemical, physical, and hydrological properties in two adjacent parcels that differed markedly in response to a tallgrass prairie restoration. We hypothesized that soil properties and their heterogeneity would differ significantly between the two parcels and that these differences would help explain the divergent response. In support of this hypothesis, soil organic matter, pH, and total nitrogen were significantly lower (p = 0.007, p < 0.001, and p = 0.006, respectively) in the restored parcel compared to the parcel that has yet to respond to any restoration efforts. Moreover, despite no significant difference in soil average bulk density between the two parcels, the restored parcel had significantly lower sand and silt fractions overall (p = 0.039 and p = 0.040, respectively). In contrast, except for total nitrogen, there were no apparent differences in the spatial heterogeneity of the measured soil properties between the restored and unrestored parcels, which did not support the second hypothesis of this study. These results demonstrate the utility of measuring belowground properties when assessing unexpected outcomes of prairie restorations as well as inform future hypothesis-driven experiments to determine which soil properties impede restoration and under what circumstances. KEYWORDS: Prairie Restoration; Bulk Density; Soil Organic Matter; Soil Properties; Soil Texture; Spatial Heterogeneity

scholarly journals Restoration of a degraded oak forest in Mexico City by introducing tree native species

2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Chávez-García ◽  
Ana Mendoza
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Mexico City ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Urban Expansion ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Oak Forest ◽  
Open Area ◽  
Area Index

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Uncontrollable urban expansion and population growth converted Mexico City into one of the largest cities of the world. Ravines remain important oak forest relicts that should be conserved and restored to recover the biodiversity and the ecological services they provide.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Is an open area equally appropriate for ecological restoration as is the forest edge? Does plant performance of introduced species vary between the open area and the forest edge?<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Study species: </strong><em>Prunus serotina</em>,<em> Quercus rugosa</em>, and<em> Crataegus mexicana</em>.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Study site: </strong>Oak forest in<strong> </strong>Barranca de Tarango, Mexico City; July 2010 to July 2012.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> Plants of these species were planted in the forest edge and in an open area adjacent to it, where soil properties and light conditions were measured.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Soil properties and leaf area index were better and significantly larger, respectively, in the forest edge than in the open area. Stem height, basal area and number of sprouts of these plants did not differ between sites or years. Plants of <em>C. mexicana</em> produced the largest number of sprouts, followed by <em>Q. rugosa</em>. Survival of plants was similar in the open area and the forest edge; however, <em>P. serotina</em> had the lowest survival, and <em>C. mexicana</em> the highest.<strong></strong></p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> <em>Q. rugosa</em> and <em>C.</em> <em>mexicana</em> with higher survival are more likely to perform better in both sites than <em>P. serotina,</em>on account of their ability to produce more sprouts. The forest edge is better than the open area for introducing native species in Barranca de Tarango. Low performance of these species was mainly due to the construction of a highway that crosses the study area.<p> </p>

Rubus niveus (Mysore raspberry).

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Pollard
Keyword(s):  
Endemic Species ◽  
Native Vegetation ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Invasive Weed ◽  
Purple Colour ◽  
Galapagos Archipelago ◽  
The World ◽  
Perennial Shrub ◽  
Noxious Weed ◽  
Rare Endemic

Abstract R. niveus is a highly invasive perennial shrub native to India, China and Southeast Asia. It was introduced around the world through the horticultural trade for its production of sweet tasting fruit and as an ornamental due to the striking red-purple colour of its stems. Nevertheless, cultivated crops were abandoned due to the formation of dense, spiny thickets and many R. niveus plants escaped from cultivation aided by the distribution of seed by birds. Outside of cultivation, R. niveus can outcompete native vegetation, decrease biodiversity and threaten rare endemic species. The success of many Rubus species is linked to the rapid growth of the roots and their ability to reproduce vegetatively. R. niveus has been described as the most invasive weed species on the Galápagos archipelago and declared a noxious weed in the state of Hawaii, USA (Starr et al., 2003).

scholarly journals Effect of Herbicides on the Management of the Invasive Weed Solanum rostratum Dunal (Solanaceae)

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 284
Author(s):  
Jackline Abu-Nassar ◽  
Maor Matzrafi
Keyword(s):  
Growth Stage ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Invasive Weed ◽  
Solanum Rostratum ◽  
Stage 4 ◽  
Chemical Solutions ◽  
Late Growth

Solanum rostratum Dunal is an invasive weed species that invaded Israel in the 1950s. The weed appears in several germination flashes, from early spring until late summer. Recently, an increase in its distribution range was observed, alongside the identification of new populations in the northern part of Israel. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of herbicide application for the control of S. rostratum using two field populations originated from the Golan Heights and the Jezreel Valley. While minor differences in herbicide efficacy were recorded between populations, plant growth stage had a significant effect on herbicide response. Carfentrazone-ethyl was found to be highly effective in controlling plants at both early and late growth stages. Metribuzin, oxadiazon, oxyfluorfen and tembutrione showed reduced efficacy when applied at later growth stage (8–9 cm height), as compared to the application at an early growth stage (4–5 cm height). Tank mixes of oxadiazon and oxyfluorfen with different concentrations of surfactant improved later growth stage plant control. Taken together, our study highlights several herbicides that can improve weed control and may be used as chemical solutions alongside diversified crop rotation options. Thus, they may aid in preventing the spread and further buildup of S. rostratum field populations.

Effect of Adult Tree Density and Nearness to the Natural Forest on the Restoration of Degraded Deciduous Forests of Attappady, Western Ghats, Kerala

2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 309-315
Author(s):  
Ajithakumari Anusree ◽  
Puthiya Karunakaran ◽  
Narayanaswamy Parthasarathy
Keyword(s):  
Western Ghats ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Tree Density ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
Deciduous Forests ◽  
Tropical Deciduous Forest ◽  
Restoration Success ◽  
Adult Trees ◽  
Adult Tree

Studied on the effect of adult tree density and the proximity to the natural forest on restoration success in one of the most exploited tropical deciduous forests, Attappady, Western Ghats. Random quadrats were laid and surveyed for trees and saplings in remnant tropical deciduous forest patches (hereafter called as fragmented forest and the sites being restored here after called as restoration patches) to determine floristic composition, species turnover among sites and the influence of adult tree density on sapling density. Forests composed of deciduous and evergreen trees with an average species richness of 28 and alpha diversity of 2.671 in a 0.2 ha plot. Similarity of restoration patches with natural forest increased as distance between them decreased and regeneration of native species were more efficient in sites with more number of adult trees. Local (adult tree density) and landscape level (isolation of patches) factors are both important in determining the restoration success of deciduous forests of Attappady.

scholarly journals Characterizing Soil Physical Properties for Soil Moisture Monitoring with the North Carolina Environment and Climate Observing Network

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 933-943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weinan Pan ◽  
R. P. Boyles ◽  
J. G. White ◽  
J. L. Heitman
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
The North ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Soil Moisture Monitoring

Abstract Soil moisture has important implications for meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and agriculture. This has led to growing interest in development of in situ soil moisture monitoring networks. Measurement interpretation is severely limited without soil property data. In North Carolina, soil moisture has been monitored since 1999 as a routine parameter in the statewide Environment and Climate Observing Network (ECONet), but with little soils information available for ECONet sites. The objective of this paper is to provide soils data for ECONet development. The authors studied soil physical properties at 27 ECONet sites and generated a database with 13 soil physical parameters, including sand, silt, and clay contents; bulk density; total porosity; saturated hydraulic conductivity; air-dried water content; and water retention at six pressures. Soil properties were highly variable among individual ECONet sites [coefficients of variation (CVs) ranging from 12% to 80%]. This wide range of properties suggests very different behavior among sites with respect to soil moisture. A principal component analysis indicated parameter groupings associated primarily with soil texture, bulk density, and air-dried water content accounted for 80% of the total variance in the dataset. These results suggested that a few specific soil properties could be measured to provide an understanding of differences in sites with respect to major soil properties. The authors also illustrate how the measured soil properties have been used to develop new soil moisture products and data screening for the North Carolina ECONet. The methods, analysis, and results presented here have applications to North Carolina and for other regions with heterogeneous soils where soil moisture monitoring is valuable.

Profile Soil Property Estimation Using a VIS-NIR-EC-Force Probe

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 683-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongjin Cho ◽  
Kenneth A. Sudduth ◽  
Scott T. Drummond
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Property ◽  
Soil Strength ◽  
Reflectance Spectra ◽  
Land Resource ◽  
Strength Data ◽  
Soil Sensors ◽  
Combining Data

Abstract. Combining data collected in-field from multiple soil sensors has the potential to improve the efficiency and accuracy of soil property estimates. Optical diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) has been used to estimate many important soil properties, such as soil carbon, water content, and texture. Other common soil sensors include penetrometers that measure soil strength and apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) sensors. Previous field research has related these sensor measurements to soil properties such as bulk density, water content, and texture. A commercial instrument that can simultaneously collect reflectance spectra, ECa, and soil strength data is now available. The objective of this research was to relate laboratory-measured soil properties, including bulk density (BD), total organic carbon (TOC), water content (WC), and texture fractions to sensor data from this instrument. At four field sites in mid-Missouri, profile sensor measurements were obtained to 0.9 m depth, followed by collection of soil cores at each site for laboratory measurements. Using only DRS data, BD, TOC, and WC were not well-estimated (R2 = 0.32, 0.67, and 0.40, respectively). Adding ECa and soil strength data provided only a slight improvement in WC estimation (R2 = 0.47) and little to no improvement in BD and TOC estimation. When data were analyzed separately by major land resource area (MLRA), fusion of data from all sensors improved soil texture fraction estimates. The largest improvement compared to reflectance alone was for MLRA 115B, where estimation errors for the various soil properties were reduced by approximately 14% to 26%. This study showed promise for in-field sensor measurement of some soil properties. Additional field data collection and model development are needed for those soil properties for which a combination of data from multiple sensors is required. Keywords: NIR spectroscopy, Precision agriculture, Reflectance spectra, Soil properties, Soil sensing.

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