Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Morris, Minnesota » Soil Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #193190
Title: EFFECT OF METHOD AND TIME OF BUCKTHORN MANAGEMENT ON SEEDLING ESTABLISHMENT AND RESPROUTING ABILITY OF ESTABLISHED BUCKTHORN SAPLINGS

Author
item BISIKWA, J - UNIV. OF MN
item BECKER, R - UNIV. OF MN
item JORDAN, N - UNIV. OF MN
item BIESBOER, D - UNIV. OF MN
item KATOVICH, S - UNIV. OF MN
item Forcella, Frank

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/16/2006
Publication Date: 2/16/2006
Citation: Bisikwa, J., Becker, R.L., Jordan, N.R., Biesboer, D.D., Katovich, S.A., Forcella, F. 2006. Effect of method and time of buckthorn management on seedling establishment and resprouting ability of established buckthorn saplings [abstract]. Weed Science Society of America. p. 52.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: European buckthorn is an exotic invasive woody species displacing native plants and is an agricultural pest that acts an alternative host for soybean aphid and oat rust fungus in Minnesota. Our goal for this study was to develop control strategies to minimize the negative effects of buckthorn on the natural ecosystems and also control buckthorn as an agricultural pest. The objective of this study was to determine the most effective management strategy of minimizing the negative effects of buckthorn on the natural ecosystem. The study was located at Eagle Lake and Battle Creek Regional Parks Minnesota, U.S.A. The results show that there was higher buckthorn seedling density, resprouting ability, and species richness in 2002 than in 2003 regardless of location and method of control due to drought conditions in 2003. The cut-stump plus triclopyr treatment resulted in higher buckthorn seedling densities and higher densities of other species the season following treatment compared to cutting only without herbicide use. Spring management season resulted in the lowest seedling density the season following treatment for both buckthorn and other species. Among spring control treatments, those that included herbicide and burning combination resulted in higher buckthorn seedling densities and higher species richness than treatments without burning. Therefore, among the spring control treatments, the treatment including both herbicide application and burning was the best management strategy for spring buckthorn control since it suppressed buckthorn regrowth and increased plant species richness. However, follow-up prescribed burning conducted in spring 2003 reduced native species richness. Our findings support our prediction that integrating more than one control technique would increase species diversity despite the fact that buckthorn seedling emergence also increased. This indicates that other follow-up treatments such as use of foliar sprays in addition to prescribed burns should be planned for long-term control of buckthorn seedling establishment.