Experimental Control of Exotic Spiny Rush, Juncus Acutus from Sydney Olympic Park: Ii. Effects of Treatments on other Vegetation

Abstract

This paper deals with saltmarsh vegetation and weeds in plots after two experimental treatments to control the Spiny Rush (Juncus acutus) were applied. One experiment was based on the physical removal of J. acutus and the other on the application of Glyphosate and salt. The physical removal experiment had four treatments and the Glyphosate-based experiment had five treatments, including a control. Each of these nine treatments had three replicate quadrats, each 2m x 2m size; hence there were 27 quadrats in total. Including the pre-experiment data, systematic observations were made on 11 occasions at varying intervals. Observations were made on mortality, coverage, re-growth and seedling growth of J. acutus, weeds and saltmarsh vegetation coverage. The results of the effects of the treatments on J. acutus have been reported previously. The presentpaper reports the effects of the treatments on saltmarsh vegetation and weeds. The results of this section of the experiments have indicated that considerable selfregeneration of saltmarsh vegetation can occur within one year after physically removing J. acutus. However, if significantly faster regeneration was required, saltmarsh transplanting could be undertaken.