Herbicide responses of matforming weeds of forest remnants in New Zealand

Abstract

Tradescantia fluminensis Plectranthus ciliatus Asparagus scandens Hedera helix Lamium galeobdolon and Selaginella kraussiana are all matforming invasive species that limit regeneration of native plants in forest remnants in New Zealand Experiments using potted specimens of these weeds showed that low rates (338675 g/ha) of the herbicide triclopyr gave >90 defoliation of T fluminensis A scandens and L galeobdolon but a higher rate of 1350 g/ha only gave 85 defoliation of H helix Diquat gave 85 defoliation of P ciliatus Aminopyralid was effective against S kraussiana but was very slow acting These experiments have identified herbicides and application rates for effective forest weed management to facilitate native plant regeneration in New Zealand temperate forests