Plant competition as an ecosystem-based management tool for suppressing Parthenium hysterophorus in rangelands

Abstract

• The exotic invasive plant Parthenium hysterophorus is invading rangelands in Africa while causing negative effects on the biodiversity, environment, economy, and human and animal health because eco-friendly control methods are lacking. • We conducted experiments to investigate the suppressive effects of forage legume plant species; Desmodium intortum (Fabaceae), Lablab purpureus (Fabaceae), and Medicago sativa (Fabaceae) in suppressing the growth of Parthenium hysterophorus . • Parthenium hysterophorus growth was suppressed when grown with fodder plant species at high density. However, the effect was mediated by the presence of Lablab purpureus . • Our work highlights the importance of competitive native plant diversity and density in rangeland management. • Moreover, this control method could be part of an integrated control toolkit being deployed in a community-based approach in other countries.