The influence of mowing regime on the soil seed bank of the invasive plant Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.

Ivana Milakovic,Gerhard Karrer

doi:10.3897/neobiota.28.6838

Ivana Milakovic, Gerhard Karrer

Open Access

PDF Available

https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.28.6838

Copy DOI

Export

Save

Cite

Abstract
Highlights/Summary
Full-Text PDF
Similar Papers

Abstract

Listen

Ambrosia artemisiifolia is an invasive annual herb infamous for the high allergenicity of its pollen, which is related to increasing medical costs. Additionally, it can cause serious yield losses as agricultural weed. Common ragweed seeds accumulate in the soil and can remain therein viable for decades, which poses a problem for the sustainable management of these populations. A long term management should thus target a reduction of the soil seed bank. We observed the influence of four different mowing regimes on the ragweed soil seed bank at six roadside populations in eastern Austria. The mowing regimes were based on methods from common roadside management practice and specifically adapted to reduce seed produc tion. After three years of application, the soil seed bank was indeed reduced by 45 to 80 percent through three of the four mowing regimes tested. Therefore, we suggest that the best mowing regime for the most effective reduction of the size of the soil seed bank is the one consisting of one cut just after the beginning of female flowering (around the 3 rd week of August in Eastern Central Europe), followed by a second cut 2–3 weeks later.

Highlights

Invasive alien species (IAS) are evident threats to local and regional biodiversity (McGeoch et al 2010, Vilá et al 2010, SBSTTA 2014)
Common ragweed seeds accumulate in the soil and can remain therein viable for decades, which poses a problem for the sustainable management of these populations
The soil seed bank decreased on all sites on the plots of treatment 3 (Figure 2), at most sites significantly (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

Invasive alien species (IAS) are evident threats to local and regional biodiversity (McGeoch et al 2010, Vilá et al 2010, SBSTTA 2014). Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is an annual IAS, growing on disturbed sites like roadsides, fields, riversides and gardens. It is feared for the allergenic properties of its pollen, as well as a weed in agriculture, in both instances related to high financial costs (Coble et al 1981, Buttenschøn et al 2009, Rosenbaum et al 2011, Smith et al 2013). In Europe, preferred habitats are summer crop fields in summer warm climates, and ruderal places and roadsides

Methods

Results

Conclusion