Chemical Control of the Invasive Tree <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>

Many natural areas are colonised by the invasive species <i>Ailanthus altissima</i> (Mill.) Swingle. Its presence in natural ecosystems damages the ecological richness while competing with native flora. <i>A. altissima</i> is one of the most widespread weed species in natural...

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Main Authors: Jordi Soler, Jordi Izquierdo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Agriculture
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/11/1992
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author Jordi Soler
Jordi Izquierdo
author_facet Jordi Soler
Jordi Izquierdo
author_sort Jordi Soler
collection DOAJ
description Many natural areas are colonised by the invasive species <i>Ailanthus altissima</i> (Mill.) Swingle. Its presence in natural ecosystems damages the ecological richness while competing with native flora. <i>A. altissima</i> is one of the most widespread weed species in natural areas of temperate regions such as conservation parks, archaeological sites and communication corridors. Not many active ingredients are available to control this weed since the most popular, glyphosate, has been banned by many municipalities. To test the efficacy of alternative herbicides, naturally occurring populations in Collserola Conservation Park in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) were treated with different herbicides using three different techniques. Aclonifen, metribuzin, flazasulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, fluroxypyr, isoxaflutole + thiencarbazone-methyl and triclopyr mixed with 2.4-D, fluroxypyr, aminopyralid and clopyralid were applied by stem injection, cut stump injection or basal bark techniques to trees of about 5 cm diameter. Cut stump and stem injection both gave almost total control of the trees while basal bark showed more varied results depending on the herbicide. The best control was achieved when flazasulfuron or triclopyr were present as active ingredients and poorer control was observed when using metsulfuron-methyl or isoxaflutole + thiencarbazone-methyl. Aclonifen showed no damage to the trees. Metribuzin worked better if the cut stump injection technique was used. These results showed that several alternatives are available to the use of glyphosate, which has been banned for some uses due to environmental concerns.
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spelling doaj-art-e662823391724f4094cbdf9fb27898a42024-11-26T17:43:38ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722024-11-011411199210.3390/agriculture14111992Chemical Control of the Invasive Tree <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>Jordi Soler0Jordi Izquierdo1Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08860 Castelldefels, SpainDepartment of Agri-Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08860 Castelldefels, SpainMany natural areas are colonised by the invasive species <i>Ailanthus altissima</i> (Mill.) Swingle. Its presence in natural ecosystems damages the ecological richness while competing with native flora. <i>A. altissima</i> is one of the most widespread weed species in natural areas of temperate regions such as conservation parks, archaeological sites and communication corridors. Not many active ingredients are available to control this weed since the most popular, glyphosate, has been banned by many municipalities. To test the efficacy of alternative herbicides, naturally occurring populations in Collserola Conservation Park in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) were treated with different herbicides using three different techniques. Aclonifen, metribuzin, flazasulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, fluroxypyr, isoxaflutole + thiencarbazone-methyl and triclopyr mixed with 2.4-D, fluroxypyr, aminopyralid and clopyralid were applied by stem injection, cut stump injection or basal bark techniques to trees of about 5 cm diameter. Cut stump and stem injection both gave almost total control of the trees while basal bark showed more varied results depending on the herbicide. The best control was achieved when flazasulfuron or triclopyr were present as active ingredients and poorer control was observed when using metsulfuron-methyl or isoxaflutole + thiencarbazone-methyl. Aclonifen showed no damage to the trees. Metribuzin worked better if the cut stump injection technique was used. These results showed that several alternatives are available to the use of glyphosate, which has been banned for some uses due to environmental concerns.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/11/1992<i>Ailanthus altissima</i>herbicideweed controlinvasive plantfluroxypyrtriclopyr
spellingShingle Jordi Soler
Jordi Izquierdo
Chemical Control of the Invasive Tree <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>
Agriculture
<i>Ailanthus altissima</i>
herbicide
weed control
invasive plant
fluroxypyr
triclopyr
title Chemical Control of the Invasive Tree <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>
title_full Chemical Control of the Invasive Tree <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>
title_fullStr Chemical Control of the Invasive Tree <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>
title_full_unstemmed Chemical Control of the Invasive Tree <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>
title_short Chemical Control of the Invasive Tree <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>
title_sort chemical control of the invasive tree i ailanthus altissima i
topic <i>Ailanthus altissima</i>
herbicide
weed control
invasive plant
fluroxypyr
triclopyr
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/11/1992
work_keys_str_mv AT jordisoler chemicalcontroloftheinvasivetreeiailanthusaltissimai
AT jordiizquierdo chemicalcontroloftheinvasivetreeiailanthusaltissimai