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Effectiveness of Two-Stage Control Strategies for Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) Varies by Initial Clump Size

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Jeffrey S. Ward ,
Scott C. Williams  and
Thomas E. Worthley
Jeffrey S. Ward*
Affiliation:
Department of Forestry and Horticulture, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06511
Scott C. Williams
Affiliation:
Department of Forestry and Horticulture, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06511
Thomas E. Worthley
Affiliation:
Department of Extension, University of Connecticut, Haddam, CT 06438
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: jeffrey.ward@ct.gov
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Abstract

Japanese barberry is listed as an invasive shrub in 20 states and four Canadian provinces. Control of Japanese barberry was evaluated using several two-step processes over 16 mo using a total of 1,100 clumps at six study areas. Initial treatments in spring (prescribed burning, mechanical mowing with a brush saw or rotary wood shredder) reduced the size of established barberry clumps. Follow-up treatments in midsummer to kill new ramets that developed from surviving root crowns were foliar applications of triclopyr or glyphosate, directed heating with a propane torch, and untreated controls. Mortality was defined as the absence of ramets from a root crown and not the mortality of individual ramets of a given clump. Clump mortality and size of new ramets did not differ among initial treatments. However, larger clumps had higher survival and larger sprouts than smaller clumps 16 mo after initial treatment. Effectiveness of follow-up treatments varied by clump size. Two follow-up treatments of directed heating using propane torches were as effective as herbicides for clumps that were initially smaller than 120 cm. For clumps with pretreatment sizes of 120 cm and larger, clump mortality following herbicide treatments (90%) and directed heating (65%) was greater than for clumps that had no follow-up treatments (35%). Although clump sizes did not differ between follow-up methods 1 yr after treatment, both follow-up treatments resulted in smaller clumps than untreated controls. Effective control of Japanese barberry can be achieved in a single growing season by integrating an early-season initial treatment (prescribed fire or mechanical) that kills the aboveground tissues with a midseason follow-up treatment such as directed heating or targeted herbicide application.

Keywords

GlyphosatetriclopyrJapanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii DC. BEBTHPropane torchmechanical controlherbicidemortalityinvasive shrub
Type
Research
Information
Invasive Plant Science and Management , Volume 3 , Issue 1 , May 2010 , pp. 60 - 69
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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