What is it about?
Giant salvinia is difficult to manage during the growing season due to its growth pattern and rapid growth. Mesocosm trials were conducted during the winter to determine if aerial applications of aquatic herbicides could be more effective when giant salvinia growth is minimal and the plants are only a single layer thick, which may increase herbicide coverage and control. In addition, bald cypress is often found growing throughout giant salvinia infestations and may be negatively impacted by these aerial herbicide applications when dormant. These results suggest that herbicides administered during the winter can be efficacious against giant salvinia and have varying impacts on cypress growth.
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Why is it important?
Although these results suggest that herbicides administered during the winter can be efficacious against giant salvinia, the herbicides will have varying impacts on cypress growth during the growing season; however, tree recovery was evident later in the growing season and the following year.
Perspectives
This research allowed us to explore what could happen to Louisiana's state trees in a mesocosm setting without impacting well-established trees that are vital to an ecosystem. The results may lead to new management practices to help eradicate this highly invasive fern.
Christopher Mudge
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Effect of Winter Herbicide Applications on Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) and Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta), Invasive Plant Science and Management, September 2018, Cambridge University Press,
DOI: 10.1017/inp.2018.20.
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