Journal article
Post-sowing weed control technique can affect woody seedling numbers, with early hand-weeding potentially more beneficial than early spraying
F Ede, J Greet
Ecological Management and Restoration | WILEY | Published : 2021
DOI: 10.1111/emr.12507
Abstract
Direct seeding is increasingly being used as a cost-effective revegetation technique. Successful outcomes from direct seeding rely on effective weed control, particularly during the vulnerable seedling establishment phase. Post-sowing weed control options are constrained by the need to protect seedlings from damage and few studies have compared the effectiveness of different weed control techniques. We evaluated the effect of preliminary hand weeding (with subsequent spraying), spraying monthly or spraying quarterly with glyphosate, on woody seedling emergence, survival and growth in trials sown either in spring or autumn at a riparian site in Victoria, southeastern Australia. Seedling numbe..
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Funding Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the Bunurong people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which this field trial was conducted. Melbourne Water funded this study through the Melbourne Waterway Research Practice Partnership. Particular thanks to Melbourne Water staff Gavin Brock, Rob Dabal, Tom Hurst, Paul Rees and Dan Robertson. We are indebted to our University of Melbourne colleagues who diligently hand weeded plots on their hands and knees for this study-Gen Hehir, Tony Lovell, Rob James and Mike Sammonds. Platypus Environmental Services undertook the herbicide spraying. We are grateful for the helpful comments of reviewers on draft versions of the manuscript.