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The impacts of invasive plant control on native animals are rarely evaluated. Using data from an eight-year study in southeastern Australia, we quantified the effects on native bird, mammal, and reptile species of (1) the abundance of the invasive Bitou Bush, Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. rotundata, and (2) a Bitou Bush control program, which involved repeated herbicide spraying interspersed with prescribed burning. We found that overall species richness of birds, mammals, and reptiles and the majority of individual vertebrate species were unresponsive to Bitou Bush cover and the number of plants. Two species including the nationally endangered Eastern Bristlebird (Dasyurus brachypterus) responded positively to measures of native vegetation cover following the control of Bitou Bush. Analyses of the effects of different components of the treatment protocol employed to control Bitou Bush revealed (1) no negative effects of spraying on vertebrate species richness; (2) negative effects of spraying on only one individual species (Scarlet Honeyeater); and (3) lower bird species richness but higher reptile species richness after fire. The occupancy of most individual vertebrates species was unaffected by burning; four species responded negatively and one positively to fire. Our study indicated that actions to remove Bitou Bush generally have few negative impacts on native vertebrates. We therefore suggest that controlling this highly invasive exotic plant species has only very limited negative impacts on vertebrate biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean shows special sensitivity to weeding while in the early growth stages until the land is covered, but also in the mature stages after the leaves begin to fall. Once invaded by weeds, especially in the first phase of growth, the culture is no longer recovering even if later, weeds are controlled. The purpose of presented paper is to identify an integrated weed control system for the soybean crop, starting from: (i) requirements of the soybean crop towards environmental and technological factors so that it can effectively compete with weeds; (ii) reporting the weed control strategy to new climatic conditions through specific measures of adaptation; (iii) strategies research of chemical complementary herbicides regarding their combat range and time of application. In order to maintain soybean cultures clean of weeds, it is necessary, in general, to apply two chemical treatments, the first ppi/pre-emergent spraying for some annual dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous weeds and the 2nd post-emergence treatment for dicotyledonous weeds. If on vegetation exists infestations both with annual or perennial monocotyledonous weeds, good results are obtained by associating two complementary herbicides, which combat both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weeds. The lowest degree of weed (7.5 weed/m2) was determined with the combination: Frontier Forte & Surdone & Pulsar & Stratos Ultra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An actor-participative project on sustainable weed control on pavements was started in 2000 in the Netherlands. The aim of the project was to develop a new concept of weed management that provides cost-effective and environmentally sound weed control. Early in 2002, practical guidelines were drawn up in support of decision making by managers of pavements, and weed control contractors. The guidelines are focused mainly on reduction of herbicide use and emission thereof. The new concept was tested in 2002 and 2003 in nine Dutch municipalities on defined urban areas of 5–25ha, which formed units from a construction, hydrology and management point of view. Use of herbicides (mainly glyphosate) was reduced by 11–66% compared to standard practice. Levels of weed control remained good and ecological threshold concentrations in surface waters were not exceeded. Monitoring showed a glyphosate emission factor via the sewage water system of 2% on average. Costs of weed control with the new concept were higher (10–25%) compared to the standard practice control of weeds (using herbicides) on pavements, but much lower compared to alternative (non-herbicide) weed control systems. It is concluded that the new concept provides a useful framework for finding a good trade off between economical and ecological aspects of weed control on pavements. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]