Can Cynodon dactylon Suppress the Growth and Development of the Invasive Weeds Tagetes minuta and Gutenbergia cordifolia?

Abstract

Approaches to managing invasive plants is challenging, particularly in protected areas where conventional methods, such as chemical herbicide applications are limited. We studied the effects of varying densities of Cynodon dactylon on the growth and development of the invasive weeds Tagetes minuta and Gutenbergia cordifolia in northern Tanzania. We conducted pot and field plot experiments following a completely randomized block design that was replicated three times. Increasing densities of C. dactylon significantly reduced growth, leaf total chlorophyll, biomass and significantly increased leaf anthocyanin of both T. minuta and G. cordifolia invasives. Our results further showed that the critical density of C. dactylon to suppress the two invasive species is ≥ 8 plants/m2. We suggest that C. dactylon can successfully be used as an alternative eco-friendly and sustainable approach for managing invasive weeds, such as T. minuta and G. cordifolia. This management technique can additionally improve forage production and biomass for wild and domestic herbivores in the affected areas.

Realizing UN decade on ecosystem restoration through a nature-based approach: A case review of management of biological invasions in protected areas

“…On the other hand, the major challenge over biological control of invasive plants have been a rising concern on the potential damage to both threatened and endangered native forage closely related to a targeted invasive plant [47]. It is in this caution that restoration ecologists started to rethink on the appropriate ways of addressing the problem [34,48,49], including adopting EBCR practices such as the nature-based approach [9,34,48,49]. The nature-based approach (NbA) for managing biological invasions in FPAs While the majority of existing invasive species management options have been reported to be associated with some negative impacts to biodiversity [37], nature-based approaches (NbAs) for managing invasive plants [9] present an opportunity for successful management of invasive plants in PAs.…”

“…When this has been well established coupled with active governance, management of both pathways and drivers of invasive plant species (Figs 2, 4 and 5) are likely to maximize the effects of a control measure such as the NbA. fodder crop Desmodium intortum, for example, has successfully aided in the formulation of an NbA that has proven to manage most of invasive plant species of the family Asteraceae [34,48,49,79]. While restoration of invaded areas calls for an adaptive approach that includes science-informed decisions, we are now more than ever witnessing the majority of control and management methods such as NbA that have been developed using science and technology (http://www.invasivespecies.gov/council/nmp.shtml) that relies mostly on the clear understanding of plant species involved.…”

Impact of Invasive Plant Species on Ecosystems, Biodiversity Loss and Their Potential Industrial Applications

“…As a contradiction, in terms of medicinal properties, foreign species can be used for more purposes than native species (Yessoufou et al, 2021), but it is necessary to be taken into account their toxicological potential. Ailanthus altissima bark, for exemple caused hepatic and gastrointestinal dysfunction in certain high amounts, and even the death of involved mice (Liu et al, 2019), while Gutenbergia cordifolia affected the metabolism and the microbial community of the rumen (Ngondya et al, 2019).…”

“…Invasive species causes serious economic problems (Adelino et al, 2021, Shahrtash and Brown, 2021, Starešinič et al, 2021 and imbalances in the ecosystems where these settle in (Starešinič et al, 2021), even in protected areas (Pathak et al, 2021, Bakacsy andBagi, 2020) where a low number of classical control methods can be implemented (Ngondya et al, 2019). Unfortunately, most of the time interest is given to covering losses incurred, not to preventing them (Adelino et al, 2021).…”

The effects of extreme climate on the invasive plant Gutenbergia cordifolia: implications for its future management in savannah ecosystems

“…It is considered a serious problem in most parts of the Serengeti-Ngorongoro ecosystem and surrounding agricultural areas in the Northern part of Tanzania ( Ngondya et al., 2016 ). Besides being unpalatable and toxic to ruminants, this plant suppresses and outcompetes palatable native species thus jeopardizing the ecologically diverse NCA and the entire Serengeti ecosystem ( Ngondya et al., 2019 ; Ngondya and Munishi 2021 ).…”