Chemical options for the control of Siam Weed (Chromolaena odorata) in natural ecosystems

Abstract

Summary The perennial shrub Siam Weed (Chromolaena odorata (L.) R. M. King & H. Rob.), a native of the rainforests of central and southern America, is predicted to invade most countries between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Subsequent to its discovery in northern Queensland, Australia in 1994, it was unsuccessfully targeted for eradication, with early control efforts restricted to manual removal and foliar spraying with triclopyr/picloram. A chemical trial involving five herbicides and three application methods (foliar, basal bark and cut stump) was undertaken in northern Queensland to identify effective chemicals to control this weed. Of the foliar herbicides tested, fluroxypyr (70 g/100 L) provided 99% mortality, triclopyr/picloram (105/35 g/100 L) 95%, while metsulfuron‐methyl (9 g/100 L) killed 85% of the treated plants. The herbicides fluroxypyr (300 g/100 L), picloram (43 g/1 kg) and triclopyr/picloram (400/200 g/100 L) killed greater than 98% of the plants when applied as basal bark or cut stump. The integration of fire into the management strategy either as a primary or secondary control option could have a major role, given that in this study, 99% of the Siam Weed soil seed bank was located on the soil surface.