Evaluation of a hand-held burner for the control of woody weeds by flaming

Abstract

A hand-held burner (Atarus Ranger) was evaluated as a method for controlling woody weeds by flaming in sensitive or riparian areas where traditional methods, such as chemical or mechanical control, have limited usefulness. The equipment was trialled on 3 North Queensland weed species: bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia), parkinsonia (Parkinsonia aculeata) and rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora), at 5 different heat durations (0, 10, 30, 60 and 120 s) and on 3 plant size classes based on basal diameter (15–25, >25–50 and >50 mm).No significant difference in percentage mortality was recorded between a 10 s treatment and longer heat treatments for bellyache bush and parkinsonia plants, or between a 60 s treatment and longer heat treatments for rubber vine. A 10 s treatment killed 92% of the treated bellyache bush plants and 83% of the parkinsonia plants, while a 60 s treatment killed 76% of the treated rubber vine plants (values are the means of all size classes combined).Flaming was least effective on rubber vine, which had the thickest bark, but was highly effective on bellyache bush, which had the highest bark moisture content. Weeds with a low capacity for root suckering, thin bark, high bark moisture content and low bark density appear the best candidates for flaming. Flaming is an effective technique for the control of woody weeds with efficacy varying among species. Individual plants are targeted, and the technique is accepted by organic farming groups.

Influence of Floor Management Technique on Grapevine Growth, Disease Pressure, and Juice and Wine Composition: A Review

“…The main advantages of flame weeding are a lack of chemical residues, including persistent herbicides, widespectrum weed control, effectiveness when soil is too moist for cultivation, absence of weed resistance, and compatibility with no-tillage techniques and organic production (Bond andGrundy 2001, Vitelli andMadigan 2004). The main disadvantages include resistance of some weeds to flames, shortterm effectiveness to herbicides, consumption of costly fossil fuels and production of greenhouse gases, safety concerns, and fire risks (Heinzle 2003, Hansson andAscard 2002).…”

“…The main disadvantages include resistance of some weeds to flames, shortterm effectiveness to herbicides, consumption of costly fossil fuels and production of greenhouse gases, safety concerns, and fire risks (Heinzle 2003, Hansson andAscard 2002). In flame weeding, plant cells expand, causing cell wall rupture and plant death (Vitelli and Madigan 2004). Efficacy of flame weeding also is attributed to subsequent plant desiccation (Ascard 1995).…”

“…Broadleaf plants are also more susceptible than grasses, which have a sheath that protects the growing point. When the susceptibility of various species common to North Queensland, Australia, to f laming and various exposure lengths was evaluated, the most susceptible species had the following characteristics in common: low capacity for root suckering, thin bark, high bark moisture content, and low bark density (Vitelli and Madigan 2004). The growth stage at which the treatment is executed is crucial because growth stage determines the location of the plant's growing points, the degree of protection of shoot apices, and the level of lignification.…”

Can competition with pasture be used to manipulate bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia L.) population biology?

“…Several control methods, including burning, slashing, stickraking, and foliar spraying, have been used to manage bellyache bush Campbell 2002 a, 2002b;Vitelli and Madigan 2004;Bebawi et al 2007Bebawi et al , 2009Bebawi et al , 2011Randall et al 2009). Treatment combinations over 4 years using foliar spraying either alone or as a follow-up with slashing, stick-raking, or burning have proven most successful for control of medium to large infestations of bellyache bush (Bebawi et al 2011).…”

The effects of indigenous prescribed fire on riparian vegetation in central California

“…Spring burning was implemented with a hand-held torch similar to that described by Vitelli and Madigan (2004) to burn plants that were not fully cured. Burn conditions were not recorded for these burns due to the fact that the treatment was not a conventional prescribed fire.…”