Non‐chemical weed control on traffic islands: a comparison of the efficacy of five weed control techniques

Abstract

Summary The efficacy of five non‐chemical weed control methods for reducing weed cover on traffic islands was investigated in the growing season of 2004. Three trial sites were divided into six treatment areas which were treated with either flame, steam, hot air, hot water, brushes or left untreated. The treatments were carried out at regular intervals throughout the growing season. The percentage weed cover was measured every second week using a 75 × 75 cm quadratic frame with 100 squares. In the control areas, a rapid increase in weed cover was observed, whereas all treatments reduced weed cover. Hot water was the most effective method, although not significantly better than hot air or steam. Hot air treatment was more effective than brushing, whereas hot water was more effective than both flaming and brushing. The doses that were used were relatively high (150–355 kg ha−1), partly because of the irregular shape of the traffic islands and the treatment intervals were quite short in comparison with those in similar studies. However, the treatments could keep down the weeds only to a certain extent. The present knowledge of the efficacy of various weed control methods, as well as an increase in our knowledge of adequate treatment intervals, supports an optimisation of hard‐surface weed control. Data and experience gained from these trials were used to develop further calibrated application studies.

Glyphosate, steam and cutting for non‐native plant control in Alberta fescue grassland restoration

“…Applied Vegetation Science (Kristoffersen et al 2007). Additionally, perennial nonnative grasses dominating our sites are difficult to kill with steam (Wei et al 2010).…”

Weed flora in paved areas in relation to environment, pavement characteristics and weed control

“…, 2001). In contrast, many non‐chemical methods need more frequent treatments for adequate weed control (Ascard, 1995; Rask & Kristoffersen, 2007; Kristoffersen et al. , 2008b), and their effectiveness is strongly related to weed species and growth stage at the time of treatment (Melander et al.…”

Absorción de N, P y K por Arachis pintoi y arvenses asociadas a Musa AAB

“…However, it is suggested that the use of A. pintoi as cover associated with green plantain is possible to reduce the number of herbicide applications, the reduction of herbicides rates is not recommended as a mean to save on input costs but as reduced application rates helping to reduce input costs. arvenses puede incrementar la presión de las arvenses en los siguientes años, como son las anuales, que extienden sus semillas y arvenses perennes tiene una buena oportunidad para aumentar su biomasa radical o rizoma (Kristoffersen et al, 2008) con una fuerte competencia por nutrientes con el cultivo.…”

“…Qasem (1992) analyzed nutrients absorption by weeds, beans and tomatoes finding that the concentrations of N, P, K and Mg were higher in weed species than in cultivated species. For example, the high population of weeds can increase the pressure of weeds in subsequent years, as are annual, spreading their seeds and perennial weeds have a good chance to increase their root or rhizome biomass (Kristoffersen et al, 2008) with a strong competition for nutrients with the crop.…”