Tradescantia fluminensis in a Manawatu (New Zealand) forest: II. Management by herbicides

Abstract

An experiment was carried out in a native forest remnant in the Manawatu to examine the effectiveness of four herbicides in controlling infestations of the introduced herbaceous plant Tradescantia fluminensis. Paraquat at 2 kg active ingredient per ha reduced the standing crop of Tradescantia by over 50% within 10 weeks. Glyphosate (at 4 kg ha-1), amitrole-T (10 kg ha-1), and asulam (4 kg ha-1) had little effect on Tradescantia in that time. Paraquat also damaged seven species of native plant, but this does not necessarily prevent it bemg useful for controlling Tradescantia in small forest remnants. © 1984 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.