Abstract :
[en] Vegetation management often involves shredding
to dispose of cut plant material or to destroy the
vegetation itself. In the case of invasive plants, this can
represent an environmental risk if the shredded material
exhibits vegetative regeneration capacities. We tested the
effect of shredding on aboveground and below-ground
vegetative material of five ornamental widespread invaders
in Western Europe that are likely to be managed by cutting
and shredding techniques: Buddleja davidii (butterfly bush,
Scrophulariaceae), Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed,
Polygonaceae), Spiraea x billardii He´rincq (Billard’s
bridewort, Rosaceae), Solidago gigantea (giant goldenrod,
Asteraceae), and Rhus typhina L. (staghorn sumac, Anacardiaceae).
We looked at signs of vegetative regeneration
and biomass production, and analyzed the data with respect
to the season of plant cutting (spring vs summer), the type
of plant material (aboveground vs below-ground), and the
shredding treatment (shredded vs control). All species were
capable of vegetative regeneration, especially the belowground
material. We found differences among species, but
the regeneration potential was generally still present after
shredding despite a reduction of growth rates. Although it
should not be excluded in all cases (e.g., destruction of
giant goldenrod and staghorn sumac aboveground material),
the use of a shredder to destroy woody alien plant
material cannot be considered as a general management
option without significant environmental risk.
Scopus citations®
without self-citations
4