Articles

Comparison of mechanical, biological and chemical methods for controlling Black cherry (Prunus serotina) in Flanders (Belgium)

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Abstract

Large  scale application of black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) in forestry and the typical ecological    characteristics of the species resulted in its dominance of the shrublayer  in homogeneous pine    forests on poor sandy soils in Flanders. For reasons of nature conservation  Flemish forest policy and    management tries to transform these forests into more natural and  structural deciduous forests.    Controlling Black cherry is seen as a major condition for succes in this  matter.    In this study the lethal effect of mechanical, biological and chemical  control methods was tested using    an experimental block design. The methods consisted of girdling and felling  with periodical removal of    new sprouts, stump and stem treatment with mycoherbicide based on the  Silverleaf disease fungus    (Chondrostereum purpureum Pouzar), leaf and stump treatment with the herbicide  glyphosate and    stem treatments with the same herbicide using different techniques like the  Hack & Squirt method,    the EZject Capsule Injection System and the Silvaxe Tree Injector. The  results indicated that a proper    comparison can only be made after evaluation in the second autumn after  treatment at the earliest.    All chemical control methods, except one (Silvaxe Tree Injector System),  showed a significant higher    proportional mortality than mechanical and biological control methods. No  statistical proof was found    of a seasonal influence on mortality for the chemical methods. Application  of the Hack & Squirt    method and the EZject Capsule Injection System in summertime resulted in a  significantly higher    proportional mortality than leaf treatment and stump treatment in autumn.  Lethal doses of glyphosate    for different dbh-classes were calculated resulting in easy to use application  procedures for stem    treatment. The high lethal effect of the Hack & Squirt method confirmed  their practical value. No    significant seasonal influence on mortality nor any significant impact of  mycoherbicide concentration    was found for the biological stump treatments. Stem treatment with  mycoherbicide proved inappropriate. The best season for girdling appears to be springtime while additional test indicate that    wintertime could be even more appropriate. The lowest Significant  proportional mortality for girdling    and felling with one additional removal of sprouts was found in summertime.  A high variability in    proportional mortality was detected for the mechanical methods and in a  lesser degree for the    biological methods, sometimes approximating or even equaling the mortality  rate of chemical    methods. If environmental considerations have to be taken into account or  if chemical control is    legally forbidden (e.g. forest reserves in Flanders) biological stump  treatment and girdling offer a    valuable alternative. Their variable mortality can lead to unpredictable  results though.

How to Cite:

Van den Meersschaut, D. & Lust, N., (1997) “Comparison of mechanical, biological and chemical methods for controlling Black cherry (Prunus serotina) in Flanders (Belgium)”, Silva Gandavensis 62. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sg.v62i0.848