Control of Invasive Weeds with Prescribed Burning

• Published in: Weed technology 2006-04, Vol.20 (2), p.535-548
• Main Authors: DiTomaso, J,M, Brooks, M.L, Allen, E.B, Minnich, R, Rice, P. M, Kyser, G.B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aegilops triuncialis; Agricultural management; Alliaria petiolata; Allium sativum; application timing; Biological and medical sciences; Bromus diandrus; Bromus inermis; Bromus madritensis; Bromus tectorum; Centaurea solstitialis; Cytisus scoparius; environmental impact; Fire ecology; Forest fires; Forest soils; forests; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genista monspessulana; Grasses; Herbicides; insects; integrated weed management; Invasive species; literature reviews; Melilotus; noxious weeds; Parasitic plants. Weeds; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; plant communities; Plants; Poa compressa; Poa pratensis; Prairie soils; Prescribed burning; range management; Review Article; Sapium sebiferum; soil biology; soil fertility; soil microorganisms; Taeniatherum caput-medusae; weed control; Weeds; wildlands; wildlife; woodlands
• ISSN: 0890-037X; 1550-2740
• DOI: 10.1614/WT-05-086R1.1

Prescribed burning has primarily been used as a tool for the control of invasive late-season annual broadleaf and grass species, particularly yellow starthistle, medusahead, barb goatgrass, and several bromes. However, timely burning of a few invasive biennial broadleaves (e.g., sweetclover and garlic mustard), perennial grasses (e.g., bluegrasses and smooth brome), and woody species (e.g., brooms and Chinese tallow tree) also has been successful. In many cases, the effectiveness of prescribed burning can be enhanced when incorporated into an integrated vegetation management program. Although there are some excellent examples of successful use of prescribed burning for the control of invasive species, a limited number of species have been evaluated. In addition, few studies have measured the impact of prescribed burning on the long-term changes in plant communities, impacts to endangered plant species, effects on wildlife and insect populations, and alterations in soil biology, including nutrition, mycorrhizae, and hydrology. In this review, we evaluate the current state of knowledge on prescribed burning as a tool for invasive weed management.