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Practical Solutions: testing technology in the field

The Practical Solutions in this section were carried under EMPHASIS’ project activities. Here you can review the short summary of the study, get acquainted with its main expectation and results and explore the main practical recommendations. The section provides answer to the questions What is the main added value/benefit/opportunities if the knowledge is implemented? How can a practitioner make use of the scientific results?


Guidelines for Sustainable IPM control of Hogweed (Heracleum Spp.)

Worldwide, hogweed species - Heracleum sosnowskyi, H. mantegazzianum and H. persicum – are invasive species with wide geographical distribution and have been a problem since the middle of the 20th century. To-date, the containment and management methods used for these species have not achieved adequate control.

In 2012, following the proposal of the Latvia’s State Forests (LVM), the Integrētās Audzēšanas Skola started and, within the framework of the EMPHASIS project (2015-2018), continues to develop a new Integrated Pest Management (IPM) method to effectively eradicate hogweed in EU countries.The objective of the project activity is to develop an effective IPM (combining biological, chemical and mechanical methods) to eradicate hogweed in within a 2-3 year time period.

Field experiments were conducted between 2015-2017 on hogweed containment using IPM methods at 20 sites across Latvia, in 2016/2017 in Lithuania by Integrētās Audzēšanas Skola and in the Czech Republic by Mendelova Univerzita/Brno (MENDELU). The efficacy of selective herbicides, 3 months after their application in 2015 and 2017, varied between 60% and 98%, depending on the level of Heracleum spp. infestation (cover and abundance) before treatment.

The mechanical method is developed as part of the IPM method, in cases where the chemical method is not applicable or not desired by people. Selective herbicides that are registered in the EU, but have never been used in combination for hogweed eradication, are used. This combination does not influence the main species that compete with hogweed: grasses, dicotyledons, trees, shrubs. Restoration of biodiversity in a particular place as a biological method is a key tool for effective control of hogweed.

Author

SIA Integrētās Audzēšanas Skola (IAS) - Latvia
Contact person: Inga Gaile, Guntis Gulbis
Email: [email protected]