Management Strategies for Ulex europaeus L. Control in a Native Plant Community in Tenerife, Canary Islands

Cristina González-Montelongo, Miguel A. Padrón-Mederos, Zaira Negrín-Pérez, Maya González and José Ramón Arévalo ()
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Cristina González-Montelongo: Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, University of La Laguna, 38206 San Cristobal de La Laguna, Spain
Miguel A. Padrón-Mederos: Jardín de Aclimatación de La Orotava (ICIA), 38400 Puerto de la Cruz, Spain
Zaira Negrín-Pérez: Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, University of La Laguna, 38206 San Cristobal de La Laguna, Spain
Maya González: France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), Bordeaux Sciences Agro, UMR 1391 ISPA, F-33882 Villenave-d’Ornon, France
José Ramón Arévalo: Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, University of La Laguna, 38206 San Cristobal de La Laguna, Spain

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: Invasive plant species have been recognized as adversely affecting native ecosystems. Some of these plant species become problematic in disturbed environments such as urbanized, agricultural, and abandoned developed or farmed land. In some cases, they can dominate the invaded ground, preventing a transition back to the native plant community. In Tenerife (Canary Islands), the invasive plant species Ulex europaeus L. has established dense infestations in abandoned agricultural lands. Removing such invasive species in Tenerife through ecological restoration is crucial for restoring ecosystem functionality and promoting biodiversity. This study evaluates various management methods for U. europaeus in abandoned fields, assessing their impact on species richness, diversity, composition, and regeneration. The findings can inform management strategies to combat this invasive species, contributing to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem resilience. The study was conducted in two highly invaded areas, evaluating chemical (C), mechanical (M), mechanical and chemical (MC), and mechanical, chemical, and plantation treatments (MCP), along with a control, to analyze changes in species richness, diversity, and plant community. Results indicate that U. europaeus remains capable of reoccupying treated areas. The different treatments led to differences in species richness and composition. The MCP treatment yielded the best results if the planted native species grew faster than Ulex europaeus , preventing its establishment due to its shade-intolerant nature. However, continual control is required to eliminate U. europaeus regeneration from seeds that can persist for at least 30 years.

Keywords: DCA; ecological restoration; Glyphosate; invasive species (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
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