Evaluating Tolerance of Herbicide and Transplantation by Cane (a Native Bamboo) for Canebrake Restoration

Abstract

Canebrakes (bamboo grasslands dominated by Arundinaria spp.) were once a widespread ecosystem across the Southeastern United States, and many species of wildlife depended upon them. Early settlers replaced this system with subsistence agriculture and today few canebrakes remain. The restoration of canebrakes is critical to the recovery of several wildlife species; however, restoration is complicated because (1) seed is uncommon and often predated, (2) competition from hardwood species, including the exotic Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinesnse), often prevent cane establishment, and (3) cane depends on disturbance regimes that have been disrupted in the Southeast. We investigated the tolerance of Switch cane (Arundinaria tecta) to four commonly used herbicides that are effective at controlling privet and other hardwoods: hexazinone (Velpar-L), glyphosate (Razor Pro), triclopyr (Garlon 3A), and imazapyr (Chopper). We also investigated the possibility of transplanting cane culms, and the factors affecting successful transplant. Cane tolerated hexazinone and triclopyr but was damaged or killed by glyphosate and imazapyr. Although many measures of weather and cane condition were not predictors of transplant success, the Keetch-Byram drought index was a strong predictor, and is available through most state forestry offices. Selective herbicides and deliberately timed transplantation may be important canebrake restoration tools.

Herbicide control of swamp titi (Cyrilla racemiflora) in restoration of ephemeral wetlands

“…Unlike the impact to critical grasses, the critical forb species assessment remained unchanged from the 1 YAT to 2 YAT assessment, with little herbicide damage observed. At both annual assessments, the Garlon 3A 4% standard resulted in the least total cover reduction (mostly grasses) and critical grass and forb species, which is consistent with reported tolerance to this active ingredient (Klaus & Klaus 2011;DiAllesandro 2012;GeFellers et al 2020).…”

“…However, glyphosate is broad spectrum and selectivity is obtained by carefully applying the herbicide only to target plants. Triclopyr amine (Garlon 3A) is recommended for shrub control in many restoration activities because of selectivity to nontarget grasses (Klaus & Klaus 2011; DiAllesandro 2012; GeFellers et al 2020). In addition, triclopyr applications to control midstory forest vegetation had no effect on salamander capture rate (Greenberg et al 2016) or juvenile frog dispersal traits following short‐term exposure (McFall et al 2023).…”

Response of twelve Florida cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) populations to herbicide treatment

“…However, both may cause significant damage to desirable vegetation (Harmoney et al 2007) from foliar treatments. Imazapyr also exhibits extensive soil residual activity (Czarnota and Derr 2007; Westerman et al 1993), and many land managers cannot use imazapyr due to non-target injury concerns for many woody and herbaceous plant species (Klaus and Klaus 2011; Kochenderfer et al 2001; Lewis and McCarthy 2008; Masters et al 1994).…”