Using Sheep to Control Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

Abstract

We investigated the use of sheep for controlling the spread of purple loosestrife in a wet meadow in upstate New York from June to August 2008. Changes in the purple loosestrife population and vascular plant community structure were monitored as a function of the grazing of two ewes, “rotated” through four “experimental” paddocks at 2- to 3-d intervals. Comparative data were collected in “reference” paddocks from which sheep were excluded. Purple loosestrife was heavily grazed and most plants did not flower in experimental paddocks. Purple loosestrife cover declined by 40.7% in the experimental paddocks but did not change significantly in the reference paddocks. After grazing, species richness was 20% higher in experimental than reference paddocks.

Climate change in grasslands, shrublands, and deserts of the interior American West: a review and needs assessment

“…Also, these effects can be influenced by drought (Loeser and others 2007); therefore, drought should be considered when evaluating the results of grazing studies. In addition, carefully managed grazing may provide opportunities for reducing the density of non-native plant species if such species are consumed by livestock (Kleppel and LaBarge 2011). In another example, targeted cattle grazing on rangeland dominated by cheatgrass reduced cheatgrass cover and, in turn, reduced rate of spread of prescribed fire in the northern Great Basin (Diamond and others 2009).…”

Lythrum salicaria(Purple Loosestrife) Control with Herbicides: Multiyear Applications

“…The growing awareness of L. salicaria threatening the biodiversity in wetlands resulted in a series of studies attempting to manage this invasive species. Several strategies to manage L. salicaria have been proposed, including hand pulling, disking, mowing, flooding, and biological and chemical management (Kleppel and LaBarge 2011;Mullin 1998;Wilcox 1989). Cultural and mechanical control methods have been demonstrated to be highly unsuccessful strategies to manage L. salicaria (Haworth-Brockman et al 1993).…”

“…Cultural and mechanical control methods have been demonstrated to be highly unsuccessful strategies to manage L. salicaria (Haworth-Brockman et al 1993). Moreover, L. salicaria does not have natural enemies in the United States, and biological agents are long term and do not provide effective control of L. salicaria over large areas (Kleppel and LaBarge 2011;Malecki et al 1993;McAvoy et al 2016). Herbicide control of L. salicaria has shown the potential for managing this invasive species; however, effective control of L. salicaria has only been reported for a short-term period of 1 to 2 yr (Champion et al 2011;Gabor et al 1995;Knezevic et al 2004).…”