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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #255545
Title: Planting native species to control site reinfestation by Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)

Author
item Skinner, Robert
item VAN DER GRINTER, MARTIN - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)
item GOVER, ART - Pennsylvania State University
item SIMONIS, MARK - Us Army Corp Of Engineers (USACE)

Submitted to: Eastern Native Grass Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/27/2010
Publication Date: 10/5/2010
Citation: Skinner, R.H., Van Der Grinter, M., Gover, A., Simonis, M.W. 2010. Planting native species to control site reinfestation by Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum). Eastern Native Grass Symposium. 1.

Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required.

Technical Abstract: Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) is an invasive species that has quickly become a serious problem both in riparian zones and in upland sites throughout the eastern US. It is an herbaceous perennial that can reach heights of 10 ft or more, and is capable of reproducing and quickly spreading by creeping rhizomes and root and stem fragments. Once established, it forms solid colonies that usually choke out all other herbaceous vegetation. This study focuses on planting native species mixtures in plots from which the Japanese knotweed had been suppressed by mowing and herbicide treatments for either one or two years beginning in 2006. The following mixtures were planted on 1 June 2007 and on 3 June 2008: 1) 27-species commercial riparian buffer mixture; 2) native cool-season mixture including Virginia wildrye, autumn bentgrass, and fowl bluegrass; 3) Virginia wildrye-bluejont mixture; 4) Virginia wildrye-prairie cordgrass mixture; 5) ‘Hightide’ switchgrass; and 6) ‘Kanlow’ switchgrass. All mixtures established well in 2007. By 16 months after planting the Japanese knotweed had reestablished itself to some degree in all plots (45 to 82% of ground cover), and by October 2009, only the riparian mixture provided adequate resistance to Japanese knotweed reinvasion. Only the commercial riparian and Virginia wildrye-prairie cordgrass mixtures had adequate establishment after the 2008 seeding. Both mixtures continued to show good suppression of Japanese knotweed in October 2009, suggesting that two years of knotweed control might increase the likelihood of reestablishing desirable plant cover at previously impacted sites.