FAS Abstracts 2004 Meeting Page

Agricultural Sciences (AGR): AGR-14

|search by author| |return to AGR 2004| |return to FAS 2004|

Hairyawn muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaries L), a Florida native grass species evaluated for the biological control of Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica L), an invasive species. O.U. ONOKPISE (1), H.V. DUEBERRY (1), and J. NORCINI (2).  (1)Forestry and Natural Resources Conservation, Division of Agricultural Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, (2) North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC), IFAS, University of Florida, Quincy, FL 32351.  Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica L) introduced into the United States in the early 1900s as a possible forage crop and soil erosion control plant species is now ranked among the ten most invasive species in Florida. The utilization of herbicides like glyphosate and imazypr for its control, has proven to be ineffective and/or problematic for soil environmental health. Similarly, cultural practices like cultivation and burning have remained unsuccessful. Therefore, using a native grass species offers a sustainable management approach for controlling cogongrass. Hairyawn muhly grass, a Florida native grass species was evaluated for its effectiveness in out-competing and controlling the growth of cogongrass. Plantlets of muhly grass and cogongrass were planted in 1 gallon (3.8 liters) greenhouse pots containing a mixture of mushroom, peat and topsoil in 1:1:1 ratio by weight. The pots were arranged in three replications with treatments randomly assigned to each replication. Seventeen weeks after planting (WAP), root and shoot biomass, relative yield total (RYT) and relative crowding coefficients (RCC) were determined for muhly grass and cogongrass grown individually and in combination. Root, shoot and total biomass of cogongrass were reduced by 41 %, 23 % and 35 % respectively, when grown with muhly grass at 17 WAP. The RYT of cogongrass was 2.81 while RCC was 1.07 indicating that at 17 WAP muhly grass was effectively competitive with cogongrass. Additional studies will be needed to demonstrate the use of this Florida native grass species as a biological control agent for a major invasive species in Florida.