Influence of management and environmental factors on the distribution of the marsh ragwort (Senecio aquaticus Huds.) in agricultural grassland in Orkney.

Published online
01 Jan 1977
Content type
Journal article
Journal title
Journal of Applied Ecology
DOI
10.2307/2402271

Author(s)
Forbes, J. C.

Publication language
English
Location
UK & Scottish Highlands and Islands

Abstract

Factors which encouraged the establishment of populations of Senecio aquaticus in agricultural grassland in Orkney included (1) the presence of water on the soil surface, (2) high sand content of soil, (3) low sheep stocking rate and (4) old age of the pasture. Twenty-two management and environmental factors together accounted for less than 39% of the variation in S. aquaticus population density. Of the residual variance, 22% was attributable to differences between parishes, 67% to differences between farms in the same parish, and 11% to differences between fields on the same farm. The large residual variation may result from the 'chance' presence or absence of seed inoculum. In an experimental investigation, heavy cattle stocking rates in a paddock-grazing system together with high N fertilizer application almost eliminated S. aquaticus from an infested pasture. From summary.

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