Integrated control of water hyacinth using a retardant dose of glyphosate herbicide
Date
2012-02-23
Authors
Jadhav, Ashwini Mohan
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Abstract
Abstract
Eichhornia crassipes (Martius) Solms-Laubach (Pontederiaceae) (water hyacinth), a neotropic
noxious weed of South American origin, is counted among the “big five” aquatic
weeds in South Africa. The weed causes dramatic ecological and economic losses in
infested areas. Its control is facilitated by the release of biocontrol agents, mainly
Neochetina eichhorniae (Warner) and Neochetina bruchi Hustache (Coleoptera:
Curculionidae). Control efforts via biocontrol are hampered, mainly by the climate
incompatibility of the agents, aggravated further by the indiscriminate use of lethal doses
of glyphosate based herbicides. The lethal doses interfere with the successful
establishment and persistence of the biocontrol agents, thus undermining their impact.
Continued use of herbicide kills the water hyacinth mat and as a result, the immature
stages of the agents are killed. If biocontrol is to succeed as a control strategy, then low
doses of the herbicide need to be advocated. It was hypothesized that a low dose will
constrain the vegetative and reproductive capacity of the weed, while maintaining the
habitat for the biocontrol agents. Consequently, this study was conducted to identify a
retardant dose of glyphosate herbicide and test its effect on the Neochetina weevils. A
concentration of 0.8% (0.11g m-² or 2880mg a.i /L) glyphosate based herbicide, sprayed
at 150 L ha-1 was proved to retard the vegetative and the reproductive growth of the
weed, in terms of leaf and ramet production. Further, the retardant dose did not have any
detrimental effects on the adult weevils and its larval stages. Weevil herbivory was also
enhanced by the retardant dose. Furthermore, the retardant dose did not have any
detrimental effects on ‘plant quality’ as evidenced by % nitrogen level in plant tissues
such as crown and leaves. Contrary to expectation however, the combined effects of the
retardant dose and Neochetina herbivory (0.8%+Ne) did not result in the production of
lower number of ramets or leaves than water hyacinth plants dosed with 0.8% herbicide
alone. Water hyacinth biocontrol agents in South Africa are subjected to frosty winters
with low temperatures which cause the biocontrol agents to decline to an overwintering
larval population that fails to catch up with the weed as it rebounds from the frost in
spring. This hypothesis was tested in this study at 12 water hyacinth infested sites, which
were grouped as temperate and sub-tropical sites. At both the temperate and subtropical
sites, water hyacinth plants produced ramets (daughter plants) through autumn and
increased biomass during summer. However, weevil numbers were very low at these
sites, as evidenced by adult counts and feeding scars, indicating a marked seasonal
asynchrony between the phenologies of the weevils and water hyacinth. Hence,
intervention by seasonal applications of the herbicide is crucial to constrain weed growth.
Herbicidal applications during autumn and spring inhibited the growth of the weed
without adversely affecting the adult weevils or immature, immobile stages. Continued
use of herbicides raises concerns of effect on non-target species, such as amphibians.
Results from this study indicate that a direct application of a retardant dose of glyphosate
did not kill or affect the growth of the Xenopus larvae, as determined by survival and
body lengths. However, under laboratory conditions, this study has shown for the first
time that an invasive aquatic weed (water hyacinth) was more lethal to an aquatic
vertebrate (Xenopus larvae) than a herbicide advocated for its control. This study
conclusively shows that retardant dose of glyphosate herbicide can be integrated with
biocontrol to provide a sustainable and eco-friendly technique with which to combat
water hyacinth infestations in South Africa.
Description
Ph.D, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011
Keywords
Water hyacinth, Aquatic weeds (control)