Does Eucalyptus grandis invasion and removal affect soils and vegetation in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa?

Published source details Kerr T.F. & Ruwanza S. (2016) Does Eucalyptus grandis invasion and removal affect soils and vegetation in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa?. Austral Ecology, 41, 328-338.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Cut trees and apply herbicide Action Link

Cut trees and apply herbicide

A replicated, controlled study in 2008–2014 in two fynbos sites in Eastern Cape, South Africa (Kerr & Ruwanza 2016) found that cutting and applying herbicide to invasive rose gum Eucalyptus grandis trees increased the total number of plant species, did not alter the number of shrub or tree species and increased the number of grass species. The number of plant species was higher in areas that were cut and treated with herbicide (10 species) than in areas that were not (4 species), and the number of plant species was not significantly different from uninvaded fynbos (12 species). The number of tree and shrub species in areas that were cut and treated with herbicide was not significantly different from that in areas which were not cut or treated with herbicide or uninvaded fynbos (cut and herbicide: 4 species, not cut with no herbicide: 3 species, uninvaded fynbos: 7 species). However, the number of grass species in areas that were cut and treated with herbicide (2 species) was higher than in areas that were not cut or treated with herbicide (0 species) or uninvaded fynbos (1 species). In 2008 rose gum trees were cut and herbicide applied in part of two fynbos areas. In 2014 three 100 m² plots were placed in each of the areas where trees had been cut and herbicide applied, areas where trees had not been cut, and uninvaded fynbos at each site. Vegetation cover and number of species were estimated in each plot. Herbicide name and concentration is not given.

(Summarised by: Phil Martin)