Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-06T02:41:45.599Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Forestry and bracken

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

P. Biggin
P. Biggin
Affiliation:
Forestry Commission, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian
Get access

Synopsis

Bracken grows on sites very suitable for forest tree growth allowing a wide choice of tree species. However, the trend in afforestation is towards poorer soils and the area of bracken land being planted is declining. Bracken will damage young trees and methods of its control are reviewed. Hand weeding still has a part to play, but most weeding of heavy bracken growth is by herbicides. Experiments using dicamba, chlorthiamid, picloram and more recently asulam and glyphosate demonstrate a gradual improvement in the selectivity and cost effectiveness of herbicides. Dicamba can only be used before planting and its use is limited to sites where control over three years is assured. Picloram and chlorthiamid at the rates necessary to control bracken are damaging to conifers. Asulam is selective and can be applied after planting giving good control of the bracken. Glyphosate is more damaging to trees than asulam but its use may be justified where a wider spectrum of weed control is required.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences , Volume 81 , Issue 1-2: Bracken in Scotland , 1982 , pp. 19 - 27
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aldhous, J. R. 1965. Bracken control using dicamba. Report on Forest Research 1965, pp. 150–153. Forestry Commission. London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Aldhous, J. R. 1967. Bracken control in forestry with dicamba, pichloram and chlorthiamid. Proc. 8th Br. Weed Control Conf. 150–159.Google Scholar
Aldhous, J. R. 1969. Chemical Control of Weeds in the Forest. Forestry Commission Leaflet 51. London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Aldhous, J. R. 1972. Nursery Practice. Forestry Commission Bulletin 43. London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Aldhous, J. R. and Atterson, J. A. 1967. Weed control in the Forest. Report on Forest Research 1967, pp.70–71. Forestry Commission. London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Aldhous, J. R., Brown, R. M. and Atterson, J. 1968. Weed control in the forest. Report on Forest Research 1968, pp. 77–79. Forestry Commission. London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Anderson, M. L. 1950. The Selection of Tree Species. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd.Google Scholar
Anon, 1970. Chemical Control. The Entopath News Chemical Control Supplement 1970. London: Forestry Commission Internal Publication.Google Scholar
Anon, 1978. Standard Time Tables and Output Guides. Forestry Commission Booklet 45. London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Anon, 1980. Forestry Facts and Figures. Edinburgh: Forestry Commission.Google Scholar
Ball, R. W. E. and McCavish, W. J. 1980. The use of asulam for the chemical control of Pteridium aquilinum in Forestry. Proc. Weed Control in For. Conf. 1–2 April 1980, pp. 113–120. University of Nottingham.Google Scholar
Benzian, B. 1965. Experiments on Nutrition Problems in Forest Nurseries. Forestry Commission Bulletin 37. London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Blatchford, O. N. 1978. (Editor) Forestry Practice. Forestry Commission Bulletin 14. London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Blatchford, O.W. 1979. The use of Chemicals in the Forestry Commission. Edinburgh: Forestry Commission.Google Scholar
Braid, K. W. 1959. Bracken. A Review of the literature. Mimeographed Publication No. 3/1959. Commonwealth Bureau of Pastures and Field Crops, Hurley, Berkshire.Google Scholar
Brown, R. M. and Mackenzie, J. 1972. Forest Weed Control. Report on Forest Research 1972, pp. 44–55. Forestry Commission. London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Mclntosh, R. 1980. The effect of weed control and fertilization on the growth and nutrient status of Sitka spruce on some upland soils. Proc. Weed Control in For. Conf. 1–2 April 1980, pp. 55–64. University of Nottingham.Google Scholar
Pyatt, D. G. 1980. Personal communication.Google Scholar
Stapleton, R. G. 1934. The Land Now and Tomorrow, London: Faber and Faber.Google Scholar
Tansley, A. G. 1953. The British Islands and their Vegetation. Cambridge: University Press.Google Scholar
Wittering, W. O. 1974. Weeding in the Forest. Forestry Commission Bulletin 48. London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar