I am looking for information about non-chemical control methods of invasive species in Europe. Thanks for your help.
I have not heard of any study of this method, and I have only some familiarity with invasive species control. Not all species can reproduce by coppice (sprouting), and some spread seeds that are dormant until fire (serotineous), flooded (as bald cypress), eaten and discharged or frozen to break open or scarify seed. If you try the black plastic, consider covering the stump and any exposed area with stem, signs of exposed roots, etc. Understanding the physiology of the invasive species is probably important to selecting methods. Some invasive species as bamboo or kudzu spread by rhysomes underground, so they will spread even when stems are cut. For some local or intermittent control, goats might be considered, but the treatment methods chosen should in most cases be specific or directed to the species of concern. For spruce budworm we used chemical methods mostly, but also tried bacillus thuringensis as a biological control for some areas. Most of the invasive species on the National Forest were treated with chemicals however, and the applicators were carefully trained. Some sensitive areas as near streamsides, used manual methods. But some species are so invasive and Not recognized early enough that complete control has not been possible. Some garden and plant merchants still include and sell invasive species, and some have been used for erosion control. Some species expansion can be with wind or storms, animal traffic or with seeds adhering to heavy equipment.
I think this is one of the methods used to control Prunus serotina (in Germany). Here an article of a great environmental NGO: https://schleswig-holstein.nabu.de/natur-und-landschaft/nabu-schutzgebiete/management/03415.html The author compares different methods, and recommends the method (he uses the term "Folienabdeckung".) The author's contact is mentioned at the bottom of the article.
And here an Austrian master thesis from BOKU' botany institute (https://boku.ac.at/dib/institut-fuer-botanik-botany) about Fallopia japonica (NOT a tree - but tough ...) https://www.neobiota.steiermark.at/cms/dokumente/12784568_156567719/d2c91a10 /200203%20Master_Loibner%20Adecken%20Staudenkn%C3%B6terich.pdf Good luck!
Thank you for your interesting suggestions.
There is not much published about the control of tree species sprouting whit this method, although some grey literature publications suggest these methods as available for species like Eucalyptus spp. DiTomaso et al. (2013) https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjVxIzflfj1AhXoxoUKHRd7BFQQFnoECAgQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwric.ucdavis.edu%2Finformation%2Fnatural%2520areas%2Fwr_E%2FEucalyptus.pdf&usg=AOvVaw20Eb2foNQ0auen8j7syDb7
Black plastic was used for the control of some herbaceous species like Arundo donax, Tradescantia fluminensis etc. with very good results.
I'm looking for research papers or books that describe and analyse the effects of this method on tree species.
Here, our analysis of IAS control methods with black plastic:
Conference Paper EXPERIENCIAS DE CONTROL DE PLANTAS EXÓTICAS EN EL LIFE FLUVIAL
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