Zahra Bitarafan
Research Scientist
Attachments
Curriculum VitaeBiography
My research areas are:
- Weed biology and control (chemical and non-chemical, IWM), mainly in cereal, oilseed, and protein crops
- Herbicide resistance
- Biology and control of invasive alien plant species
- Weed biodiversity in agricultural land
- Climate change and weeds in a changing climate
- (Others: pesticide residues in crops and food, medicinal plants, biochar, …)
Authors
Kristian Nikolai Jæger Hansen Benedikte Watne Oliver Zahra Bitarafan Inger Sundheim Fløistad Christian Andreasen Lars Olav BrandsæterAbstract
Background: Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier and Levier) is a perennial herbaceous plant that can grow to a height of 2-5 m. A single flowering plant can produce more than 20,000 seeds. It is one of Europe’s most widespread and problematic invasive alien species and a severe threat to native biodiversity. Glyphosate is widely used to control H. mantegazzianum. Decades of intensive herbicide spraying have led to environmental pollution, prompting a need to explore new methods to supplement or replace glyphosate. Objective: Non-chemical methods to control H. mantegazzianum were tested and compared with glyphosate application. Methods: In two infested locations in southeast Norway, we compared the efficacy of glyphosate applications with a combination of mechanical cutting of the flowering stem of H. mantegazzianum and hot water treatment (80 °C). Hot water or glyphosate was supplied by foliar application or injection into the root crown. Results: The best method to reduce cover and the number of H. mantegazzianum rosettes and seedlings was achieved with two foliar applications of glyphosate. Cutting the flowering stem and injecting hot water into the root crown was almost as efficient as glyphosate application. Cutting and foliar applications of hot water had the weakest efficacy. Despite the best control and significant growth of grasses after glyphosate treatment, relatively high percentage of bare soil remained in the plots afterwards, increasing the risk of erosion. Conclusions: Cutting and injection of hot water in the root crown may be a viable alternative to glyphosate application in areas where herbicides are undesirable.
Authors
Zahra Bitarafan Wiktoria Kaczmarek-Derda Rafael De Andrade Moral Pierre-Adrien Rivier Therese With Berge Christian AndreasenAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Zahra Bitarafan Wiktoria Kaczmarek-Derda Therese With Berge Inger Sundheim Fløistad Christian AndreasenAbstract
No abstract has been registered
