Control of bracken by promoting regeneration of woody vegetation in the Yucatan Peninsula

Abstract

In the tropical dry forest of the Yucatan Peninsula in southern Mexico, as in many parts of the Neotropics, deforested areas have been colonized by the highly competitive invasive bracken (Pteridium arachnoideum), which inhabits naturally regenerated and successional forests on abandoned farmland. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficiency of different treatments for the control of ferns through the mechanical removal of their fronds in rocky soils of the Yucatan Peninsula. In 2013, we implemented an experiment using different frequencies of cutting of ferns (cutting ferns every 30, 60, 90, and 120 days and control). One year after establishing experiment, data was gathered regarding bracken rhizome biomass, basal area, height, density, and species richness of naturally regenerating vegetation for all treatments. As expected, the lowest rhizome biomass was achieved with the 30- and 60-day cutting treatments and the fern control had a positive effect on the regeneration of woody species. We conclude that promotion of natural regeneration following agricultural land use may be essential for long-term elimination of bracken.

Keywords

• Woody regeneration
• Resprouting
• Facilitation
• Bracken
• Rhizome biomass