Effects of weed and grass control on the establishment of Fraxinus excelsior L.

Abstract

Fraxinus excelsior L. was planted at Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford in a loam to clay loam soil which had previously been used for intensive beef production. Weed control, using glyphosate, was practised on part of the site for three consecutive years , the rest remained untreated. A marked increase in tree height and quality occurred in the treated plots. It is suggested that vegetation competing for moisture , rather than nutrients, was the main reason for the poor growth in the control plots.