Comments on: Do invasive species cause ecological change, or follow it? http://www.kimmerer.com/do-invasive-species-cause-ecological-change-or-follow-it/ Tree Biology and Plant Science in a Human-dominated World Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:25:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tom Kimmerer http://www.kimmerer.com/do-invasive-species-cause-ecological-change-or-follow-it/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Tom Kimmerer Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:31:15 +0000 http://www.kimmerer.com/do-invasive-species-cause-ecological-change-or-follow-it/#comment-35 Carrie - Organic farming presents a lot of challenges for control of invasives, but the answer lies in good management of natives. Native species can often outcompete invasives with the right conditions. For example, undisturbed native grasslands that are periodically burned are remarkably resistant to invasion. As this post discusses, we need to learn to avoid the conditions that allow invasives to be successful. Unfortunately, most of our land management does the opposite. For organic farmers, the solution probably lies in good cultivation practices, and maintaining ground cover all the time. It is unfortunate that no-till is usually synonymous with herbicide use, but it doesn't have to be, as <a href="http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/20080529/gw1" rel="nofollow"> Rodale has shown</a>. Carrie -
Organic farming presents a lot of challenges for control of invasives, but the answer lies in good management of natives. Native species can often outcompete invasives with the right conditions. For example, undisturbed native grasslands that are periodically burned are remarkably resistant to invasion. As this post discusses, we need to learn to avoid the conditions that allow invasives to be successful. Unfortunately, most of our land management does the opposite.

For organic farmers, the solution probably lies in good cultivation practices, and maintaining ground cover all the time. It is unfortunate that no-till is usually synonymous with herbicide use, but it doesn’t have to be, as Rodale has shown.

]]> By: Carrie http://www.kimmerer.com/do-invasive-species-cause-ecological-change-or-follow-it/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Carrie Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:54:54 +0000 http://www.kimmerer.com/do-invasive-species-cause-ecological-change-or-follow-it/#comment-34 Tom, I'm wondering how might this apply to those trying to switch to organic farming? Many tell me they have used herbicides in the past to remove or control invasive plant species. Tom, I’m wondering how might this apply to those trying to switch to organic farming? Many tell me they have used herbicides in the past to remove or control invasive plant species.

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