Managing Parthenium Weed Across Diverse Landscapes: Prospects and Limitations - Management of Invasive Weeds

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(Wood and Scholler 2002) and Ethiopia (Taye 2005, 2006; Taye et al. 2002, 2004b,

c), but studies on their potential role as mycoherbicides in the field, and its econom-

ics are not known. Mycoherbicides have a potential to supplement herbicides, espe-

cially in crops and urban areas, but may have limited application value in other areas

(e.g. forests, waste land and pastures) where their use may not be economical.

12.4.7 Legislative Control

Preventing the spread of parthenium is the most cost-effective management strat-

egy. Parthenium is known to spread through contaminated vehicles, machinery,

livestock, grain and other products. In Australia, parthenium is a declared weed in

all states, which makes the sale, movement or distribution of parthenium within

Australia prohibited (Table 12.2). In Queensland, there are several 'washdown'

facilities at strategic points and vehicles travelling from infested areas are required

to clear their vehicles before travelling to parthenium-free areas. It is legally man-

datory for suppliers of stocks, machinery, soil, water or other products from areas

of known parthenium infestations to declare that the material they supply is free of

parthenium. The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service prohibits the intro-

duction of parthenium as a nursery stock or through contaminated seed imports.

Although parthenium is widespread throughout India, it has been declared as a

weed only in the Karnataka state (Table 12.2). However, there has been no coordi-

nated nationwide program to prevent the spread and management of parthenium in

India. In South Africa and Sri Lanka, parthenium is a declared weed (Table 12.2),

where movement of parthenium is prohibited in both rural and urban areas.

However, in other countries no such nationwide legislative mechanism exists to

prevent further spread of parthenium.

Table 12.2 Declaration status of parthenium as a noxious weed in various countries

Country