Dispersal and establishment of slender thistle, Carduus pycnocephalus L. as affected by ground cover

Abstract

After 3 years of spread from sown infestations, slender thistle density in spring was 0.12 and 4.67 plants m-2 for plots in which the ground cover was dominated by cocksfoot and annual grass species, respectively. On plots maintained free of plants other than slender thistle ('bare plots'), the corresponding density was 47.31 plants m-2. Slender thistle seed was dispersed at least 10 m from the parent plant in the first year of seeding and plants were evenly spread over the bare plots after 2 years. After 3 years, slender thistle ingress was still occurring on the other plots. The results indicate the importance of ground cover, either of living plants or of litter, in reducing seedling establishment and seed dispersal of slender thistle.