This research article published by Elsevier
Abstract
The exotic invasive plant pathenium hystephorus is invading rangelands in Africa while causing
negative effects on the biodiversity, environment, economy, and human and animal health because
eco-friendly control methods are lacking.
We conducted experiments to investigate the suppressive effects of forage legume plant species;
desmodium introtrum(Fabaceae),lablab purpureus (Fabaceae), and medicago sativa (Fabaceae) in
suppressing the growth of pathenium hystephorus
pathenium hystephorus growth was suppressed when grown with fodder plant species at high
density. However, the effect was mediated by the presence of lablab purpureus.
Our work highlights the importance of competitive native plant diversity and density in rangeland
management.
Moreover, this control method could be part of an integrated control toolkit being deployed in a
community-based approach in other countries.