Effectiveness of Current Methods for the Control of Bracken (pteridium Aquilinum)

Background Control of bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) is a global problem for livestock-based extensive agriculture, conservation, recreation, game management and forestry. Bracken is controlled primarily by application of asulam or by cutting. The success of bracken control may be dependent upon ecological variables (such as habitat type and latitude) and methodological variables (such as number and timing of treatments). We synthesised the available evidence regarding the effectiveness of bracken control interventions in order to identify knowledge-gaps and provide an evidence-base to support decision making where bracken control is a problem.