Influence of Management and Environmental Factors on the Distribution of the Marsh Ragwort (Senecio aquaticus Huds.) in Agricultural Grassland in Orkney

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Abstract
Predisposing factors for establishment of populations of S. aquaticus in agricultural grassland in Orkney [Scotland] include soil surface wetness, sandy soil, low sheep stocking rate, sward openness and old or permanent pasture. Twenty-two management and environmental factors together accounted for < 39% of the variation in S. aquaticus population density. Of the residual variance, 22% was attributable to differences between parishes, 67% to differences between farms in the same parish, and 11% to differences between fields on the same farm. The large residual variation may result from the chance presence or absence of seed inoculum. In an experiment, heavy cattle stocking rates in a paddock-grazing system together with high N fertilizer application almost eliminated S. aquaticus from an infested pasture.

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