Effects of repetitive cuttings of the stem on the growth of typha australis (schum. & thonn.)

Responses of Typha australis (Schum. & Thonn.) to repetitive cuttings of the stem has been tested in this work. Seedlings were harvested by pulling in the Niayes area. After reduction of the rhizome length and plant height, they were transplanted into containers filled with sand of defined characteristics. The plants were acclimated to limit the stress due to uprooting and transplantation. They were divided into 3 lots of 3 replications: a first control group, a second lot cut every 7 days and a third lot cut every 15 days. A decrease of the height and the number of leaves is observed following repetitive sections with regard to control plants with significant differences. At harvest, fresh matters of aerial parts and dry matters of underground parts are reduced with the cuttings made in different periods compared to control plants. There was no significant difference between the cuttings realized every 7 and every 15 days. The mass rhizome is further reduced and reserves increasingly mobilized when the cuttings are frequent with significant differences. The repetitive cuttings on the stem had a reducing effect on the growth of cattails. They could give a promising approach for the management of this invasive plant.