Best practices for management of invasive Heracleum mantegazzianum (H. sosnowskyi): a literature review and field application in Russia

This paper presents a review and a critical analysis of methodological recommendations (best practices) for controlling the invasion of Heracleum mantegazzianum (H. sosnowskyi), published in the open literature between 2004 and 2024. The analysis indicates that the most frequently recommended method for eliminating this species is chemical treatment with herbicides. Mechanical control methods are the second most cited approach. Mowing is recommended both as a standalone control measure and in combination with herbicidal treatments. For agricultural land, the use of mechanised tillage alongside herbicides is advised. For small-scale infestations, recommended methods include digging, pruning the root system, using light-blocking cover materials, and removing inflorescences. These methodological recommendations are widely applied in practice. The total value of contracts for the eradication of H. mantegazzianum, completed in 2024, amounted to 650 million rubles. The number of contracts for chemical treatment exceeded the share of those employing mowing. A trend towards reduced costs for the eradication of this plant was also identified. However, our analysis reveals that some published recommendations are not aligned with current scientific data or lack sufficient field testing on a large scale. To address these issues, we recommend: (1) developing unified eradication guidelines that account for regional specificities, and (2) creating a digital platform (knowledge management system) for sharing verified information on hogweed control methods.