Tansy ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris Gaertn.) and other groundsels on cultivated land and pastures: occurrence, importance and landscape management measures

Abstract

Tansy ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris Gaertn. (syn. Senecio jacobaea L.), like other groundsels, can lead to contamination of crops due to its toxic ingredients, the pyrrolizidine alkaloids. If the harvested plants are used as food, feed or medicines, appropriate precautions in the cultivation and harvesting as well as in the quality control of the raw materials and the products are necessary. To protect human health the legislator has created respective maximum level or limit regulations. Since groundsels can also pose a potential threat to pasture livestock, landscape management measures should be considered in order to remove these plants from grazing land. In addition to the fundamental importance for the health of humans and animals, however, with regard to the question of rigorous control measures against groundsels, it must be decided case-by-case on the basis of a benefit-risk assessment whether and which measures are necessary. Thereby the ecological importance of the plants, the preservation of biodiversity and the priorities of nature conservation must also be taken into account.