[Aim] To explore the ecological management of Ageratina adenophora through combinations of alternative species and herbicide applications.[Method] The control effects of competitive species (such as Sorghum bicolor×S. sudanense, Pennisetum squamulatum, and Lolium perenne) and herbicides (such as aminopyralid, triclopyr, fluroxypyr, and clopyralid) on A. adenophora and their interaction effects were determined using competition experiments. Three ratios of these competitive species and the invasive species were utilized (1:1, 3:1, 5:1) in a complete randomized design with 4 replicates.[Result] The competitive balance index of S. bicolor×S. sudanense, P. squamulatum and L. perenne was greater than zero for most ratios, except for the 1:1 ratio of L. perenne and A. adenophora. Plant height, branch, root shoot ratio, and leaf area ratio of A. adenophora were significantly reduced with increasing proportions of the three alternative species. The replacement control effects of S. bicolor×S. sudanense, P. squamulatum and L. perenne on A. adenophora were 55.1%, 46.9% and 40.3% at the highest ratio of three alternative species:A. adenophora (5:1), respectively. Toxicity test showed that among the four herbicides analyzed, the clopyralid had the highest bioactivity (LC₉₀=902.1 g·hm^-2) in A. adenophora. However, triclopyr had higher safety to three alternative species, with the selectivity index of 3.75, 2.79 and 2.67 to S. bicolor×S. sudanense, P. squamulatum, and L. perenne, respectively. For a ratio of S. bicolor×S. sudanense and P. squamulatum to A. adenophora of 3:1 plus triclopyr and clopyralid application, P. squamulatum showed an antagonistic effect with clopyralid and an additive effect with triclopyr. S. bicolor×S. sudanense had an additive effect with clopyralid and synergistic effect with triclopyr, respectively. Compared to triclopyr application alone over 90% of the control rate, the use dosage of triclopyr was reduced by 20.0%-35.0% (i.e., 210.0-370.0 g·hm^-2) when S. bicolor×S. sudanense and triclopyr combination.[Conclusion] These results suggest that alternative species competition and herbicide combinations can achieve a more secure, sustainable, and long-term control of A. adenophora.