Mechanical Removal TAME Melaleuca Franois B Laroche South

Mechanical Removal TAME Melaleuca François B. Laroche South Florida Water Management District

Melaleuca Control §Mechanical removal not used for melaleuca removal in natural areas. §Land clearing for development, along canals, roadside, utilities ROW. §Cell 17/18, comparison of herbicide and mechanical methods §TAME demonstration project §Melaleuca control in natural areas traditionally done with herbicide treatment methods.

Tracked Feller Buncher Cutting Trees (Cell 17/18 - 2002) § Holiday Park and Prairie Pines demonstration sites § Cutting head mounted on front of vehicle. § Cell 17/18 § Cutting head mounted on hydraulic arm § Better maneuverability

Tracked Feller Buncher Spraying Stumps (Cell 17/18 - 2002) Spraying Treated Stump § Cutting head mounted with herbicide sprayer § Gyro Track for smaller trees and saplings

CELL 17/18 § Frill /Girdle/Cut/stump herbicide treatment, 3 years later § 95% mortality § Follow-up retreatment for seedlings § Stumps and trunks remain § Feller Buncher/Gyrotrack/ Skider/Chipper, 3 years later § 90 – 95% mortality. § Follow-up retreatment for seedlings

Clear-More Tree Chipper Stumper Knocking Down Trees (Cell 17/18) § High selectivity and maneuverability, little non-target damage and no melaleuca left standing § Separate motor for chipping head § Grinds stumps into the ground § 99% mortality § 0 seedling recruitment § Slow when trees are dense

Clear-More Tree Chipper After Treatment (Cell 17/18) Natives § 3 years later Ground Rutting § Days after

Cell 17/18 § Aerial herbicide treatment, 3 years later § 99% mortality § 0 seedling recruitment § Follow-up treatment needed § Dead trees remain standing (10 year + for decay)

Melaleuca Control Cost by Various Methods of Treatment at Cell 17/18 Feller Buncher Manual Herbicide Clearmore Chipper 37. 5 38. 5 20 80 Total Cost $99, 400 $70, 199. 53 $75, 190 $51, 411. 70 Cost/Acre $2, 651 $1, 823 $3, 760 $286 $48 $40 $67 N/A $0. 19 $0. 08 $0. 22 N/A Labor/equipment cost/acre N/A $1068 N/A $60 Herbicide cost/acre N/A $755 N/A $226 120 days 21 days 160 days 2 days Acres Treated Cost/Biomass Cost/Plant Time to completion Aerial Herbicide

Tracked Feller Buncher Cutting Trees, (TAME) - 2004 Prairie Pines Preserve, Lee Co. Prairie Pines Holiday Park § 90% mortality § some seedlings, 0. 3/m 2 § 65% mortality § some seedlings, 1. 3/m 2 Holiday Park, Broward Co. § Restricted to certain trunk diameter § Need second pass for small trees § Somewhat selective §Treat stumps with herbicide

Tracked Feller Buncher Cutting Trees, (TAME) - 2006 Prairie Pines Holiday Park

Brontosaurus, Holiday Park and Prairie Pines (TAME) 2004 § High selectivity and maneuverability § Does not grind stumps Holiday Park § Little non-target damage and few melaleuca left standing § Able to take down large trees § Separate motor for chipping head Prairie Pines

Brontosaurus, Holiday Park and Prairie Pines (TAME) 2005 Holiday Park Prairie Pines § 20 -30% mortality § 0 seedling recruitment Holiday Park § 50 % mortality § some seedlings, 0. 7/m 2 Prairie Pines § Mortality greater (less regrowth) where trees were larger or denser and mulch is therefore deeper

Brontosaurus, Holiday Park and Prairie Pines (TAME) 2006 Prairie Pines Holiday Park § Stump regrowth § Few seedlings

Barko Chipper, Holiday Park and Prairie Pines (TAME) 2004 Holiday Park § Rubber tires § Low selectivity, cannot maneuver well around natives § Coarse mulch, some stems/trunks missed by chipper once down Prairie Pines

Barko Chipper, Holiday Park and Prairie Pines (TAME) 2005 § 40% mortality § Seedling recruitment 3/m 2 Prairie Pines Holiday Park § 60% mortality § Damage to pine § Seedling recruitment 0. 7/m 2

Barko Chipper, Holiday Park and Prairie Pines (TAME) 2006 Holiday Park Prairie Pines § Stump regrowth § Few seedlings

Stump Regrowth § No regrowth with Feller Buncher § Brontosaurus § Barko

Mechanical Removal of Melaleuca at Prairie Pines (TAME) Brontosaurus Feller Buncher Herbicide Barko Chipper 4. 8 5. 0 $9, 740 $9, 980 $10, 000 $2, 029 $2, 079 $2, 000 Herbicide cost/acre N/A $38 N/A Labor Hours N/A 23 N/A Acres Treated Total Cost/Acre

Mechanical Removal of Melaleuca at Holiday Park (TAME) Brontosaurus Acres Treated Feller Buncher Herbicide Barko Chipper 3. 8 5. 0 4. 0 $7, 030 $9, 103 $9, 900 $2, 211 $1, 990 $2, 475 Herbicide cost/acre N/A $29 N/A Labor Hours N/A 16 N/A Total Cost/Acre

Follow up treatment required § Seedling recruitment § Other exotics §Need herbicide and follow-up treatment §Restricted (wetland areas) §Not selective (under story) §Tracks create rutting §Costly §Instant results §Many types of equipment

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