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

Mechanical RemovalTAME Melaleuca

François B. LarocheSouth 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)

Cell 17/18Cutting head mounted on hydraulic arm

Better maneuverability

Holiday Park and Prairie Pines demonstration sites

Cutting head mounted on front of vehicle.

Tracked Feller Buncher Spraying Stumps (Cell 17/18 - 2002)

Treated Stump

Spraying

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% mortalityFollow-up retreatment for seedlingsStumps 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

Ground Rutting

3 years later

Days after

Ground Rutting

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)

Feller Buncher Manual Herbicide

Clearmore Chipper

Aerial Herbicide

Acres Treated 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

Cost/Biomass $48 $40 $67 N/A

Cost/Plant $0.19 $0.08 $0.22 N/A

Labor/equipmentcost/acre

N/A $1068 N/A $60

Herbicidecost/acre

N/A $755 N/A $226

Time tocompletion

120 days 21 days 160 days 2 days

Melaleuca Control Cost by Various Methods of Treatment at Cell 17/18

Tracked Feller Buncher Cutting Trees, (TAME) - 2004

Restricted to certain trunk diameter Need second pass for small trees Somewhat selectiveTreat stumps with herbicide

90% mortality some seedlings, 0.3/m2

65% mortality some seedlings, 1.3/m2Holiday Park

Prairie PinesPrairie Pines Preserve, Lee Co.

Holiday Park, Broward Co.Holiday Park, Broward Co.

Tracked Feller Buncher Cutting Trees, (TAME) - 2006

Holiday ParkHoliday Park

Prairie Pines

Brontosaurus, Holiday Park and Prairie Pines (TAME) 2004

Little non-target damage and few melaleuca left standing

Able to take down large treesSeparate motor for chipping head

High selectivity and maneuverability Does not grind stumps

Prairie Pines



20-30% mortality 0 seedling recruitment

Mortality greater (less regrowth) where trees were larger or denser and mulch is therefore deeper

50 % mortality some seedlings, 0.7/m2

Holiday Park

Prairie PinesHoliday ParkHoliday Park

Prairie Pines

Stump regrowth Few seedlings


Prairie Pines


Barko Chipper, Holiday Park and Prairie Pines (TAME) 2004

Coarse mulch, some stems/trunks missed by chipper once down

Rubber tires Low selectivity, cannot

maneuver well around natives Prairie Pines



40% mortalitySeedling recruitment 3/m2

60% mortality Damage to pine Seedling recruitment 0.7/m2


Prairie Pines



Prairie Pines

Stump regrowth Few seedlings

Stump Regrowth

Brontosaurus Barko

No regrowth with Feller Buncher

BrontosaurusFeller Buncher

Herbicide Barko Chipper

Acres Treated 4.8 4.8 5.0

Total Cost $9,740 $9,980 $10,000

Cost/Acre $2,029 $2,079 $2,000

Herbicidecost/acre N/A $38 N/A

Labor Hours N/A 23 N/A

Mechanical Removal of Melaleuca at Prairie Pines (TAME)

Mechanical Removal of Melaleuca at Holiday Park (TAME)

BrontosaurusFeller Buncher

HerbicideBarko Chipper

Acres Treated 3.8 5.0 4.0

Total Cost $7,030 $9,103 $9,900

Cost/Acre $2,211 $1,990 $2,475

Herbicidecost/acre N/A $29 N/A

Labor Hours N/A 16 N/A

Follow up treatment required

Seedling recruitment Other exotics Need herbicide and follow-up

treatmentRestricted (wetland areas)Not selective (under story)Tracks create ruttingCostly

Instant resultsMany types of equipment

Brown is Beautiful

Documents

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