Auckland RENH Kaipatiki Creek Trial - Umbrella Project's Boletim

Arquivos de periódicos de novembro 2019

03 de novembro de 2019

Tradescantia control

The conditions along the roadside remain very dry, and there has been no observable regrowth from the piled material along the roadside margin...in fact it continues to shrink. The undisturbed Tradescantia remains healthy near the roadside but has not observably increased.

Streamside banks released from Tradescantia remain mostly Tradescantia-free, with only the expected emergence of occasional strands incompletely uplifted in the release.

For this reason, removal by successive weeding operations is the method we have found most efficient, and one which is rewarded by the ongoing observation of the development of bot pre-existing and new native vegetation.

On these streambanks, both at water's edge and some metres up the clay bank, we are so far seeing mainly fern sporelings emerging in the cleared areas.

We have been offered the services for a few hours one day in November of some volunteers as part of the Kaipatiki Project, to wheelbarrow bales of Tradescantia from the piles along the opposite streamside, where... some piles made in the release and exploration of underlying vegetation were of necessity, due to limitations of space and volume of Tradescantia, made too large to turn (up to 2m D, over a metre high), and wetter conditions will result in faster regrowth....but, assisted no doubt by a relatively dry winter following a very dry summer and autumn, are reducing in size at a rate which will probably enable them all to be turned by the end of summer, should ongoing funding permit continuation of this Trial. [The volunteer assistance mentioned above will not take place due to conflicts of schedule].

Seedlings have recently begun to appear in the released ground. The vast majority of them appear to be Tree privet, but there are also large numbers of Coprosma, probably robusta , and Coprosma probably grandifolia.

We look forward to making a closer assessment of numbers and species of seedlings, and removing the weed seedlings, at a later date which will allow for the natural attrition of many, giving a better idea of the likely results of wide-scale removal of Tradescantia either with or without follow up weed control.

We have been particularly interested in the number and type of earthworms observed in and under all Tradescantia piles, their contribution to soil sonditions in the dry infertile roadside area, and their potential to enhance mass Tradescantia composting. We have recently been shown native earthworms being farmed in captivity as food for kiwi (to whom tiger worms are poisonous), and hope to learn to identify these native worms in situ.

Posted on 03 de novembro de 2019, 09:17 PM by kaipatiki_naturewatch kaipatiki_naturewatch | 0 comentários | Deixar um comentário

05 de novembro de 2019

Update on Tradescantia control

Perhaps due to the dry conditions which continue here, perhaps partly due to the amount of dry treefern litter in them, even on the shaded lower streambanks the Tradescantia piles have been considerably reduced, and many are now light enough to pick up easily - suggesting some of the Tradescantia has dried rather than rotted.

There has been very little regrowth on stems left buried under leaf litter or in sedimentary banks other than those within the streambed itself.

Follow-up removal has been done in some areas that are well-shaded, but there has been a surprising amount of light under the canopy on recent sunny days.

For that reason, despite the unexpected opportunity to eradicate Tradescantia from these streambanks quickly due to the current degree of its control and the dry conditions, any further removal of Tradescantia will be considered carefully in conjunction with observed local soil moisture and the development of native vegetation either as ground cover or as canopy.

There has already been significant development of fern sporelings and adults along the streamside, but much ground remains exposed to light at present.

Tree privet seedlings continue to arise prolifically throughout the weeded areas.

Posted on 05 de novembro de 2019, 12:31 AM by kaipatiki_naturewatch kaipatiki_naturewatch | 0 comentários | Deixar um comentário

06 de novembro de 2019

"How do you control Tradescantia in bush?"

This is our (slightly edited here) answer to a question from an iNat member, posted here for easy reference in answering similar queries.

Eradication of Tradescantia from an area of forest is based on best times to access it safely and without damaging the native vegetation or trampling seedlings and sporelings, especially on unstable streambank with lots of run off from steep banks above. I use strategy and technique developed over thirty years, and am currently assessing modifications to minimise moisture loss.

Tradescantia is shallowly rooted, and with gentle teasing leaves the ground completely, unless layered under sedimentary deposits as on the edges of the Kaipatiki Creek.

The material is placed in piles close enough to provide continued habitat and moisture retention, monitoring and turning or scooping regrowth from the edges of the piles ( eg monthly at first if wet, then 3 monthly) then amalagamating the partially-decomposed piles - eventually removing the last shreds of stem which remain live for a long time - so there are fewer piles to monitor and turn.

Seedlings arise most abundantly on the edges of these piles, where humus is created and moisture retained.

Skinks, earthworms, and other invertebrates abound under the piles, so they have to be treated with consideration, but as seedlings and sporelings grow in the released area, and adjacent low canopy increases, the scant remains of the decomposed piles can be removed entirely in a small hand-held bag....to be added to an active compost pile elsewhere.

As you practice it you get to know the best use of time, ie when to stop and get every strand, and when any broken or missed strands will be more quickly and easily picked up on next visit. Such regrowth is often surprisingly loosely rooted, and can even be uplifted entire by grasping just the stem tip...helpful when the base of the stem is hidden amongst dense understorey.

The key is ongoing care for a limited site, with close observation and appreciation of the whole complex ecology - or as much of it as can be comprehended. The pleasure of seeing the regeneration, including each individual seedling or sporeling, and taking care to leave these each time with adequate shade and shelter for their ongoing development, is the motivation for the ongoing monitoring which takes care of the regrowth.

First exploration may reveal ferns and native trees up to 50cm H hidden in the tradescantia, so requires good use of eyes and fingers - not rakes, as I have seen rakes or careless weeding pull out hundreds of native plants, eg on one occasion in kauri forest, dozens of nikau 30cm H, and seedling kauri, which were already thriving in the Tradescantia, worth a thousand planted trees, and were left lying in a heap beside the path!

Tradescantia is often a treasure trove of seedlings and sporelings, and if it contains none it often creates ideal conditions for them with ongoing monitoring, removed enough Tradescantia to allow their development, while retaining enough of it to maintain soil moisture until alternate ground cover and/or canopy are achieved for that particular spot.

Posted on 06 de novembro de 2019, 09:22 PM by kaipatiki_naturewatch kaipatiki_naturewatch | 0 comentários | Deixar um comentário

11 de novembro de 2019

Growing in Tradescantia

Here are some of the plants found growing in Tradescantia and observed before, during or after release during the Trial so far.

They include
native seedlings and sporelings, native ferns, native plants, weeds, and weed seedlings.

or view observations of all kinds of plants found growing in Tradescantia and observed before, during or after release in Zone Bb, in Zone Bc, in Zone Bd, in Zone Ca, in Zone Cb, in Zone Cc, in Zone Da, in Zone Db, in Zone Ea, in Zone Eb, in Zone Fa, in Zone Fb

Posted on 11 de novembro de 2019, 11:04 PM by kaipatiki_naturewatch kaipatiki_naturewatch | 0 comentários | Deixar um comentário