Hendricks Park Project

Hendricks Park Project

Academic Year 2002-2003

Treatment Study

Introduction: The Hendricks Park Secondary Invasive Plant Management Study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of 4 different management protocols for controlling the spread of Herb Robert and Nipplewort. There are 124 plots in the study. Each is 1.5 meters wide and 1.5 meters long. Each of the 4 treatments - hand pulling, mulching, burning, mulching and burning ö and the control are replicated 25 times and are randomly distributed. The data below shows initial results of early stem counts.

Plot dimensions ö Each plot is 1 meter long by .5 meters wide. Diagonal corners of the plot are permanently marked with a metal nail and washer pounded into the ground. Plots are nested inside a buffer area. See illustration at bottom of treatment map.

Edge Plot Treatment Map ö Two sites were chosen in the park where Herb Robert and Nipplewort are present, a 25 plot section alongside a closed road within the park's forested area and 99 plots along a nearby intersecting trail. The map below illustrates the four treatment methods applied to the monitoring plots and it will be used as reference for future plot work.

Data Collection ö After six weeks the treatment plots were visited by the project group to collect initial stem counts. The graph and tables 1 and 2 below illustrate our preliminary results and provide some interesting statistics. Further treatments and stem counts will hopefully provide enough quantitative data to provide park staff with the information needed to make appropriate management decisions.

Table 1: Stem Counts per Treatment for GERROB
	Num Plots	Avg	Max	Min	Deviation	Median	Total
Mulch	25	2.5	27.0	0.0	5.7	0	63
Hand-pull	25	9.9	50.0	0.0	11.1	6	247
Burn Only	25	1.2	6.0	0.0	1.8	0	31
Burn & Mulch	25	0.8	5.0	0.0	1.3	0	21
Control	24	24.4	50.0	1.0	17.5	29	586

Table 2: Stem Counts per Treatment for LAPCOM
	Num Plots	Avg	Max	Min	Deviation	Median	Total
Mulch	25	0.6	12.0	0.0	2.4	0	16
Hand-pull	25	2.4	15.0	0.0	4.2	1	60
Burn Only	25	0.4	3.0	0.0	0.9	0	11
Burn & Mulch	25	0.1	1.0	0.0	0.3	0	2
Control	24	3.8	22.0	0.0	6.0	1	92

Native Plant Growth ö Another consideration for treatment effectiveness is the success of native plant growth. Native plants within the boundary of the treatment plots are estimated using a cover class scale. Native plants with stems rooting from the buffered zone are ignored. Cover class is scaled in percentage of plot cover as seen looking from above. Cover class scale: 0 = 0%; 1 = 1 - 5%; 2 = 6 - 20%; 3 = 21 - 50%; 4 = 51 - 75%; 5 = 76 - 100%

Table 3 below shows the native cover class statistics from the first data collection.

Table 3: Native Cover Class
					Number of plots in each cover class
	Num Plots	Avg	Max	Min	0	1	2	3	4	5
Mulch	25	1.0	3	0	7	13	3	2	0	0
Hand-pull	25	1.4	4	0	3	14	4	2	2	0
Burn Only	25	0.7	1	0	7	18	0	0	0	0
Burn & Mulch	25	0.6	1	0	11	14	0	0	0	0
Control	24	1.1	3	0	3	17	3	1	0	0

Download Final Report

Issues at Hendricks Park
Project Objectives
Project Task List

Project Development
Educational Plant Guide
Invasive Species Monitoring
     Treatment Study
     Encroachment Study
Forest Inventory Update
     Plot Photo Database
     Data Analysis
Misc. Project Photos
Reference Sites

Presentations
Fall Term Presentation

Winter Term Presentation

Final Presentation

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