Transcript Tracked Feller Buncher Cutting Trees

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
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/m2
 65% mortality
 some seedlings, 1.3/m2
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/m2
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/m2
Prairie Pines
Holiday Park
 60% mortality
 Damage to pine
 Seedling recruitment 0.7/m2
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
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
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
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
Brown is Beautiful