The Cost of Restoring Native Vegetation in Areas Dominated by Exotic Grasses
Mike Hehman - Hixon Ranch
Coauthors Eric
Grahmann – TAMUK-CKWRI Forrest Smith – TAMUK-CKWRI-STN Blake Martin - TAMUK-CKWRI Dr. Tim Fulbright - TAMUK-CKWRI Anna Lund
Introduction ď‚ž What
will it cost to convert South Texas rangelands dominated by exotic grasses back to native rangelands?
Exotic Grass Landscape
Introduction Exotic grass research group (2008) • Shotgun approach
Cost Assessment
Sandy Loam (Buffelgrass)
Other Plots
Ranch Plots
Pilot Plots
Oth er
Plo
ts
Pilot Plots
lots Ranch P
Saline Clay Loam (Kleberg Bluestem)
Ranch Plots Plow/Repeat Disk Repeat Spray (Glyphosphate) Plow/Repeat Disk/Seed Repeat Spray (Glyphosphate) /Seed
Man Hours 65.5 24.4 12.3 13.66
Rates: $21.00/hour to run tractor ($4.00/gallon diesel cost) $10/hour labor $18.88/ac. to spray glyphosphate (32 oz./ac.)
Times Spot Sprayed 5 5 4 9
Cost/Ac. $146.90 $157.22 $399.23 $503.86
Pilot Plots Plant forbs and spray Fusilade Repeat Disk/plant natives Mow/spray fusilade Burn/spray fusilade Plant natives/spot spray (Glyphosphate) Disk and Plant natives
Man Hours 6 11.5 3.5 2 3.5 120.7
Rates: $21.00/hour to run tractor ($4.00/gallon diesel cost) $10/hour labor $18.88/ac. to spray glyphosphate (32 oz./ac.) $22.56/ac. to spray fusilade (24 oz./ac.)
Times Spot Sprayed 3 2 3 3 1 7
Cost/Ac. $394.05 $477.21 $218.05 $152.45 $131.50 $1,219.19
Native Seed Cost’s
Native Seed Cost Native mixes in the past year have run $80 - $150 per acre depending on the species requested in the mix
Pipeline and Pad Site Seeding
Drilling Natives
Drilling Cost’s
Hydroseeding Natives
Hydroseeding Cost’s Profile
Flex Terra $0.14-0.18/square foot + Seed Cost ¼ acre = $1,306.80-$1,906.20 Second Nature $0.035-0.06/square foot +Seed Cost ¼ acre = $381.15-$653.40
Hydroseeding Profile Flex Tera
Second Nature
Mixed Soil Profiles Mulched
Drilled
Contributors Hixon Ranch and Family South Texas Natives Program Rene Barrientos NRCS
- E. “Kika” de la Garza Plant Materials Center Native Plant Society of Texas Harvey Weil Sportsman Foundation Arthur Seeligson Conservation Fund Ryan Peters Meagan Lesak
Questions ?