On December 1st, LIISMA invited partners and professionals to join at our office in Brentwood for lively and informative presentations and demonstrations. For this iteration of our quarterly Partners Meeting and Workshop, the combined virtual and in-person attendance was at a high for the year at 50 attendees. We had two workshop presentations, a partner spotlight, and even a hands-on invasive species management demo.
Following the LIISMA update was a partner spotlight on the Town of Brookhaven, presented by Alan Duckworth. To read about the great work done by Alan and the town, click here to read our Town of Brookhaven Partner Spotlight article.
Moving on to our first workshop presentation, we were joined virtually by Dr. Nicholas Menchyck, Professor in the Department of Urban Horticulture and Design at Farmingdale State College. Dr. Menchyk has a B.S. in turfgrass management and a Ph.D in Plant and Environmental Science, and has focused on improving foliar fertilization efficiency, soil nutrition and plant physiology, and currently works to educate students about horticultural best management practices.
Dr. Menchyk presented to our partners on “Managing Soil for Native Species While Mitigating Invasive Species”. He began by emphasizing the importance that soil plays in ecological processes: providing nutrients, water and physical support to plants, controlling water flow, filtering and protecting groundwater, storing carbon, providing habitat for biodiversity, and more. That said, maintaining high soil quality and health is essential to retaining these ecosystem services. Healthy soils require less human interventions and inputs than unhealthy degraded soils. As a result of human activity such as compaction from construction, fertilizer and road runoff, and industrial activities, much of Long Island soils are disturbed. This means they may often be coarse; dense; high in pH, salt, nutrients, and heavy metals; and low in biological activity – like beneficial microbes and fungi. One technique that Dr. Menchyk recommends for assessing and maintaining soil health and quality begins with soil testing and soil mapping. By evaluating and testing our soils, we can determine the suitability of those soils to plants ahead of planting, determine the need for remediation, evaluate the effectiveness of management practices, and diagnose different plant problems that may be related to soil and water conditions. Targeted soil sampling based on mapping is the best way to begin evaluating soil conditions. Paired with the web soil survey, linked here, those testing their soil can compare results to the baseline of what is expected based on the geology of their area. This may be crucial information for conservation specialists who wish to remove invasive species and restore habitat. Dr. Menchyk also covered best management practices for mechanical and chemical control of invasive species, as well as the effects of management on soil health and disturbance.
For more information and how to get your soil tested and using the web soil survey, watch Dr. Menchyk’s presentation here.
Lastly, LIISMA hosted a land manager from another neck of the woods, in Westchester, NY. Budd Veverka is Director of Land Management for Mianus River Gorge, Inc., an independent, non-profit conservation and education organization in Bedford, NY, and is an adjunct professor at Western Connecticut State University. Budd directs day-to-day land management efforts on the Mianus River Gorge Preserve, Taylor Preserve, and conservation easements throughout the Mianus River Watershed. He is also highly active in the Lower-Hudson PRISM (the lower Hudson Valley’s equivalent of LIISMA) and is chair of several committees including the invasive species prevention zone committee and biocontrol committee.
Veverka spoke on what he does with Mianus River Gorge Preserve, which includes large scale invasive species surveys, invasives removals, forest pest monitoring and mitigation, habitat restoration, and especially burning. In recent years, Budd has become the face of weed torching in the New York area. He has researched and extensively tested the use of weed torching to manage various species of invasive plants. He even analyzed the cost and effectiveness of weed torching compared to other management techniques and found that it is highly efficient on all fronts when applied correctly. While these techniques can be applied to many invasives, Mianus River Gorge Preserve staff have mostly applied it to stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) and found great success. It also works well on garlic mustard and stumps of multi-stemmed woody shrubs, like barberry (Berberis spp.).
Veverka spoke on what he does with Mianus River Gorge Preserve, which includes large scale invasive species surveys, invasives removals, forest pest monitoring and mitigation, habitat restoration, and especially burning. In recent years, Budd has become the face of weed torching in the New York area. He has researched and extensively tested the use of weed torching to manage various species of invasive plants. He even analyzed the cost and effectiveness of weed torching compared to other management techniques and found that it is highly efficient on all fronts when applied correctly. While these techniques can be applied to many invasives, Mianus River Gorge Preserve staff have mostly applied it to stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) and found great success. It also works well on garlic mustard and stumps of multi-stemmed woody shrubs, like barberry (Berberis spp.).
To illustrate proper application, we took to the field and managed invasives in the woods at the Sisters of Saint Joseph. The conditions for weed torching were ideal that day – low to no wind and a light rain, which prevents fire catching and increases effectiveness of torching plants. Water inside of the cells of damp plants boil and cells burst when briefly coming into contact with the flame or heat from the weed torch. After aboveground growth is wilted, plants expend their energy pumping energy and effort towards restoring foliage and stems. This depletes energy resources in the roots and leads to plant death.
LIISMA is thrilled to share this management technique with our partners. To see footage of Budd’s presentation and hands on demonstration, click here.
Professionals interested in applying this technique are encouraged to review the literature for what species are effectively by weed torch, safely experiment with treating less studied species, and to share their findings. Be sure to check local fire codes before utilizing weed torching or any other management techniques utilizing fire. For those interested in learning more on implementing this technique, contact us at invasive@liisma.org for recommendations.
LIISMA would like to thank our expert presenters and all who attended. Stay tuned and save the dates for the LIISMA Partners Meeting and Workshops in 2024: February 8th, May 10th, September 13th, & December 6th!
