Friends of The Pinnacle   weeding effort  2014 - 2015  
  
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An important aspect of the Weed Management Plan is monitoring and reporting on our interventions. This includes monitoring our weeding effort to know how our resources have been deployed, and to compare it with the requirements projected in the plan and effort in previous years.

Data on this page is for the year 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015. Weeding effort for the current year, updated monthly, can be found at weeding effort. Effort can also be viewed for the completed years 2010-2011, 2011-2012, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014.

 

Tip: Hover mouse over chart thumbnail to see full size chart.

Total Effort


The chart shows the total effort for each of the last five seasons, divided into the time spent in the Reserve, Bottom Pinnacle and North Kama paddocks.

Between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015, the total amount of effort deployed in weed management was 1101 hours. This was 10% less than for the same period last season. The amount of time spent on the Reserve itself was 21% less than last season; 63% of the total effort so far this season has been spent on the Reserve, the smallest in 5 years.

The graph to the left shows a small but consistent decline in total effort from 2011-12 to 2014-15. This is interesting given that we are controlling more weed types over a greater area this season than in 2011-12 and have had some very large infestations. One possible explanation is that control is now more efficient because of our increased usage of spraying (45% of total effort in 2011-12 increasing to 59% in 2014-15) and our improved knowledge of where each weed type is located through our intensive mapping. Alternatively it may be evidence that we are slowly having a lasting impact on weed infestation.

   

Effort for different weed types


This chart shows the total effort for each weed type across all paddocks.

This chart shows the total effort for each weed type and how that was distributed between the Reserve and neighbouring paddocks. The greatest effort was spent on Saffron thistles (114 h on the Reserve, 209 h total). This is much less than last season. More than 150 h total effort was also spent on St. John's wort, Verbascum and thistles other than Saffron thistles.

In the Reserve, most effort was spent on St. John's wort (122 h), closely followed by Verbascum (116 h), Saffron thistles (114 h) and miscellaneous Broadleaf weeds (107 h).

For the amount of effort spent on each weed type in each paddock, see relative prevalence of each weed type in each paddock.

 

Reserve Other Total
Saffron Thistles 16% 23% 19%
St. John's Wort  18% 14% 16%
Verbascum  17% 14% 16%
Thistles - non-Saffron 7% 29% 15%
Broadleafs-misc. other 15% 0% 10%
Sweet Briars  8% 7% 8%
African Lovegrass  7% 1% 5%
Paterson's Curse 5% 3% 4%
Horehound 1% 6% 3%
Other 6% 3% 5%

The percentage of total effort for each of the top nine weed types (and the rest) is shown in the table for the Reserve, the combination of Bottom Pinnacle and North Kama (Other) and all areas (Total). [As a guide to interpretation, 16% of the total effort spent in the Reserve, 23% of the total effort in the other paddocks, and 19% of the total effort was spent on Saffron thistles].


There is a high degree of correlation between the apportioning of our effort for the Reserve and Other paddocks for most weed types. Two exceptions are worthy of comment: a large proportion of effort was spent on miscellaneous broadleafs (mainly Fleabane, flatweed and skeleton weed) in the Reserve, but it was not considered a high priority in the neighbouring paddocks; and a much larger proportion of time was spent on non-Saffron thistles in the neighbouring paddocks because these thistles were not as prevalent in the Reserve this season, we hope because of successful treatment in previous years.


This chart shows the change from month to month of weeding effort for the different weed targets.
To see how our effort for each weed type changed through the season, hover over the chart to the left, and/or visit the monthly effort page. Monthly effort for each type can also be compared for the past five seasons by visiting the monthly history page.

For an even more detailed view, and a comparison with last season, visit the weed type effort over time page.
   


This chart shows the comparison of effort for each weed type targeted in the Reserve across the last five seasons.

Comparison of effort for each weed type with previous years

The chart to the left shows the amount of effort in the Reserve in each of the last five seasons for each of the weed types targeted. Effort is restricted to the Reserve because of the gradual expansion of weed control into the neighbouring paddocks over those years. Comparison of effort for the Reserve alone therefore provides a better indication of weeding effort required to control each weed type. To see the equivalent chart for the Reserve and neighbouring paddocks combined, open the comparison for the combined Reserve and neighbouring paddocks window.

While there are considerable differences in effort between seasons for some weed types, others are quite close. Notable is the continued decline in effort on briars over the last fours seasons and on woody weeds over the last three seasons, indicating that we have been successfully eradicating these weeds. A similar decline can be seen for the Thistles other than Saffron thistles grouping, although there was a small increase this season. There have been large changes in the effort on Saffron thistles over the last five seasons, with this season having only half the effort of the peak seasons 2010-11 and 2013-14. It is hoped that the decreased effort required this season resulted from the concerted effort last season.

For a more detailed discussion of season to season differences, see season comparison page.

   

Effort in different paddocks


The chart shows the total effort for each paddock, divided into the time spent using different weed control methods.

The chart to the left shows the total effort for each paddock, separated into the time spent applying each weed control method.

 

This chart is presented as total effort in each paddock. In order to judge relative levels of infestation by each weed type in different paddocks, the chart can also be viewed as the effort per hectare in each paddock for each weed type targeted. On that web page it can be seen, among other things, that the Eastern paddock received the second greatest effort per hectare for St. John's wort (perhaps a little surprising to some). Kama and Central paddocks received the most effort/ha (on the Reserve) for Saffron thistles, and Kama also required the most effort/ha for Verbascum and Paterson's curse of any of the paddocks on the Reserve.

   


The chart shows the total effort in each year, divided into the time spent using different weed control methods.

Effort spent on different control methods

This chart shows the total effort in each year apportioned into the different control methods. The percentage effort is shown on the left hand axis and the absolute hours on the chart bars themselves.

 

Obvious features include: the big increase in spraying after 2010-11, as we emphasised that as the preferable control method; the gradual decrease in bagging after 2010-11 as the increased spraying allowed more effective control of weeds prior to maturity; and a steady decrease in grubbing as a control method as we aim to minimise the soil disturbance causes by using this method.

   


The chart shows the total effort for each paddock, divided into the time spent grubbing and pulling weeds and that spent spraying.


 

Summary of other web pages referred to on this page
monthly effort by weed type, paddock and control method
monthly effort summary since 2010
monthly effort for each weed type compared from season to season
total effort for each weed type compared from season to season
effort per hectare in each paddock for each weed type targeted
effort in each paddock for each weed type targeted
effort for each weed type in each paddock (via hover map)
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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