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Establishing native wildflower habitats in urban settings on a low budget


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Figure 1.

Time spent on tasks required in Scenario 1 with dazomet treatment. Notes: The total time of all tasks is 5 hr and 40 min. Glyphosate rates were calculated using Excel on a cell phone; herbicide was measured using a graduated cylinder and water in a back sprayer, which was used to apply the mix.
Time spent on tasks required in Scenario 1 with dazomet treatment. Notes: The total time of all tasks is 5 hr and 40 min. Glyphosate rates were calculated using Excel on a cell phone; herbicide was measured using a graduated cylinder and water in a back sprayer, which was used to apply the mix.

Figure 2.

Time spent on tasks required in Scenario 2 ‘no-till and glyphosate treatment’. Notes: A total time of all tasks is 3 hr and 30 min. Glyphosate rates were calculated using Excel on a cell phone; herbicide was measured using graduated cylinder and water in a back sprayer, which was used to apply the mix.
Time spent on tasks required in Scenario 2 ‘no-till and glyphosate treatment’. Notes: A total time of all tasks is 3 hr and 30 min. Glyphosate rates were calculated using Excel on a cell phone; herbicide was measured using graduated cylinder and water in a back sprayer, which was used to apply the mix.

Comparison of costs for Scenario 1 ‘tillage + dazomet’ and Scenario 2 ‘no-till + glyphosate’ in the preparation of the site for wildflower plot using plugs.

Scenario 1 Scenario 2
Input Till + dazomet No-till + glyphosate
Labour $311.52 $53.41
Labour overhead $93.45 $16.02
Equipment $82181.23 $91.59
Herbicide $148.98 $17.11
Total cost $82735.18 $178.13

Equipment needed for tillage and dazomet treatment and its listed price.

Manufacturer Model Price Source
Toro Dingo TX-1000 Wide Track Vertical Lift, Model #22328 $32500 www.machinerytrader.com
Toro Trencher Attachment $6300 Keystone Outdoor Power Equipment
Kesmac, Inc. Brouwer BTR-30 Roller $9553.78 Site One Landscape Supply
AcuRite Magnifying 5″ Rain Gauge (need two) $3.98 each Home Depot
Scotts Whirl Hand Powered Spreader $13.49 Home Depot
John Deere 4600 Tractor $25100 www.tractordata.com
Land Pride RTA3576 Tiller Attachment $8500 www.marketbook.ca
HDX 6 mil clear plastic sheeting (need two) $103 each Home Depot
Total cost - $82181.23 -

Equipment and herbicide costs for no-till and glyphosate treatment (assuming all equipment was purchased as new).

Manufacturer Model/Product Retail price Quantity used Total cost
Lesco Backpack sprayer, Product #61840 $91.594 1 $91.59
Southern Agricultural Insecticides Ranger Pro Glyphosate Grass & Weed Herbicide Concentrate, 2.5 gal., active ingredient glyphosate 41% $96.495 56.75 ounces $17.11

List of species used in the study and total cost of plugs planted.

Species Price per plug September 2020, in $ Total cost, per 48 plugs in $
Agastache foeniculum 1.38 66.24
Allium cernuum 1.43 68.64
Anemone virginiana 1.70 81.60
Asclepias tuberosa 1.54 73.92
Boltonia asteroides 0.91 43.68
Eryngium yuccifolium 1.38 66.24
Helenium autumnale 1.38 66.24
Penthorum sedoides 1.65 79.20
Rudbeckia fulgida 1.43 68.64
Salvia lyrata 0.97 46.56
Sisyrinchium albidum 2.00 96.00
Symphyotrichum laeve 1.35 64.80
Symphyotrichum pilosum 1.25 60.00
Vernonia angustifolia 1.76 84.48
Zizia aptera 1.53 73.44
Total cost - 1039.68
eISSN:
2083-5965
Language:
English
Publication timeframe:
2 times per year
Journal Subjects:
Life Sciences, Plant Science, Zoology, Ecology, other