Vegetation Management

The Validity of an Estimation of Biomass

Nov. 18, 2010

Right of way brush control needs to focus on the maintenance free period provided by the vegetation management treatment rather than on assessments of target species kill. Hence a measure of the rate and amount of regrowth is required.Read more...

Sig Guggenmoos,

H.J.W. Shaw,

R.E. Johnson

Herbicide efficacy for brush control has generally been determined by assessing treated stems for stem kill. The stem kill is measured by determining the condition of the cambium layer. The bark is stripped back on treated stems and a rating number is assigned (ie. 0-100%) based on how far down from the apex the cambium has been rendered non-viable.

This method is reasonable for many herbicides which are most active in meristematic tissue and where the brush species under study does not have a strong proclivity to reproduce vegetatively.

About the Author

Sig Guggenmoos | P. Ag. CPC President, Ecological Solutions Inc., Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada

Education: Bachelor of Science in Agriculture B.Sc.(Agr.)

Accreditations: Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.); Certified Professional Consultant (CPC)

Organizations: Alberta Institute of Agrologists, International Society of Arboriculture, Utility Arborist Association, Industrial Vegetation Management Association of Alberta.

Mr. Guggenmoos was a chief architect of the TransAlta Utilities Distribution Line Clearance program, which reduced tree related outages 80%; saved 48 million dollars over two maintenance cycles; had a 98% customer satisfaction rating; and, showed a 21% increase in contractor crew productivity. He was responsible for the herbicide program, associated research and communication. In addition, he brought a financial focus to the program, developing processes for financial comparisons of alternatives to repetitive tree pruning and was intimately involved in the design and assessment of contracting methods.

As president of Ecological Solutions Inc. (Ecosync) Mr. Guggenmoos provides consulting services in vegetation management and biotic greenhouse gas mitigation strategies including biomass-derived energy.

Publications and Presentations:
Author of numerous abstracts and publications; numerous presentations to public, industry and professional associations including international conferences. List of publications available upon request.