ACION: C.5:

Elimination of invasive plant species from the catchments

The aim of the action is the restoration of landscape value of the sodic lake.

Photos: The landscape value can be influenced significantly by the elimination of invazive and planted plants.
Left side: Transportation of cutaway bushes;
Right side: The aggregation of cutaway trees and bushes for heating in winter (Photos: János Oláh)

In 2009: We have started the elimination of invasive plants from the project site. In this year we were concentrating on Nagy-szik puszta which can be seen from the data in the table below. We are hoping that with the help of ecologically sustainable high level of grazing the returning and replantation of these plants are going to decrease.

Removed invasive plants from the project site in 2009

Sites within the project area	Total quantity on the project site	Removed invasive plants and waste from the project area in 2009
Magdolna-puszta
Elaeagnus angustifolia	212 ind.	12 ind.
Rosa canina	129 ind.	-
Rhus typhinia	70 ind.	-
Other trees and bushes	54	-

Nagy-szik
Elaeagnus angustifolia	614 ind.	457 ind.
Rosa canina	97	24
Rhus typhinia	5	5
Solidago canadensis	3,3 hectares	2 hectares
Hordeum jubatum ssp. intermedium	7,22 hectares	3 hectares
Other trees and bushes	225 ind.	34 ind.

In 2010: The unusually high groundwater level and the surface water cover all the woody growth cut in 2009 died off and could not regenerate. Also 95% of the Hordeum Jubatum ssp. intermedium died off from the project site. We could only continue the cutting of Russian-olives (Elaeagnus angustifolia) around the clay-pits in winter when the surface waters all froze. However most of this work has to be carried out in 2011.

Removed invasive plants from the project site in 2010

Sites within the project area	Total quantity on the project site	Removed invasive plants from the project area in 2010
Magdolna-puszta
Elaeagnus angustifolia	212 ind.	-
Rosa canina	129 ind.	-
Rhus typhinia	70 ind.	-
Other trees and bushes	54	-

Nagy-szik
Elaeagnus angustifolia	614 ind.	50 ind.
Rosa canina	97	6
Rhus typhinia	5	-
Solidago canadensis	3,3 hectares	1,3 hectares
Hordeum jubatum ssp. intermedium	7,22 hectares	4,2 hectares
Other trees and bushes	225 ind.	26 ind.

Picture: Cutting of bushes at the project site in winter 2010 (Photo: János Oláh)

In 2011: We continued the invasive plant elimination on the project site.

Removed invasive plants from the project site in 2011

Sites within the project area	Total quantity on the project site	Removed invasive plants from the project area in 2011
Magdolna-puszta
Elaeagnus angustifolia	212 ind.	30 ind.
Rosa canina	129 ind.	30 ind.
Rhus typhinia	70 ind.	20 ind.
Other trees and bushes	54	20 ind.

Nagy-szik
Elaeagnus angustifolia	614 ind.	75 ind.
Rosa canina	97	30 ind.
Rhus typhinia	5	-
Solidago canadensis	3,3 hectares	-
Hordeum jubatum ssp. intermedium	7,22 hectares	-
Other trees and bushes	225 ind.	65 ind.

In 2012: The intended target of the action has been 90% achieved by the end of 2012 as all the bushes and trees disappeared from the sodic lake bed and the catchment area so the landscape opened up. In 2012 parallel and in connection with the field works we continued to eliminate the invasive plants. For the summary (2009-2012) of the invasive plant elimination see table below.

Sites within the project area	Total quantity on the project site (estimation)	Removed in 2009	Removed in 2010	Removed in 2011	Removed in 2012
Magdolna-puszta
Elaeagnus angustifolia	212 ind.	12 ind.	-	30 ind.	70 ind.
Rosa canina	129 ind.	-	-	30 ind.	85 ind.
Rhus typhinia	70 ind.	-	-	20 ind.	30 ind.
Other trees and bushes	54 ind.	-	-	20 ind.	10 ind.

Nagy-szik
Elaeagnus angustifolia	614 ind.	457 ind.	50 ind.	75 ind.	32 ind.
Rosa canina	97 ind.	24 ind.	6 ind.	30 ind.	37 ind.
Rhus typhinia	5 ind.	5 ind.	-	-	-
Solidago canadensis	3,3 hectares	2 hectares	1,3 hectares	-	-
Hordeum jubatum ssp. intermedium	7,22 hectares	3 hectares	4,2 hectares	-	-
Other trees and bushes	225 ind.	34 ind.	26 ind.	65 ind.	100 ind.

2013: The plans and the intended target of the action has been 100% achieved, which are summarized in the tables below.

Table: Removed invasive plants from the project site (2009-2013)

Sites within the project area	Total quantity at the beginning of the project (estimated)	Removed in 2009	Removed in 2010	Removed in 2011	Removed in 2012	Removed In 2013	TOTAL removed until the end of the project
Magdolna-puszta
Elaeagnus angustifolia	212 ind.	12 ind.	-	30 ind.	70 ind.	120 ind.	232 ind.
Rosa canina	129 ind.	-	-	30 ind.	85 ind.	90 ind.	205 ind.
Rhus typhinia	70 ind.	-	-	20 ind.	30 ind.	35 ind.	85 ind.
Other trees and bushes	54 ind.	-	-	20 ind.	10 ind.	40 ind.	70 ind.

Nagy-szik
Elaeagnus angustifolia	614 ind.	457 ind.	50 ind.	75 ind.	32 ind.	20 ind	634 ind.
Rosa canina	97 ind.	24 ind.	6 ind.	30 ind.	37 ind.	30 ind.	127 ind.
Rhus typhinia	5 ind.	5 ind.	-	-	-	-	5 ind.
Solidago canadensis	3,3 hectares	2 hectares	1,3 hectares	-	-	-	3,3 he
Hordeum jubatum ssp. intermedium	7,22 hectares	3 hectares	4,2 hectares	-	-	1 hectares	8,2 he
Other trees and bushes	225 ind.	34 ind.	26 ind.	65 ind.	100 ind.	25 ind.	250 ind.

Lessons learned: all trees and bushes has to be removed from a soda lakebed and its catchment area as the woody growth evaporate two to four times more water than the soda pan’s natural plant associations and the leaves of trees and bushes also load more organic material to the system.