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The Shogun Knot Swat decided to do their project on managing the spread and growth of Japanese Knotweed, an invasive species of plant from Japan. The Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is commonly found near Forest edges, meadows, fields, floodplains, and disturbed areas, and grows in large and thick groups. The plant, when full grown, is usually around 10’ tall with a wide root system but has also been recorded at up to 13’ tall. Its seeds also have, on average, a 95% viability rate for producing a new. Seedlings aren’t the only way that the plant can reproduce though. The root system consists of numerous intertwined rhizomes which can break off and produce an entirely new plant all on its own. The effect this plant has on the environment in Northfield, due to its preference to form around and on river banks, is that it is detrimental to natural vegetation growth along the Dog River as well as narrowing the river or even blocking smaller waterways depending on how thick the weed has grown. As of this point in the groups efforts to research the best ways to start reducing the Japanese Knot presence in Northfield, the main control source would be from involving the population of Northfield by informing them of the problem and have them start taking an active role by simply pulling the weeds from the ground whenever possible. Although this method can be effective, there has to be no part of the plants root system left in or on the ground due to the numerous rhizomes in the root system. If the plant were left on the ground the Japanese Knot would simply grow back in the same spot, due to its being an invasive species with a very good survivability rate. There would have to be proper disposal sites that can be as simple as just a few large dumpster bins along large, known populations of the plant which are mainly along the Dog River in areas where flooding is common (flood plains). These dumpsters would have to be covered so that there would be no possibility of any part of the plant escaping due to either wind or animal influences. This is important because the plant can be spread from either the seeds or the rhizomes in the root system.
So far, the group Shogun Knot Swat has done mainly preliminary research into what the Japanese Knotweed is and how it can negatively affect the environment, in addition to developing a rudimentary idea of what the best way to reduce its presence and dispose of it safely. For the next step, the group will continue to research control methods and design a model of how they would develop an effective system to control this invasive species. Following this, the group will finish their research and decide on the best control method and finally build a working model that displays their plan of action. -Pat Ryan
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the Dirty LadsThe group was first formed in late August of 2018 and since then, founded Shogun Knot Swat Oct. 2018 at Norwich University. The members consist of Brian Betz, Alonzo Hilario, Vincent Nguyen and Pat Ryan. ArchivesCategories |