On February 4th, 2024, Meara P. of Troop 361 arranged a conservation project for the removal of Johnson grass at McAllister Park through San Antonio Parks & Recreation. Johnson grass, also known as Sorghum halepense, is an invasive grass species from Asia and Northern Africa and reproduces and spreads easily with its roots (rhizomes) and seeds. It adapts in different soils and grows in a variety of places, including cultivated fields, disturbed soils, irrigated ditches, stream bottoms, arable lands, orchards, open wasted grounds, roadsides, pastures, and irrigated canals. Johnson grass is invasive because it creates a monoculture, alters the diversity of an area, affects the ecosystem and animals that rely on diverse grass cultures, and accumulates nitrates to toxic levels and prussic acid causing stress results. In order to remove Johnson grass, the grass must be cut with removal of the seed heads from each plant in order to prevent the plant from growing and spreading, and the seed heads are disposed of into a garbage bag. For approximately two hours, Troop 361 worked on extracting Johnson grass around McAllister Park. San Antonio Parks & Recreation offers several opportunities throughout the year for community volunteers to help with the removal of Johnson grass and will allow Scout troops to schedule their own conservation efforts. More information about conservation volunteer opportunities can be found at https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/Parks/Volunteer.
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